14
Lieutenant Niblock's assistance, soon had a fully equipped Plague Hospital,
of which subsequently Surgeon-Lieutenant Niblock took charge.
The Pleaders and other Native gentlemen had been desirous to give a
farewell entertainment to Mr. Hart-Davies. Mr. Hart-Davies begged that,
in consideration of the suffering around, the money might be devoted to some
public object. A Meeting was called at Government House, and it was decid-
ed to raise a Relief Fund, so that those working among the people might be
placed in funds. Mr. Motiram Advani, Barrister-at-law, kindly undertook
the task of collecting. The ladies of the station gave a successful concert in
the Frere Hall, and eventually Mr. Advani produced the substantial assistance
of some twenty thousand rupees, for which he deserves the gratitude of many.
Each Superi nt endent
was at once supplied with a permanent advance.
Furniture was placed in the Plague Hospital, and stimulants and food and
comforts were liberally supplied, and soup kitchens opened across the Lyari.
One thing was .yet lacking, and that was nurses. The good work done by the
Convent Sisters in the Famine Hospital in Bangalore was recollected. Sister
Heriberta, of the Karachi Convent, with the approval of the Revd. H. Jürgens,
responded without hesitation, and in a few days the Sisters were heartily wel-
comed by Dr. Henderson, who had made, with Mr. Advani's help, every arrange-
ment for their comfort. The Sisters occupied the upstairs or European wards
of the hospital and lived there for several months, nursing the 60 to 100 sick
below by day and by night, and entered on the dangerous duty with happy self-
sacrifice. They were soon beloved. Later on, they were joined by several
nurses paid from the Charitable Fund and were assisted by the two Misses Carey
of the Zenana Mission. The agreement was that there was to be no mention of
religion. The light that shone from the healing of the sick under such loving
ministration could not, however, be hid.
Another act also impressed the Native community. Special prayers were
offered in Church from Sunday, the 14th February, and on the 19th February
a special intercessory service was held by the Revd. F. Sandberg in Trinity
Church, which was largely attended.
The first fortnight of February was a time of earnest battling with a foe
that literally walked in the darkness. His Excellency the Governor on the
llth flashed a message that cheered all, thanking all for the determined
efforts to fight the plague, and that Hs Excellency was watching with closest
interest.
While this battle with pestilence was being fought in Karachi, cleanliness
against dirt, light against darkness, fresh air against foul, scattering against
overcrowding, and a free use of disinfectants, there were signs of coming trouble
in other places. For a time the hope prevailed that, with rigorous segrega-
tion, the germs would not thrive in the dry climate of Sind. Nor was this
hope altogether fallacious.
On the 27th January a circular was issued, inviting attention to deaths
from plague increasing up-country, and notably at Hyderabad, Kotri and Tatta.
So far, no local cases had occurred, but it was essential to prevent any person
suspected of plague entering a town, and isolation, segregation and disinfection,
with provision of huts and health camps, were recommended. Surgeon-General
Cleghorn, through the Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, pointed out the extreme
importance of compulsorily removing the healthy persons from an infected house,
and the letter was forwarded on the 29th to all District officers. The Sanitary
Commissioner, Surgeon-Major Clarkson, in a letter dated 4th February,
urged the removal of : the sick person from the house in all cases. The circular
of the 27th had stated that, if it could be done, it was better to remove the sick
persons, and that all the clothes and bedding, including the wearing apparel
actually worn, of the family should be disinfected. These directions to District
officers appeared to leave them full power of action, and were therefore not
modified.
From first to last there occurred in the Karachi District, outside Karachi,
no more than 238 cases and 178 deaths. Of these, only 53 and 41 were local