10
by Commissioned Medical Officers. The Principal Medical Officer immediately
directed the Civil Surgeons at Karáchi, Sukkur and Hyderabad, and at Shikar-
pur the Assistant Surgeon, to conduct the examination personally. A second
examination at Dadu by a Commissioned Officer was, however, urged, as both
trains arrived by day-light and the extra 10 hours gave the fever time to deve-
lope. On the 8th, the Principal Medical Officer telegraphed for two officers.
By the 15th February, Surgeon-Lieutenant A. Gwyther was posted at Dadu,
where was a bungalow and a refreshment room and a segregation camp, and
Surgeon-Lieutenant M.'R. J. Rainier was posted to Karachi City and Cantonment
Stations. Detailed rules for their guidance were drawn up and issued by the
Acting Commissioner, in consultation with the Principal Medical Officer, on
the 20th February, and were approved by Government Resolution No. 1093—
563-P., dated 27th February 1897, General Department. These two officers
performed their tedious duty most conscientiously. From the middle of
February, therefore, it became very difficult for any sick persons travelling by
rail to escape detention, and many passengers were so detained.
Surgeon-General Cleghorn's recommendation as to the thorough disinfec-
tion of houses had been, as already stated, anticipated to a certain extent by
Dr. Kaka, but a visit to the city on the 25th January of the Acting Commis-
sioner, accompanied by the Principal Medical Officer, the Civil Surgeon, the
Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, the Municipal authorities and the Collector of
Karáchi, followed by another inspection on the 27th with the Collector, con-
vinced all that the disease was making rapid strides. It appeared necessary to
secure that the increase of work did not lead to delay in disinfection and to in-
different and hurried work. Accordingly, 011 the 25th January, Police Inspector
Brown was ordered by urgent telegram from Sukkur. On the 27th, Mr. P. R.
Cadell, I. C. S., was summoned by wire from Lárkhána, and Mr. H. S. Lawrence,
I. C. S., who happened to be in Karáchi, was detained at head-quarters.
The Collector notes (paragraph 45) that Surgeon-General Cleghorn recorded
a favourable opinion on the plague operations in progress at the date of his
visit, and it may be convenient here to summarise what was then being done.
The measures were thus described in a telegram to Government, dated
20th January :—
Cleansing and disinfecting streets and gullies.
Vigilant house-to-house inspection.
Supervision of burial and burning grounds.
Thorough disinfection [with per-chloride of mercury (1 in 1,000)] of
plague-infected houses.
Destruction of infected clothing.
Infected huts burnt down.
Large camps ready, and inhabitants of infected quarters being induced
to move into them.
Air admitted into ill-ventilated rooms by breaking holes in roof or
walls.
On the 20th January, the Collector applied for the loan of 20 subordinates
competent to superintend a general cleaning of vacated tenements, many of which
contained property left behind by the owners in their flight, In the Collector's
opinion, it would carry, great weight with the populace if these subordinates
were invested with Magisterial powers. Accordingly, on the same date, the A cting
Commissioner informed the District Officers in Sind that the Municipality of
Karáchi were about to undertake this systematic cleaning and disinfecting of all
houses in plague-infected quarters, and requested them to despatch Revenue
subordinates of standing sufficient for investment with responsible powers.
On the following day the Collector of Customs, Mr. Coghlan, was similarly
addressed. The Municipality agreed to pay a deputation allowance of from
Rs. 15 to Es. 30 per mensem, according to salary. These measures were reported
to Government by telegram. The Customs men joined immediately, and most
of the others arrived in Karáchi during the first week of February. Among
the first was Mr. Phillipowsky, of the Customs House, who proved of great