15
acknowledgment of the Port Health Officers for the assistance rendered
by them, as indeed, by all Customs Officials. To Superintendent Ingram, to
Inspector Lee-Smith and Constable Wheatley of the Prince's and Victoria Docks
Police, and to Inspector Holdway, Water Division, thanks are due for the
excellence of the arrangements under which large masses of people were controlled,
and the inspections and transfers to observation camps of the " suspected"
successfully carried out.
37. In conclusion, some words concerning the medical officers, male and
female, who carried out the working of the Outward and Inward Inspection
Systems. They have been engaged on a form of Plague duty which is, perhaps,
the most unpleasant that can be conceived. Cut off from almost all that
interests in their profession they have spent months and months on long and weary
rounds of monotonous inspections. The exigencies of an enormous passenger
traffic, and of commerce generallv, necessitated hours of work which left little
'
O
f 9
time for meals and none for ordinary recreation. Work began at 6 A.M. and
rarely ended before 7-30 P.M. The public idea as to the simple nature of the
inspections has been alluded to in paragraph 9 and their real character explained in
paragraph 8 of this report. Duties which at no time were pleasant or easy
became too often loathsome and difficult. The exploring of some of the filthiest
parts of the human body for enlarged or tender glands cannot under any circum-
stances be other than disagreeable ; and when this operation has to be repeated
through days and weeks and months, it can only be described as nauseating.
Those only who have been through it can thoroughly appreciate how great was
the sense of duty required to prevent, under such conditions, a searching exami-
nation from degenerating to a more superficial and perfunctory observation.
Nor can any one who has been without the experience form a true conception of
how very dirty the lower class native can be.
Those officers of the subordinate staff as were either natives of, or born in,
India were in addition exposed to the admitted danger which such people incur
from chances of infection. During the months of February and March, especi-
ally when, large numbers of the Plague-stricken were endeavouring to leave
Bombay, the chances of infection amongst the officers of the Subordinate staff
must have been considerable, and credit is due to them for not merely honest
work, but fearless conduct.
It can be claimed for each and every member of the staff that everything
personal was subordinated to the exigencies of duty, and that as a result shiping
companies and passengers were little inconvenienced, and trade flowed on unin-
terruptedly.
Under the circumstances it is only right that the services of those who have
worked so hard and well should be brought to the notice of Government; and
I accordingly now record the names of those who served on the two staffs, with
the exception of the medical students on the Inward Staff whose names have
been already sent to, and their services acknowledged by, Government :—
Outward Staff.
In addition to the Port Health Officer and Surgeon Major J. Crimmin, V.C.,
Additional Port Health Officer, Surgeon-Lieutenant S. Evans, Indian
Medical Service (Bombay)
(A) — Appointed b
y Government.
*'
(B) — Nominat-
ed by Collector
of Customs.
Appointed by "
Shepherd & Co.
'Surgeon-Lieutenant W. W. Clemesha, Indian Medical
Service (Bengal).
„
J3
W. G. Richards, Indian Medical
Service (Madras).
Assistant Surgeon V. E. Fernandez (Bombay).
„
„
W. A. M. "Wakeman (Bombay).
F. H. O'Leary (Bengal).
Hospital Assistant Abdul Latiff (Bombay).
Miss E. daCunha, L.M. & S.
„ G. M. Breadley, M.D.
'"Dr. J. P. Davur, Private Practitioner.
„ F. A. Paria
do.
Mrs. J. A. Walke, L.M. & S.
Dr. Μ. Κ Munchi