100
in conmmnication by letter with Mr. Eand, with whom he also had interviews
in Poona on Mardi 26th, April 4tb, April 22nd, and May 22nd. In the course
of his visits he inspected the plague hospitals and segregation camps, had con-
sultations with some of the leading members of the native community, made
special inquiries regarding the operations, and addressed the soldiers employed
on plague duty. He at all times urged the necessity for gentleness and con-
sideration in dealing with the people.
39. The late Mr. W. C. Rand had drafted the greater part of an able and
comprehensive report on plague operations in Poona before his murder in June
1897. This report will be separately published.
SECTION III.
The Karachi Plague Committee.
1. Regarding the appointment of this Committee, Mr. A. "Wingate, C.I.E.,
I.C.S., Commissioner in Sind, makes the following remarks in his general
plague report :
"On the 20th March, His Excellency the Governor of Bombay, Lord Sandhurst, G.C.I.E.,
arrived, and, after inspecting ail that had been done, appointed a Plague Committee for Karachi,
consisting oí Brigadier-General T. A. Cooke, Commanding Sind District, as President, with
the Collector, the Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, and Mr. Strachan, of the Municipality, as
Members, though the last-named was added a day or two later. This measure was like the
relief of a beleaguered garrison. Not only did His Excellency's approval encourage everyone,
but the General immediately threw himself heart and soul into the work, brought to bear the
whole strength of the military, with unlimited officers and men and habits of rigid discipline
on the existing material, and soon had the population under thorough control. In their first
sittings, the Committee had the advantage of the counsel of Surgeon-Major Reade, one of the
Joint Presidency Plague Commissioners. He suggested the bathing and disinfecting sheds for
arrivals at each camp, the disinfection of all bundles and baggage brought to the camp, and
similar arrangements on leaving. These suggestions were most carefully elaborated by the
Plague Committee. Disinfection of the person and personal clothing had previous to this
been in the background, the getting of sick and healthy out of the infected houses, and the
disinfecting and cleaning of those houses absorbing all the time of the workers. Now immediate
transference to hospital and camp was working smoothly, and it was possible to perfect that
control of the camps to which Surgeon-General Cleghorn had invited attention. This thorough
and painstaking disinfection of the clothing and bathing of the persons in tubs with a mixture
of Jeye's fluid in the water soon extended up-country with marked effect.
On the 25th March, the first Military search party went out. It was very carefully
organised and admirably managed, the civil officers accompanied by medical men taking charge
of each party. The General had carefully instructed the men, and from that clay forward
there was no need for the slightest apprehension, either that the soldiers would not deal
tenderly, or that the people would not welcome them. Not a complaint was ever preferred."
2. The Government Notification appointing the Committee was as fol-
lows :—
"GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
Bombay Castle, 24th March 1897.
No. 1650—1112-P.—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 2 of
the E]idemic Diseases Act, 1897, and of the powers in this behalf conferred by the Governor
General in Council under Section 2, sub-section (3), of the same Act, the Governor in Council
is pleased to direct as follows :—
1. The following gentlemen are constituted a Committee for the purpose of carrying out,
under the orders of the Commissioner in Sind, the measures to be taken to suppress and prevent
the spread of Bubonic Plague within the limits of the Municipality of Karachi and the Karachi
Cantonment :—
Brigadier-General T. A. Cooke—President.
Mr. R. Giles, Collector of Karachi.
Surgeon-Captain H. C. L. Arnim, Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, Sind Registration
District.
Mr. J. Strachan, M.I.C.E, Engineer and Secretary, Karachi Municipality.
2. For the purpose of plague operations, the Committee shall exercise authority and
control over the whole establishments of the Municipality of Karachi and the Karachi Canton-
ment Committee. They may add to those establishments to such extent as they think necessary,
and may remove from them any persons whom they consider unfit for their posts.