9
On the 23rd January, the Acting Commissioner was able to reply to
Government that the inspection of all passengers before leaving the Karachi
City and Cantonment Stations and at one or two places en route, specially at
Dadu and Sukkur, was careful and thorough. A European Inspector travelled
as far as Dadu. At every station, passengers alighting were examined by a
Medical officer, and at all principal stations isolation sheds were ready. Nearly
every Municipality had provided itself with rules under Section 73 of the District
Municipal Act, and all had been active in cleaning up. Segregation was to be
insisted upon up-country. The immediate evacuation of an infected house and
the camping out of the inmates, and similar evacuation by the entire com-
munity of an infected quarter, coupled with systematic house-cleaning and
whitewashing, and burning of all rags and rubbish under European supervision
were means likely to prove effectual. A copy of this report was forwarded to
all District officers and the Principal Medical Officer.
The Manager, North-Western Railway, had suggested Dadu and Ruk
Stations for the principal medical examination of trains. Ruk was impracti-
cable, as no adequate supervision could be exercised. At Dadu, the trains
arrived by day-light. The Principal Medical Officer was, on the 10th January,
asked to arrange for medical inspection of all passengers in the train on arrival
at Dadu in the manner suggested by the Manager, and enquiry was made
whether careful medical inspection of persons leaving Hyderabad Railway
Station by the new Rohri-Kotri line had been arranged, as it seemed probable
that persons would utilise that route to evade Dadu. The Acting Commissioner
further suggested the desirability of placing a Commissioned Medical Officer on
special duty to supervise medical inspections at the Karachi Stations, and on
the Railway generally. The Principal Medical Officer replied that, on the
12th January, he had telegraphed to the Surgeon-General, Bombay, for a
Commissioned Officer. On the 26th January, a very full report was received
from the Principal Medical Officer, detailing the arrangements he had made.
Surgeon-Lieut-Colonel Henderson, the Civil Surgeon, Karachi, reported that,
from the evening of the l3th December 1396, inspections were being held at
Karachi. There was inspection of all passengers leaving Karachi by both
up-mails, first at the City Station by a Hospital Assistant and afterwards at the
Cantonment Station by the Railway Apothecary. The Civil Surgeon had on
several occasions been present, and the Principal Medical Officer had paid a few
visits. Since December, inspections had been ordered at—
Kotri from the 2nd January.
Laki " "
Dadu " "
Hyderabad " "
Pad Edan " "
Ruk " "
Jacobabad from December 26th.
Shikárpur "
"
"
22nd.
Sukkur
"
"
" 30th
Rohri
"
"
" January 2nd.
Reti
"
"
"
"
The chief inspections were made by day-light at Kotri, Dadu, Sukkur and
Jacobabad ; at other places, the examinations were subsidiary. Since the 14th
January, down-trains were also being examined. Medical subordinates in
charge of Dispensaries were also examining at
S eh wan
Tando Adam.
Tando Alahyar.
Mirpur Khás.
Ghotki.
Lárkhána.
At Jungshahi, the station for Tatta, a special Hospital Assistant had been,
posted from the 7th January. Isolation and segregation sheds had been con-
structed by the Municipal and District authorities, and in some instances by
the Railway.
On the 27th January, the Political Agent, Cutch, was informed by telegram
that the Cutchi quarter of Karachi was affected, and Cutchis were leaving
Karachi by steamer, and it was advisable to take precautions.
The weak spot in these arrangements was, however, the need for a Commis-
sioned Medical Officer, and this Surgeon-General Cleghorn pointed out. This
want was supplied on receipt of Government telegram dated 6th February.
The Principal Medical Officer was requested to arrange for platform inspections
B 1440—3