NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
43o
The pilgrimage to Mecca.
[ CHAP. XV.
Removal from
camp to place of
embarkation.
sent that a vessel was ready to receive them. Before leaving
the camps the pilgrims, their clothes and effects, were to be disinfected.
The pilgrims were to be taken from the camp by special train, railed
to the place of departure of the steamer, and there embarked. No
tickets were to be sold at Calcutta and Madras, and they were to be
purchaseable only at the camps of observation.
Complete suspen-
sion of the
pilgrimage.
Before effect could be given to these orders, a communication was
received from Her Majesty's Secretary of State, in consequence of which
the Government of India issued the following- notification, on the 20th
o
'
February, altogether suspending the pilgrimage from India for the
current season :—
The prohibitory
notification.
" The question of the suspension of the pilgrimage to the Hedjaz
having been under the consideration of the Government of India and
Her Majesty's Government, Her Majesty's Government have now
come to the conclusion that, in consequence of the strong opinion of
all European Governments, including Turkey, regarding the danger of
plague being communicated to Europe, it is impossible to meet their
demands by any measure short of the suspension of the pilgrimage for
the time being.
" The Governor General in Council is therefore pleased, under sec-
tion 2, sub-section 1 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to order that
the pilgrimage to the Hedjaz shall be altogether suspended for the
current season."
Making public
the causes
which led to the
suspension.
Local Governments and Administrations were informed that it was
essential that the reason for the decision of Her Majesty's Govern-
ment, indicated in the notification quoted above, should be made widely
known by the officers of the Government, and that every endeavour
should be made by the agency of Muhammadans of position and trust
to explain the circumstances to those who had intended to proceed on
pilgrimage and to Muhammadans generally. It was further explained
that it was necessary to stop all intending pilgrims near their homes-
and on the frontiers of British India and to induce them to return
to their homes, so that they might not gather in large bodies.
Return of intending Pilgrims to their Homes.
The pilgrimage having thus been suspended, the next point to notice
is the arrangement made for the return of the intending pilgrims to
their homes.
Detention in an
observation
camp of intend-
ing pilgrims who
had come to
Bombay.
With a view to prevent the dissemination of plague by intend-
ing pilgrims who had been in infected localities, the notification of the
16th February forbidding the pilgrimage from the Bombay Pre-
sidency and Sind provided that all persons who had entered those
CHAP. XV. ]
The pilgrimage to Mecca.
431
Despatch from
camp to their
homes.
territories with the object of proceeding to the Hedjaz, should he
placed in a camp of observation until the medical officer in charge
was satisfied that all risk of the occurrence of plague amongst them had
been completely abated. They were then to be sent to their homes,
the railway expenses of their journey being paid by the State.
On the date that the notification issued, telegraphic instructions were
sent to the Government of Bombay to cause all pilgrims then in
Observation
camp at Nasik.
Bombay to be conveyed at once to an observation camp at Nasik, in
the district of the same name, there to be detained for ten clays from the '
date of arrival, or if plague occurred among them, until they had been
free from it for ten days. It was further stated that when certified fit
Arrangements
for return.
for removal from camp the pilgrims should be separated into batches
according to the provinces of their origin, and each batch taken
under the charge of a responsible officer of the Government of
Bombay and by him handed over to an official to be named, and at a
place to be fixed, by the Local Government to whose territories the
persons composing the batch belonged. Orders to the same effect
were issued to the other Local Governments and Administrations. At
the request of the Government of Bombay, the instructions were sub-
sequently modified and it was directed that the charge of the pilgrims
should be taken over by the officers appointed by the Local Govern-
ments at the observation camp itself.
Despatch of
pilgrims to the
Nasik camp.
Some of the intending pilgYims had returned up-country before the
orders for their detention issued, and some others eluded detection,
but the bulk, 485 in number, were despatched under escort from
Bombay to the observation camp at Nasik by a special train on the
morning of the 22nd February. They were subjected to a strict
medical examination before departure, at which three persons were
Arrangements
at the Nasik
camp.
rejected. The isolation camp was established near a small village
about a mile and a half from the Nasik railway station. The site
was in open country and on the bank of a river which furnished a
good water-supply. The pilgrims were accommodated in a number of
sheds erected for the purpose, and arrangements were made by the
local authorities for sanitary arrangements and the supply of food
free of charge. The camp was in the charge of a commissioned
medical officer assisted by several subordinates. The Protector of
Pilgrims also accompanied the pilgrims to the camp. A police and
military cordon prevented any communication between the camp and
the outside world.
Despatch of the
pilgrims from
the camp to
their homes.
All went well in the camp until on the 26th February a pilgrim was
suspected to be suffering from plague and was immediately isolated.
The alarm oí plague turned out to be unfounded as the man was dis-
covered to be suffering from small-pox. No other case occurred and
the pilgrims were in due course sent off by special trains to their
432
The pilgrimage to Mecca.
[ CHAP. XV.
respective provinces after they and their effects had been disinfected.
The first batch left on the 8th March.
Pecuniary
concessions
made to inteding
pilgrims.
In order to lessen the disappointment ot the intending pilgrims
and as some compensation for the detention and inconvenience to
which they were subjected, the Government, in addition to sending
them home free of charge, repaid to them (at the treasury nearest their
homes) the cost of the tickets which they had purchased for the pas-
sage to Jeddah. A number of poor pilgrims from Northern India who
were stopped at Calcutta were also paid the price of a third class
railway fare from Calcutta to their homes. Some others, finding the
pilgrimage from Bombay stopped, purchased tickets at Bombay for use
at Calcutta and then, eluding the police, and travelling to Calcutta in
order to embark at that port found that they were again prohibited
from sailing. The Government refunded to them the price of their
tickets.
Central Asian
pilgrims.
About one hundred and fifty Central Asian pilgrims were
despatched from the Nasik camp to Peshawar. They petitioned to be
permitted to remain in India until the next pilgrimage. Some amongst
them had spent a life's savings in preparing for the pilgrimage
and were most averse from returning. The permission was granted,
and in addition indigent pilgrims from Central Asia who did not desire
to stay in India were granted Rs. 30 each for the return journey and
a certificate stating the number of days during which they had not
been in an infected locality and that they had passed ten days in an
observation camp before leaving the infected area.
The return of the Pilgrims from Jeddah.
Many pilgrims
left for the
Hedjaz before the
prohibition.
Before the issue of the orders suspending the pilgrimage a con-
siderable number of pilgrims had already gone from India to the
Hedjaz, and when the time of the return pilgrimage approached, it
became necessary to make arrangements for the reception of the
Arrangements
necessary to
prevent their
spreading
infection on
return.
pilgrims, with a view to prevent their taking infection on landing and
spreading it to other parts of the country. It was ascertained from
Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Jeddah that three thousand pilgrims
were likely to return to India by five ships, of which the first was timed
to sail on the 20th May. Fortunately the plague in the City and Presi-
dency of Bombay had by this time greatly diminished and the danger to
be anticipated from the returning pilgrims was thus greatly lessened.
Despatch from
Bombay by
special trains.
It appeared, however, to the Government of India to be essential
that the returning pilgrims should not be permitted to mix with the
population of the still infected part of the country before making their
way to their homes. Arrangements were therefore made under
CHAP. XV.]
The pilgrimage to Mecca.
433
which the Consul at Jeddah telegraphed information of the departure
of each pilgrim ship for Bombay and the number of pilgrims on board
divided into the following classes :—
(a) Those proceeding by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway in
a south-east direction ;
(b) those proceeding by the same railway in a north-east direc-
tion ;
(c) those proceeding by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India
Railway in a northerly direction ; and
(d) those proceeding by steamer to Cutch, Kathiawar, and Sind.
On arrival of the vessel the pilgrims were taken direct to special
trains and despatched to their destination without being permitted to
mix with the inhabitants of Bombay. Those amongst them who were
unable to pay for their tickets were given a ticket free of charge.
The Local Governments concerned were informed of the despatch of
each batch of piigrims.
Return of the
Sultan, Naseri,
and Pekín.
The S.S. Sultan } the first of the return vessels, brought 60 Bokhara
pilgrims to Calcutta. The S.S. Naseri followed on the 26th May and
the S.S. Pékin on the 28th. Both vessels brought pilgrims of all classes
to Bombay, and the Pékin also brought pilgrims for disembarkation at
the port—Calcutta. The Calcutta pilgrims were not allowed to land
Treatment of
pilgrims at
Bombay.
during the stay of the vessel at Bombay. For the treatment of pilgrims
at Bombay a special resolution was issued by the Government of Bom-
bay under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The master of the ship was
required to report at once to the Health Officer of the Port, to anchor
in the stream,* and to prevent any persons from disembarking until
he received permission. The pilgrims were required to give their
names and addresses and to mention their intentions regarding o
&
future movements, and the Commissioner of Police was empowered
to arrange for the detention of the pilgrims on board or on shore
until arrangements were made for their removal from Bombay by road,
rail or sea.
Outbreak of
Plague at
Jeddah.
On the 10th June the Consul at Jeddah telegraphed that plague
existed at Jeddah, and on the nth the Government of Bombay
informed the Government of India that the existence of plague in
the Hedjaz having been officially declared, quarantine in accordance
with the Venice Convention Regulations had been enforced > in
Egypt. The disease was first observed amongst pilgrims from
Hadramaut, and from them it spread to the inhabitants of the place. Short account of
the slight
epidemic.
No Indian pilgrims were attacked, and there is no reason to believe
that the infection was brought from India. Fortunately the outbreak
was mild and of short duration. The last cases occurred at the
* The outer portion of the harbour.
55
434
The pilgrimage to Mecca.
[ CHAP. XV.
beginning of July. From the 10th June,- when the plague was offi-
cially declared to exist, up to the end of the month the number of
reported deaths from plague was 46, and 220 deaths were returned
from other causes. Both in May and June the total mortality was
much above the normal, and during these two months the number oí
deaths from plague must have considerably exceeded 46, without
however mounting to any considerable figure. Stringent precau-
tionary and remedial measures were taken by the sanitary authorities
under the superintendence of a medical commission sent by the
International Beard of Health at Constantinople. On the 20th June
about 1,500 poor and destitute pilgrims, found wandering in the
streets without shelter, were removed to and segregated in the
islands of Abu Saad and Wasta, where accommodation and food was
provided for them free of charge.
Jeddah treated as
an infected port
under the Venice
Convention,
and special
precautions taken
to prevent the
spread of
infection by
returning
pilgrims.
On learning of the existence of pingue at Jeddah, the Government
of India directed the Governments of Bombay and Bengal to enforce
against the Hedjaz the regulations prescribed by the Venice Con-
vention, and to adopt careful precautions to prevent returning pil-
grims from carrying infection. As the voyage from Jeddah takes
more than ten days, it was considered sufficient, in the case of
healthy ships, to carefully disinfect the clothing and baggage of the
persons on board and the vessel. Discretion was given to burn old
and dirty clothing, fresh clothing being supplied free of charge.
The port authorities were directed to subject the vessel to a searching
examination and to take a declaration from the doctor on board that
no case of plague had occurred. The Local Governments of the pro-
vinces to which the pilgrims belonged were informed of the despatch
of pilgrims and furnished with a list of them, with a view to a watch
being kept over their health for a few days, at their own homes.
Special instructions were also given for the treatment of infected
vessels, but as no case occurred on any of the ships, it did not become
necessary to put these instructions into execution.
Arrangements at
Bombay.
At Bombay arrangements were made to land the pilgrims from
healthy ships at Malet Bunder, where their baggage was disinfected,
and, after medical inspection, they were despatched to their destina-
tion without communicating with the city. The Government of
Bombay forbade for a time the disembarkation of pilgrims at
Karachi.
Discontinuance
of the precau-
tionary
measures.
On the 12th August the Government of India, having learned that
quarantine against Jeddah had been removed in Egypt and that
the place was free from plague, directed that the precautions should
be discontinued and that Jeddah should be treated as a healthy port.
CHAPTER XVI.
CONCLUSION,
Lessons to be
derived from the
recent experience
of plague.
Several lessons of the first importance are to be derived from the I
recent experience of plague in India. The most important of all is
that plague is no longer the irresistible scourge of former times.
Modern scientific investigation by disclosing the cause of the disease
and the manner of its growth, has indicated the means by which it may
be repressed, and experience has shown that the prompt adoption of
those means is certain to meet with at any rate enough success to rob
the pestilence of much of its terror. The malady remains a virulent and
dangerous one, but it has been found that careful nursing and healthy
surroundings give the patient a chance of recovery greater than
would have seemed possible during the epidemics of former days.
The infection, it has been discovered, does not lurk in the atmosphere,
a mysterious and irresistible enemy, but spreads according to
simple natural laws, and can be fought by the prompt adoption of
the measures dictated by science, common sense, and experience.
Conditions which
foster and which
destroy the
infection.
Sanitary and well ventilated dwellings and cities, containing
ample space for their inmates, are the conditions which render the
spread of plague practically impossible. Crowded and filthy sur-
roundings, insufficiency of air and light, and dirty habits of life are
the fostering causes of the disease.
Measures best
adaptpd to
suppress plague
epidemics.
When plague breaks out in any place, the measures best adapted
to suppress it are—
(a) The prompt detection of cases by carefully enforced death
registration, house-to-house visitation, and such other
means as are found practicable.
(b) The segregation of the sick and their careful nursing and
treatment in well-ventilated and sanitary hospitals,
(c) The segregation, after disinfection of clothing, bedding, etc.,
under medical supervision and in sanitary surroundings
of the persons who, by association with the sick, have
been especially exposed to the risk of infection.
(d) The evacuation of infected houses and localities, the inmates
being lodged in carefully supervised health camps.
(e) The thorough cleansing and disinfection of infected houses
and localities before the inmates are permitted to return.
436
Conclusion.
[ CHAP. XVI.
(f] The enforcement of general sanitary precautions, such as
extensive cleansing of dwellings, freer admissions of light
and air, destruction or modification of insanitary buildings,
improvement of drainage and conservancy, abatement of
overcrowding, and opening out of congested localities.
Evacuation and
disinfection,
These measures are based on scientific knowledge, and experience
shows that they are certain to meet with a large measure of success.
In especial, if the inhabitants of an infected locality can be removed
from their dwellings and located, after disinfection, in a healthy en-
campment under medical supervision, the epidemic amongst them will
be almost immediately arrested. And if the infected locality is
thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and its sanitary condition over-
hauled, the return of the inmates will not occasion a fresh out-
break of the disease.
Special
difficulties in
India.
In India the customs and prejudices of the people offer a more or
less important obstacle to the adoption of the measures which have
been found best adapted to check the disease. The responsible
authorities have to consider how far they can be carried out in any
locality. Tact and firmness have, however, generally succeeded in
overcoming opposition and winning the sympathy of the people in
whose best interests the precautions are taken.
Prevention of the
spread of
infection by
land,
Quarantine should not be enforced to prevent the spread of in-
fection by land. It occasions hardship and distress, it is unlikely to be
successful, and it even assists the spread of infection by fostering the
growth of virulent centres of disease. Systematic and thorough
arrangements should be made for the inspection of travellers from
infected localities, for the segregation of suspicious persons, for the
isolation and treatment of plague-stricken travellers, for the disinfec-
tion of all baggage likely to contain the seeds of infection, for the
surveillance of travellers from infected districts on arrival at their
destination, and for a watch over the general health of the country, and
especially of those parts known to have communication with the in-
fected area. The infection of plague from isolated cases spreads slowly,
and the prompt adoption of measures of segregation and disinfection
will always serve to prevent such cases from creating a new centre
of disease.
Prevention of
the spread of
infection by sea.
Vessels from infected ports should be dealt with in accordance
with the principles laid down in the Venice Sanitary Convention of
1897. The antiquated system under which the sick and healthy were
detained together on boardship should never be employed. In the
case of infected ships the sick should be landed and segregated in
hospital, and the healthy should be landed and detained under
medical supervision in properly constructed shelter, or should be
CHAP. XVI.]
Conclusion.
437
subjected to surveillance at their destination, until the period of incu-
bation is over. The outward bound sea traffic should be vigorously
inspected, and persons suffering or suspected to be suffering from
plague and their companions and attendants should be prevented from
sailing.
Prevention of the
spread of
infection by
merchandise and
food-stuffs.
The spread of infection by merchandise plays, it is believed,
a very subordinate part in the dissemination of plague. There are not
many articles of commerce likely to be contaminated or to retain the
germs of infection. The importation of the most dangerous of such
articles, such as rags, from infected localities should be altogether
prohibited. The possibility of infection being carried in contaminated
food-stuffs is recognised, and precautions should be taken to prevent
the sale and export of grain and other food-stuffs open to the sus-
picion of being contaminated.
56
INDEX.
A
Aden-
Free pratique. Modification of
rule regarding, at — .
Quarantine rules. Issue of, at —
in 1881 and in 1891-93
Quarantine rules. Issue of, for —
and Karachi against Bombay in
1896
.
.
.
.
Quarantine rules. Modification of,
at —
Vessels arriving from infected ports.
Rules under the Venice Conven-
tion for the treatment at — of,
Vessels using — as a port of call .
Afghanistan —
Plague. Protection of — against
the,
.
.
.
.
.
Africa-
Importation of merchandise from
India. Restrictions against the,
imposed in — .
Indian Export Trade to — in
1895-56. Statistics of the,
Plague in —
.
.
Regulations in Egypt, Algiers,
Morocco,
Madagascar,
and
Natal, against arrivals from India
Afzalgarh—
M ahamari. Prevalence of, at — in
the Bijnore District .
.
•
Age-
Plague mortality. Influence of —
on, .
.
.
.
.
.
Susceptibility to plague. Influence
of — on the,
.
.
.
Ahmedabad —
Pestilence in — in the 17th and 18th
centuries .
.
.
.
.
Plague cases in the — district
Plague in —in 1820
,
Quarantine measures in the —
district in 1820
.
PAGE
357
354
356
362
373
374
35°4
26
426
67
415
91
14
20
72
105
80
8o
Aj mere- Mer wara—
Plague regulations. General, pre-
scribed by the Chief Commis-
sioner of —
Algiers —
Regulations in — against arrivals
from India
.
.
.
.
Allowances —
Conveyance — sanctioned by the
Government of India
Medical staff. Plague deputa-
tion — granted to the, .
Military staff. Plague — granted
to the,
Ambulances —
Description of— for the conveyance
of the sick to hospital
.
,
Animals—
Plague. Susceptibility of — to,
Arabia —
Plague. Outbreaks of, in —
.
Quarantine regulations enforced
in —
Armenia —
Plague, Outbreaks of, in —
.
Asia Minor —
Plague, Outbreaks of, in —
Asia, Western-
Plague centres of — .
.
.
Asiatic Countries —
Importation of merchandise from
India. Restrictions against, im-
posed in —
Indian Export Trade to — in
1895-96. Statistics of the,
Regulations against arrivals from
India imposed in — .
Attacks-
Second — of plague. Rarity of, .
PAGE
250
416
402
396
401
160
37
67
413
67
67
67
425
425
413
20