THE PLAGUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11751, 1 December 1898, Page 5

THE PLAGUE.

THE PRECAUTIONS AT BOMBAY

SERIOUS MORTALITY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, BOMBAY, Nov. 29

Tho plague at Bombay is now being treated as a permanent disease. Travellers are examined and their destination is watched. The camp system for preventing tho spread of the disease has now been altered. A hundred deaths are occurring daily at Bangalore. i - DETAILS OF THE PREVENTION SCHEME.

MEDICAL-, EXAMINATION AND SURVEILLANCE. The “Madras Mail” recently published the following article describing the action to lie taken by the Government of Bombay with regard to the plague ; After very careful consideration the teoverclment has decided to make certain cnanpes in the method of dealing under the Epidemic Diseases Act with travellers by railway. So far as experience indicates, the plague is conveyed by exodus of infected persons from a plague centre and by infected bedding and clothing. Secondly, by persons from healthy localities visiting plague centres and bringing the germ away, either in their bodies or clowning. Therefore, any system of sanitary administration must aim at preventing or minimising tho spread of disease by infected persons, clothing: or baggage. In view, however, of the fact that there is little prospect of a speedy termination of ffhe plague epidemic, uic organisation. of measures for preventing the spread of infectious disea.se must be of a more permanent character than hitnarto has been confempated. As a permanent feature of epidemic regulations detention at camps and passes is impossible. It is evident that it is impracticable over a large area and a prolonged period of time to cioso the ordinary channels of daily business and intercourse, without very sorely trying the patience of the public and jeopardising their general prosperity. The Government wishes it to be understood that railway detention camps and passes will be discontinued, but that to replace them a very strict medical examination, accompanied by disinfection of clothing, where necessary, will be instituted at convenient railway centres, and that at places of airivai persons coming from infected localities will also he subject to surveillance for ten daws after arrival. The Goyernment is pleased to direct that the measures described in this Government resolution shall replace the system of passes and railway detention camps. These measures arc‘as follows: —(a) The stringent medical examination of each traveller ; (b) the careful disinfection of suspicious article® ; (c) the correct ascex’tainment and record of the location of travellers after they have been permitted to enter a town ; (d)" special regulations for travellers who cannot be depended upon to give a trustworthy account of their residence and movements, or are suspicious, whether by reason of their appearance or symptoms, or the dirty condition of their clothes or effects. First, as to the medical examination. The organisation of tine revised maasuies will be entrusted to a .'elected medical officer at each examining station. The examination should be conducted in the same way as for passengers departing by sea from Bombay. Th© following instructions are to be observed:—ln the medical examination of travellers at all places where medical examination is established, there must be stationed women who are qualified to make an examination of travellers of the female sex. First and second-class passengers and purdah ladies should not OTdjniaJrily be required to leave the carriages, and the usual pulse examination will suffice unless they exhibit suspicious symptoms; If such passengers are detained for any reason, they should, as far as possible, be provided with accommodation suitable to their status and habits of life. Third - class passengers, except purdah ladies, must be required to detrain. No subordinate will be empowered to order detention or to decide as to the rasults'of the examination. At each examining station a staff of Mohammedan, Brahmin, and other suitable employees, trained to handle thermometers, Will be entertained. Secondly, as to the disinfection of clothing and bedding by steam. The importance of this precaution connot be overrated, and to be effective it must be thorough; but it will be exercised only in cases of persons who are either coming from- a plaguestricken locality and have lived with people amongst whom the plague has been prevalent, or from the sordid condition of their clothing or baggage are believed to be likely to carry infection. Persons free from suspicion on this account will not be detained for the purpose of disinfection, and there wall ordinarily be no necessity to put the great majority of travellers to any inconvenience. Detention tor this process of disinfection will not occupy more tlian a few hours.

Thirdly, as to surveillance of the individual for ten days after arrival, or during any shorter period of his residence. To'this the Government attaches the very highest importance, and the plan is already working well in several of the more important towns; but its organisation requires close attention, and within lines that the Government prescribes, the Collector and the District Magistrate are responsible for the maintenance of a strict watch over new arrivals. Under no circumstances will any respectable or healthy person who can give a reference either in the place he came from, or in the place at which he has arrived, be detained. If neossaary, thcj aafehdritv -of the station can sand an individual ui one of the Ward Superintendents or otiier plague authority whose duty it will be to ascertain where tlie individual finds lodgings, and, if necessary, to arrange for some watch over Ins movements.' Special efforts will be made to render the obligations to report themselves from time to time as little irksome as possible to persons under surveillance. As soon as a traveller is discharged from surveillance he will be given a healthcertificate, under, precautions, as a means of identification.

Fourthly, as to special regulations for travellers who cannot be depended upon to give a trustworthy account of their residence and movements, or are suspicious, whether by reason of . their appearance or symptoms or dirty condition of their clothes or effects. Under this head discretion must be left with the local authorities to issue such orders as may be necessary and .are consistent with the general instructions and declared policy of Government.