2
of low-caste scavengers and halalkhors employed in his department, was of
extreme value. In Mr. Leask he had an experienced and vigorous Assistant.
4. It was recognised by Government that, whatever advice might be given
from time to time by experts, the executive measures for dealing with the
plague must necessarily be directed by the Collectors, working in subordination
to their Commissioners, in the various British districts in the Mofussil, and by
the Municipal Commissioner, Mr. P. C. H. Snow, in the City of Bombay, and
that in the latter area the existing staff of the Municipality, reinforced when
necessary and possible, must be utilised in the sanitary and other measures for
the suppression of the plague. This policy was steadily pursued, though
eventually it was found desirable in Bombay City and a few large towns, where
extensive new organisations had to be created for the special purpose of suppress-
ing the plague, to associate other experts with the heads of the Administration
and form so-called Plague Committees.
SECTION 2.
Early measures taken by Government with reference to the plague
administration of the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay.
1. Towards the end of September 1896 the attention of Government was
attracted to comments in the newspapers on a statement made at a meeting of the
Standing Committee of the Bombay Municipality to the effect that several
deaths from bubonic plague had taken place in the Mandvi Ward of that city.
2. Accordingly on September 27th a letter was addressed to the Surgeon-
General, who was asked to supply Government with any information which he
possessed regarding the nature of the disease, and to suggest, if necessary after
consultation with the Municipal Commissioner, any further measures which
it might be necessary for either Government or the Municipality to adopt for
the purpose of obtaining correct information as to the daily progress of the
disease, and of stamping it out in the districts where it had appeared, and
effectually preventing its spread elsewhere.
3. In compliance with his instructions the Surgeon-General proceeded
from Poona, where he was at the time, and on the 28th September telegraphed
that he had visited the affected locality with the Municipal Commissioner and
Health Officer, and seen about twenty cases of a mild type of bubonic plague.
He added that preventive measures were in active operation.
4. On September 29th the Sanitary Commissioner was asked to proceed at
once to Bombay and give all possible help and advice to the Municipal Com-
missioner. Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. Waters was also asked to give his advice
and help to the Municipal Commissioner. His Excellency the Governor at the
same time telegraphed to the Municipal Commissioner that Government would
sanction such measures as might be necessary.
Mr. P. C. H. Snow, I. C. S., Municipal Commissioner.
Mr. S. Rebsch, M.I.C.E., Executive Engineer, Bombay.
Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut,-Col. Arnott, Physician in charge St.
George's Hospital.
Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. J.W. Clarkson, Sanitary Commissioner
for the Government of Bombay.
Surgeon-Major Manser, Physician, Jamsetji Jijibhai Hospital.
Dr. Bhalchandra Krishna.
Dr. Surveyor.
Dr. Viegas.
Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. Waters, Presidency Surgeon.
5. At the suggestion of the Surgeon-General a
Committee consisting of
the gentlemen mentioned
in the margin was appoint-
ed by Government on the
29th September to report
on the situation. Dr. T.
Blaney was also invited to
serve on this Committee,
but expressed his inability
to do so. The Surgeon-
General was asked to issue
instructions as to the nature and scope of the inquiry, and to receive the report
and forward it to Government.
6. The first formal report of the Surgeon-General was received on Sept-
ember 30th. In this he stated that he had no doubt that the disease prevailing
was true bubonic plague and that there was reason to believe that the disease
had been in existence for certainly more than a month. It was at present of a