DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0143
( 131 )
“ ‘ A line of flags and posts should be placed all
round each relief work, and 300 yards from the same, and
great care should be taken that no nuisances are committed
within the area enclosed by such flags and posts.
“ ‘ Medical officers in charge of hospitals and relief
works should very carefully watch for the occurrence of any
cases of relapsing or famine fever, and immediately isolate
any such cases.
“ ‘ Provision for the immediate isolation of cases of
cholera, small-pox or other epidemic disease should be made
at each work. Grass huts, which can be subsequently burnt,
will usually be the best form of isolation hospital.’
“ These orders were carefully carried out. As a rule
latrines at the headquarters camp on a relief work were on
the trench system, and posts and flags were placed round the
constantly-shifting bodies of men on road works. Where
works were of a more permanent character, as for instance
the digging of a tank, trenches were used. The areas were
usually kept very fairly clean. Probably, however, the most
efficient measure was the careful custody of the drinking
supply. Particular pains were taken that people did not dip
their own lotasov vessels into the wells, but received the
water from the hands of specially-appointed water-carriers,
both Hindu and Muhammadan. Along the relief works water
was conveyed in water-carts for the use of the labourers. In
some localities the drinking water was thus carried from a
considerable distance. All doubtful wells or sources of
supply were kept closed under a guard. When disease
broke out, or a move was contemplated, search parties went
in advance to select the sources of supply and protect them.
Such search parties had also to ascertain that epidemic disease
did not exist in villages in the locality to which the workers
were moving. Sometimes irrigation wells in the fields were
cleaned out, disinfected, and used in preference to the masonry
wells, as being less likely to have been polluted. Disinfec-
tion of wells with permanganate of potash was not practised
only when disease was present; it was commonly adopted if
any doubt whatever existed as to the character of the supply.
There is no doubt as to the utility of such a proceeding ; only
experience showed that to be efficacious it must be practised
every three or four days.
“ Where works were vacated on account of cholera,
the small huts of infected gangs were burnt and not allowed
to be carried on to the next camp. Disposal of bodies was
carried out by specially-appointed men.
“ The character and condition of the food was watched.
Where necessary, local officers increased the appointed ration
in particular cases. Hurtful grains, such as “ khesari ” dH,
were excluded from the works, and vegetables and antiscor-
butics were regularly supplied.
“ ‘ A line of flags and posts should be placed all
round each relief work, and 300 yards from the same, and
great care should be taken that no nuisances are committed
within the area enclosed by such flags and posts.
“ ‘ Medical officers in charge of hospitals and relief
works should very carefully watch for the occurrence of any
cases of relapsing or famine fever, and immediately isolate
any such cases.
“ ‘ Provision for the immediate isolation of cases of
cholera, small-pox or other epidemic disease should be made
at each work. Grass huts, which can be subsequently burnt,
will usually be the best form of isolation hospital.’
“ These orders were carefully carried out. As a rule
latrines at the headquarters camp on a relief work were on
the trench system, and posts and flags were placed round the
constantly-shifting bodies of men on road works. Where
works were of a more permanent character, as for instance
the digging of a tank, trenches were used. The areas were
usually kept very fairly clean. Probably, however, the most
efficient measure was the careful custody of the drinking
supply. Particular pains were taken that people did not dip
their own lotasov vessels into the wells, but received the
water from the hands of specially-appointed water-carriers,
both Hindu and Muhammadan. Along the relief works water
was conveyed in water-carts for the use of the labourers. In
some localities the drinking water was thus carried from a
considerable distance. All doubtful wells or sources of
supply were kept closed under a guard. When disease
broke out, or a move was contemplated, search parties went
in advance to select the sources of supply and protect them.
Such search parties had also to ascertain that epidemic disease
did not exist in villages in the locality to which the workers
were moving. Sometimes irrigation wells in the fields were
cleaned out, disinfected, and used in preference to the masonry
wells, as being less likely to have been polluted. Disinfec-
tion of wells with permanganate of potash was not practised
only when disease was present; it was commonly adopted if
any doubt whatever existed as to the character of the supply.
There is no doubt as to the utility of such a proceeding ; only
experience showed that to be efficacious it must be practised
every three or four days.
“ Where works were vacated on account of cholera,
the small huts of infected gangs were burnt and not allowed
to be carried on to the next camp. Disposal of bodies was
carried out by specially-appointed men.
“ The character and condition of the food was watched.
Where necessary, local officers increased the appointed ration
in particular cases. Hurtful grains, such as “ khesari ” dH,
were excluded from the works, and vegetables and antiscor-
butics were regularly supplied.