PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
t
46
in the emigration depôts. At the same time all emigrants suffering from anchy lostomiasis in its acute form (as in the case of the two women referred to in para- graph 7 of Medical Inspector's report) should be rejected under Section 50 of the Indian Emigration Act. Even this, however, will not altogether prevent the importation into the British Guiana of infected persons, and it is for the Colonial authorities to take such sanitary measures as are indicated for the prevention of fæcal contamination of the soil.
Letter, No. 3979-3980-49, dated the 30th May, 1911, from the Government of India, Department of Commerce and Industry, with Enclosure. (No. 976.)
Copy forwarded to the Protector of Emigrants, Calcutta, for favour of any suggestions which he may have to offer as to the measures which should be taken for the detection and treatment of intending emigrants suffering from anchylostomiasis. A draft set of rules carrying out these suggestions should be forwarded with his reply, for approval and submission to the Government of India, if in the Protector's opinion such rules are necessary.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
Darjeeling,
General Department,
Emigration Branch,
(No. 3134.) SIR,
H. A. F. LINDSAY, Under-Secretary to the Government of Bengal.
15th June, 1911.
10th August, 1911.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Memorandum, No. 976, of June 15th, forwarding a copy of letter, No. 3979-3980-49, dated 30th May, 1911, from the Government of India, Department of Commerce and Industry, on the subject of detection and treatment of intending emigrants suffering from anky- lostomiasis.
2. I do not think that it is possible to treat emigrants systematically for anky- lostomiasis for the following reasons:-Emigrants will have to be treated either in the depôt or on the ship. There are reasons against treatment in both places.
3. Treatment at depôts.-The treatment proposed consists of a blood examina- tion carried out as routine in the case of every coolie passing through the depôt. Those whose blood showed eosinophilia" would be then treated with thymol. Now, in the first place, the coolie has a great objection to having his finger pricked and his blood taken. He thinks it an uncanny proceeding, and both fears and dislikes it. There is a great risk that coolies might turn unwilling and refuse to go to the Colony if they all had to undergo it.
4. Again, treatment with thymol large scale would be likely to cause the same difficulties as the blood taking.
drastic and unpleasant, and if used on a
5. As to treatment on board ship, it is admitted that the difficulties of medical treatment on a crowded ship are such as to render systematic prophylaxis impossible. 1 have consulted the Medical Inspector, the Agent for the Crown Colonies, and several of the Surgeon-Superintendents, and I find they agree with the view stated above.
6. It will be seen, then, that it is only when the coolies have been finally landed in the Colony that it is practicable to carry out thorough and systematic prophylaxis. British Guiana and any other Colony which desires to take special precaution can draw up such rules and procedure as they may deem best. The emigrant by this time is fully indentured, and the question of his turning unwilling does not occur.
7. It may be stated that though about 70 per cent. of the average Indian population harbour a few ankylostome worms, acute ankylostomiasis is not common. Acute cases are always rejected at the depôts, and mild cases are individually treated.
To the Secretary to the
Government of Bengal,
General Department.
I have, &c.,
W. HOSSACK.
47
H. A. F. LINDSAY, Esq., I.C.S., Under-Secretary to the Government of Bengal, to the PROTECTOR OF EMIGRANTS, Calcutta. (No. 3476.)
General Department, Emigration Branch, Calcutta, SIR,
I AM directed to refer to your letter, No. 3134, dated the 10th August, 1911,
17th August, 1911. regarding the detection and treatment of intending emigrants suffering from anchy. lostomiasis. You report that, in your opinion, the proposal to examine all intending emigrants at the Calcutta emigration depôts, with a view to the detection and combat of the disease before embarkation, would arouse considerable opposition on the part of the emigrants, and would tend to make emigration to the Colonies unpopular.
2. I am to observe, however, that it is the Colonial authorities who complain of the serious consequences attending the importation of labourers infected with the disease, and that in their interests this Government has decided to support the proposal. On these grounds I am desired to request you to be so good as to prepare and submit to Government a working scheme which will give effect to the proposals made by the Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India in his note dated the 12th May, 1911 (a copy of which was forwarded to you under cover of ment, No. 976, dated the 15th June, 1911). You are also desired to prepare my endorse- and forward, for the consideration of Government, draft rules on the same lines for inclusion in the Colonial Emigration Rules, together with a draft of consequential amendments, if any, to the existing rules.
I have, &c.,
H. A. F. LINDSAY, Under-Secretary to the Government of Bengal.
MEMORANDUM ON ANKYLOSTOMIASIS, by A. MARSDEN, Esq., Colonial Civil Service, Officiating Government Emigration Agent for British Guiana.
I have perused the correspondence in the enclosed Case, and now offer the
following observations for consideration :-
1. Intending emigrant coolies for the Colonies on arrival in Calcutta are very easily influenced, and made unwilling, and if not satisfied with their surroundings and treatment do not hesitate to show their displeasure and say they are unwilling. to emigrate.
2. Too long detention in depôt, rejection of relatives or friends on medical or other grounds, outbreaks of disease, are all causes.
3. The coolie can only be restrained by moral persuasion, as the Sepoys and Durwans who guard him are not regular soldiers or policemen, and, therefore, unable to apply physical force in the event of riots or desertions.
4. To make any attempt to submit the coolies wholesale to such a drastic treat- ment as the cure for ankylostomiasis entails would only result in riots, desertion on a large scale, or a general stampede.
5. An attempt was made to apply this treatment in 1907 in the British Guiana Depôt, when a riot promptly ensued, and the experiment had to be abandoned, owing to the lives of the staff being threatened with a display of violence.
6. A simple Indian peasant, who believes himself to be in good health, and feels no pain, cannot be persuaded that he is ill, and will not willingly submit to a treatment of starvation and purging, accompanied with nauseating medicine such as thymol, which he considers quite unnecessary and weakens him.
7. When the experiment was made in 1907, the general cry amongst the coolies was: "Have you brought us here to kill us?”
8. Human nature is the same all the world over, and the English peasant who emigrates to Canada would bitterly resent similar treatment.
9. The principal reasons for a coolie wishing to emigrate are domestic trouble and starvation, and if he has been recruited for the latter reason, he expects, on arrival at the Calcutta depôt, to have as much food as he can eat, and not to be deprived of it for two days, purged, and then followed by doses of thymol, which is particularly nauseating, and as Colonel Pilgrim observes in his letter of the 25th March, 1903, of which I enclose a copy:—
"The exhibition of thymol in large doses frequently gives rise to unpleasant, though not dangerous, symptoms. and occasionally to distinctly
48