CO885-5 — Page 520

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Practical Hints to Young Surgeons in the Coolie Emigration Service.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885/5

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

PREFACE.

While jotting down memos. for my own future guidance the idea gradually suggested itself to me of putting together some hints for Surgeons Superintendents on first appointment as to the extra professional duties they would have to per- form, and for which nothing in their previous education or training could have prepared them, and thus save them from being dependent on others, till from experience they had formed a system of their own. If this little brochure shall in any degree meet this want my purpose in writing it will have been fully accomplished.

Contractions used-

"Rules or Regulations for "Rules relating to "Colonial Emigration under the Provisions of Act "XXI of 1883."

On arrival at Calcutta the first duty of the Surgeon Superintendent is to report himself to the Agent of the colony for which the ship to which he has been appointed has been chartered, and learn from him when the examina- tion of the coolies is to commence.

His second duty will be to leave his address at the office of the Protector of Emi- grants (14, Russell Street). The next thing I should advise him to do, if the ship has discharged her cargo, and is ready to be fitted for the reception of the coolics, is to write a note to the captain stating that he intends to visit the ship at such a time, anl request him to be present, so that he may make himself acquainted with the captain and officers, and with the accommodations of the ship itself, 1st for the coolies, and 2nd for himself and his interpreters and compounders.

Coolie ships are fitted according to plans approved by the Preliminary Indian Government, copies of which are to be seen in the inspection of office of the Protector of Emigrants, and generally these are ship and all that can be required, but there are several things not Surgeon Super-

fittings by specifically laid down which merit the attention of the intendent. Surgeon Superintendent. On his way to the coolie deck, Coolie deck. which will naturally be his first point, he should observe the height of the coamings of the hatchway, and have a step Hatches. fixed to the outer side of the hatch cover (booby hatch), about half way up, if there is not one there already. The sides of the ladders should reach up to the top of the Laddler. coaming of the hatches to which they are fitted, with the first step on the same level as the step on the outside of the hatch cover, and the ladders should be long enough to give an easy slope to the lower deck, and should be firmly fastened both above and below. These ladders have com- monly hand-rails attached to them, but these are so short that the people have to reach down inside the hatch-cover to get hold of them, which, on a sudden lurch of the ship, is very apt to cause them to take a "header" on to the lower deck, and to prevent this he should have a bamboo lashed to the bar of the hatch-cover, with a few inches pro- jecting beyond, so that the people can get hold before taking

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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