CO885-5 — Page 530

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

] ༴། ། ་། ། །

C.O.

Reference :-

885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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field labourer; the arms and hande, making him move all the joints to see that he has free use of them; and look at the palms of the hands to see whether the skin is hard, ne of one who has used them in labour; examine the marks of vaccination and, if not satisfactory, turn him over to the vaccinator at once for re-vaccination, and mark « R.V." on the ticket, so that the result may be afterwards seen; examine the chest for the action of the heart and lungs; the abdomen, especially in the regions of the liver and spleen and at the lower end of the ileum; then the muscular deve- lopment of the thighs and legs, and the state of the feet; then turn him round, percuss along the spine, and, if I have any suspicion of varix, make him stand on tiptoe, and finally make him put the foot up behind to note the arch of the instep. As these people are presented promiscuously-men, women, and children all together-I examine them sepa- rately for the detection of Hernia, Hæmorrhoids, Varicocèle, Orebitis, Hydrocele, and Syphilitic disease. If I have any doubt of any one from the state of the pulse or skin (1-ok out for any appearance of leprosy, and always have your clinical thermometer at these examinations), I ask the Native Surgeon whether the coolie has been in Hospital, and when, how long, and for what disease; and either scud him to the depôt hospital or mark “D)" (doubtful) on the ticket and reserve him for future examination, or mark “R” (rejected) on the ticket, and lay it apart face downwards (so as to prevent it from getting mixed up with the others), to be given to the Emigration Agent with the reasons for rejec- tion. When the examination of all the coolies presented is finished, I clleer the tickets of those accepted, and take them with me and bring them back to the Agent after signing the certificate, so that I may be sure of not signing in any rejected or doubtful case; and, if I subsequently accept a case originally marked doubtful, I write along the top of the ticket my reasons for doing so. This examination will go on as convenient till all the coolies required for the ship are examined, and a few over in case of desertion or any unfitness at the last moment. They are then seen by the Surgeon Superintendent in company with the Depot Surgeon (not native; three days before Embarkation, and finally with the Medical Inspector immediately before going on board.

I do not think that it lies within the province of the Surgeon Superintendent to reject a coolie simply for the sake of a better man, but to accept those who are in his judgment fairly fitted for labourers, My idea of the approach to perfection in a coolie is a rather undersized

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dark man, well set, with a bright eye and a quick alert manner, whom I have always found to be able and willing to work round any of the tall, lighter coloured, and appa- rently more muscular men whom some seem to prefer, but whom I have found to be generally lazy and disinclined to work, and not to possess the same stamina, besides being more intractable--this of course only on board ship, but I feel convinced it will hold good on shore also. I may say here that if any coolie's eyes look_dull and heavy, the Surgeon Superintendent should examine him very particu- larly, as I have found among these people the first signa of illness show themselves there.

While this examination of coolies is going on the Sur- geon Superintendent will find himself called upon in conjunction with the Protector and the Medical Inspector of Emigrants, to make :

I. Primary inspection of the Ship—

when I should recommend his bringing to the notice of, and getting the sanction and support of, those officers in the different hints as to the fitting of the ship mentioned above.

II. Inspection of samples of Coolie Stores : which will be examined and compared with approved samples in the office of the Protector of Emigrants; and

III. Inspection of the Ship Stores and medicines by the

Surgeon Superintendent-

This is a duty which will require his best attention, as it will be carried out within a few days of the embarkation, and will be almost his last chance of making any objections or alterations. He should see-

Ist. That all the fittings or alterations in fittings which he has recommended have been completed, as well as those decided on at the primary inspection.

2nd. That all the storica according to the list signed by the master of the ship and by the third mate, which will be handed to him on going on board, and the medicines, &c. according to Scale No. 3, on pp. 96, 97, and 98 of the Rules are on board, of good quality, and correspond in quantities with those invoices, otherwise he will refuse his certificate (Form 27, p. 36 of the Rules) without which the final inspection cannot be held. It is very hecessary that the Surgeon Superintendent should have a copy of the List of Stores, Form 29, pp. 37, 38 and 39, of the Rules, signed by the master, as it will be seen that the latter part of the cer- tificate Tins as follows: "Certified also that no old stores

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