SEA INSPECTION.] 137
May 1897, June 1897 to May 1898, and June 1898 to May 1891 ; and well demonstrates the
magnitude of the inspection work carrid out in Bombay :-				
Period.
Number of vessels inspected.
Number of persons examined.
Number of persons rejected.

Square-rigged.
Native Craft.
Passengers.
Crew.	
Passengers.	
Crew.
February to May 1897
1,038
16,154
182,386
143,906
678
153
June 1897 to May 1898
2,488
48,730
355,409
458,462
10,635
687
June 1898 to May 1890
2,708
57,480
546,881
515,136
15,380
1,314
Total
6,234
122,364
1,084,676
1,117,504
26,693
2,154
At first, those that were rejected were simply turned back en masse into the City.
Later on some were sent to hospital, others were detained at the Modikhana or Port
Health Observation Camp, while a large number were only prevented from sailing; as they
presented no declared symptoms or such as may have been due merely to temporary conditions and to plague. Of those whose movements could be traced or who were placed under
observation, 42 were found to have developed plague up to 31st May 1897, 92 between June
1897 and May 1898, and 128 from June 1898 to May 1899.
During the period covered by this review, over 21/2 years, and during which time Bombay
City suffered from three virulent epidemics of plague and has not once been free since the commencement, seven ocean-going steamers were reported to have had a case of plague on board
of each. The first case was that of a pilgrim, and occurred on board a pilgrim-ship in December 1896. The second was discoverd on board a Military Transport in March 1897, the
passengers of which were examined by and in accordance with arrangements made by the
Military Authorities. Two cases were found on board P. and 0. Liners in March 1898 on
voyages between Bombay and Aden. They were Sea Post Office officials, and both recovered.
The remaining three vessels were also P. and 0. Liners. One had a fatal case-native
fire-man-at Aden in July 1898, the second vessel had a fatal case-lascar-at Colombo in
August 1898, and the third vessel a fatal case-native passenger-at Colombo in 1898. It
has not been possible to ascertain accurately if many cases occurred among the millions of
crew and passengers who left for coast ports near Bombay, but very few have been detected.
The following statement shows the name of vessel, date of case, and the Port Health Officer
at the time :-
	 
Between December 1896 and December 1897. (Port Health Officer-Lieut.- Colonel F. F. MacCartie·)
1. S. S. "Pekin."- Left on 28th December 1896 ; two cases occurred between Bombay and Aden.

2. S. S. "Dilwara."- Left on the 10th March 1897 ; two cases (one case occurred in the family of a man in whose compound plague had been prevalent before they left Bombay).
Between December 1897 and May 1898 ; and again between November 1898 and June 1899.
(Port Health Officer-Major J. Crimmin, V.C.)
3. S.S. " Shannon."- Left on 5th March 1898; one case- European Postal official-recovered on voyage from Bombay to Aden and back.

4. S. S. "Clyde."- Left on 30th April 1898; one case- Native Postal official-recovered.
Between May 1898 and November 1898. (Port Health Officer- Capt. W. E. Jennings.)


 5. S. S. "Carthage."- Left on 2nd July 1898 for Aden and Europe ; two cases, crew, one died, one recovered.

6. S. S. "Ballarrat."- Left on 16th August 1898 for Colombo and China ; one case, crew, died.

7. S. S. "Bengal."- Left on 11th October 1898- Colombo and China ; one case of passenger, died at Galle.
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