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following account may be given of the procedure adopted in a jail where this
measure was attended with excellent results.* The dose selected was 15
grains to be given in a single dose every Monday morning at the time when
the prisoners were drawn up for the weekly parade. The articles used in con-
nexion with the measure were (1) quinine sulphate in powder; (2) dilute
sulphuric acid; (3) water; (4) a pair of scales and weights; (5) a large vessel
or jar having a wide mouth provided with a lid which could be sealed up;
(6) a long-handled wooden ladle holding exactly one ounce; (7) small glass
tumblers, one for each person who was to take the prophylactic dose. These
tumblers were obtained in the local bazaar and were of different colours; plain
white ones were used for Hindus, green ones for Mahomedans, and brown
ones for others.
Every Monday morning at the time when the office work of the jail was
being done the compounder was required to bring the quinine, the acid, the
water, the scales and the large jar into the office. The calculation of the
amount of quinine which would be necessary for the number of prisoners on
parade, the weighing out of the quinine, the addition of water and acid in
such amount that one ounce of the mixture would be a dose, and the
transference of the mixture to the large jar were then carried out under the
Medical Officer's supervision. Then the lid of the jar was sealed. At the
parade, which was held just before the morning meal, the tumblers were
distributed and the jar opened. The prisoners were divided into small
parties or squads, and at a word of command each prisoner in the squad
held his tumbler at arm's length in front of him. The vessel containing the
mixture being carried by one man and the long handled ladle by another, the
Medical Officer and these men then passed down the line, a dose of the
mixture being ladled out into each man's glass on the way. Each prisoner in
the squad was required to keep his tumbler at arm's length, until the distribu-
tion of the doses to all men in the squad was completed. Then at a word of com-
mand all drank the dose, and immediately afterwards the Medical Officer passed
along the line again for the purpose of examining each man's teeth and
gums (for signs of scurvy, etc.) and of ascertaining that the dose had been
swallowed.
* The procedure was devised by Major R. Heard, I.M.S.