THE PILGRIMS SHIP BILL. introduced
Pilgrim Ship's Bill,
The
Alexander Mackenzie, has for its
object
the
by Sir giving
effect to recommendations made by the International Sanitary Conference, held at Paris in 1894, and the
by
accepted by
regulation sea
Her
Government for
Majesty's
of the Maliomedan
pilgrim
traffic
between British India and Arabia.
From the observations made by Sir Alexander in his introductory speech, it is
Mackenzie
evident that the Government of India is in a peculiar position with reference to this Bill, not
convinced of its necessity, and yet having to conform reluctantly to the provisions of the Convention of Paris. This curious position on
being
the
part
due
to
of the Government of India is its
own
tinguished by importance
a
not
policy which has
want of interest
only
Insufficiently
on a
prevailing epidemics which
notions
ing cholera Europe and America,
and which have
been traced
indirectly
directly
or
nations.
the seriousness of
situation and to the
have to
dis-
matter of
to itself but to other
alert to
mainly
been
the
regardravaged
always
India, the position to
Government has never been in a materially influence the deliberations of the several International Conferences which have met to consider the cholera
insisting
question. Instead of proper representation of the questhe Indian point of view based on
on
tion from
a
Indian experience, it has been content to allow the Conferences of recent years to meet without even
sending
when it
was
a
delegate,
and
invited to send
a
on
the occasion it
representative,
August
MEDICAL NEWS.
1895.]
selected
whose views could have no weight an assembly such as gathered at
one
whatever in
Paris in 1894. We
clearly pointed out at the time the absurselecting Surgeon-General Cunningham,
of
dity
represent Indian interests on the cholera question. His peculiar views which had neither observation nor experience to support
?C.S.I., to
them
sufficient
reason
to
disqualify him position, right he may have been regarding the uselessness of certain forms of quarantine he had no arguments that were
from such
could
and however
a
appeal to those whom he addressed, for only be based on antiquated theories
could
they long
since
consigned
from
to oblivion and
historical
teresting thing has impeded a
only
of view.
point
sanitation in India
so
in-
much
for many years as the theory of some undefined influence in the air which spreads by some other
equally
undefined and
mysterious
way and
influence adanother, and
vancing attacking localities or persons with cholera. Surgeon-General Cunningham, C.S.I., as Sanitary now
one
now
Commissioner to the Government of India was its leading exponent. It was not a new theory, for the pestilence that walketh in darkness has had
a
mysterious origin given
to it from time
It was, however, convenient, for it saved the necessity of further observation, inquiiy and research and any active measures
immemorial.
being
taken
against
the
spread
of the
disease,
and thus it has happened that India which is the land of cholera has had to learn all about cholera from Europe and not from direct investigation from th3 material at hand. Au agnostic in everything relating to cholera because unversed in the progress made, the Representative of o
o
experience could only meet the arguments opponents, such as Professor Brouardel Monod, Shakespeare and the learned GerProust, man delegates, by twaddle about ferial waves, and a denial of every known way by which cholera can be conveyed. His views about quarantine in relation to Indian ships may have been correct or not, but they could have no effect on the opinions of the scientific men present and could not but be listened to with politeness and that the former Sanitary a feeling of surprise Commissioner and Adviser of the Government of India and actual Representative of the Indian Government held such crude notions on a matter of such importance. Indian
of his
j
No- !
311
Pilgrim Ship's Bill,
The
Alexander Mackenzie, has for its
object
the
by Sir giving
effect to recommendations made by the International Sanitary Conference, held at Paris in 1894, and the
by
accepted by
regulation sea
Her
Government for
Majesty's
of the Maliomedan
pilgrim
traffic
between British India and Arabia.
From the observations made by Sir Alexander in his introductory speech, it is
Mackenzie
evident that the Government of India is in a peculiar position with reference to this Bill, not
convinced of its necessity, and yet having to conform reluctantly to the provisions of the Convention of Paris. This curious position on
being
the
part
due
to
of the Government of India is its
own
tinguished by importance
a
not
policy which has
want of interest
only
Insufficiently
on a
prevailing epidemics which
notions
ing cholera Europe and America,
and which have
been traced
indirectly
directly
or
nations.
the seriousness of
situation and to the
have to
dis-
matter of
to itself but to other
alert to
mainly
been
the
regardravaged
always
India, the position to
Government has never been in a materially influence the deliberations of the several International Conferences which have met to consider the cholera
insisting
question. Instead of proper representation of the questhe Indian point of view based on
on
tion from
a
Indian experience, it has been content to allow the Conferences of recent years to meet without even
sending
when it
was
a
delegate,
and
invited to send
a
on
the occasion it
representative,
August
MEDICAL NEWS.
1895.]
selected
whose views could have no weight an assembly such as gathered at
one
whatever in
Paris in 1894. We
clearly pointed out at the time the absurselecting Surgeon-General Cunningham,
of
dity
represent Indian interests on the cholera question. His peculiar views which had neither observation nor experience to support
?C.S.I., to
them
sufficient
reason
to
disqualify him position, right he may have been regarding the uselessness of certain forms of quarantine he had no arguments that were
from such
could
and however
a
appeal to those whom he addressed, for only be based on antiquated theories
could
they long
since
consigned
from
to oblivion and
historical
teresting thing has impeded a
only
of view.
point
sanitation in India
so
in-
much
for many years as the theory of some undefined influence in the air which spreads by some other
equally
undefined and
mysterious
way and
influence adanother, and
vancing attacking localities or persons with cholera. Surgeon-General Cunningham, C.S.I., as Sanitary now
one
now
Commissioner to the Government of India was its leading exponent. It was not a new theory, for the pestilence that walketh in darkness has had
a
mysterious origin given
to it from time
It was, however, convenient, for it saved the necessity of further observation, inquiiy and research and any active measures
immemorial.
being
taken
against
the
spread
of the
disease,
and thus it has happened that India which is the land of cholera has had to learn all about cholera from Europe and not from direct investigation from th3 material at hand. Au agnostic in everything relating to cholera because unversed in the progress made, the Representative of o
o
experience could only meet the arguments opponents, such as Professor Brouardel Monod, Shakespeare and the learned GerProust, man delegates, by twaddle about ferial waves, and a denial of every known way by which cholera can be conveyed. His views about quarantine in relation to Indian ships may have been correct or not, but they could have no effect on the opinions of the scientific men present and could not but be listened to with politeness and that the former Sanitary a feeling of surprise Commissioner and Adviser of the Government of India and actual Representative of the Indian Government held such crude notions on a matter of such importance. Indian
of his
j
No- !
311
