File 2908/1907 Pt 2 ‘Bahrain: quarantine arrangements’ [‎177v] (104/112)

in the present state of the Bahrein exchequer it will he impossible to get
money out of the Sheikh for general expenses, and therefore respectfully
urge upon the Government of India the advisability of adopting the
gestion made by Captain Prideaux in paragraph 2 of his communication, and
taking direct charge of the qnarantine at Bahrein. As I have shown abore
this will only involve an initial cost of Rs. 5,000 and a recurring annual
charge of Rs. 3 , 000 , a small sum compared to the advantages to be derived
from°a direct administration of the quarantine by ourselves.
Memorandum from the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Surgeon to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. .
Assuming that the provisions of the Paris Convention will be enforced at
Bahrein as at other Gulf ports, I should consider the following provision of
buildings, staff, etc., sufficient:—
A. — Buildings, etc.
(1) First Class passengers. —One good room with dressing room and
bath room to hold two beds. Tables, chairs, etc., should be
provided. A small kitchen would also be necessary. All food,
utensils, cook, etc., should be provided by passengers’friends in
Bahrein.
( 2 ) Second Class passengers. —Two rooms with the necessary furniture.
They could use the first class kitchen. A latrine should be
provided for these rooms.
Third Class passengers. —Huts should be built to accommodate the
average number of third class passengers arriving in Bahrein
by the steamer which is always in quarantine (if there is one), or
the one which is most likely to be in quarantine. Huts would
have on this basis to be built for about 30 passengers. Arrange
ments for expansion during epidemics would be necessary in
addition. This could be met by the local purchase of matting
and putting up mat huts. Theoretically a common latrine
should also be provided for the third class passengers, but
practically it would be of no use as the quarantine station is on
the water’s edge.
(4) An encircling hedge of date sticks will be necessary.
(5) A small building to contain the disinfecting stove,
( 6 ) The following chemicals may he provided at the start, together with
a few tubs and wooden buckets. Also six syringes and a dozen
mops:—
(3)
Methylated spirit .
Perchloride of mercury
Carbolic acid (pure) .
20 gallons.
20 lbs.
20 lbs.
(7) Annual contingent allowance of Rs. 600 to be used for meeting
the monthly petty expenses, and for certain expenses such as
hire of a boat for transporting passengers to quarantine, small
repairs to quarantine station, etc.
B. — Staff, etc.
(1) There should be five quarantine guards, one of whom should be
caretaker of the quarantine station and also mechanician.
( 2 ) Boat for landing passengers. This could probably be arranged for
in normal times out of the contingent allowance. During
epidemics it would be better to have the same boat in use, and to
pay by the trip.