The Black Plague: Part II

The Town Clerk expressed his gratitude to me for having taken charge of the vacant house and the patients. He frankly confessed that the Town Council had no immediate means to cope with such an emergency but promised that they would render all the help in their power. Once awakened to a sense of their duty, the Municipality made no delay in taking prompt measures.

The Town Clerk thanked me for taking charge of the vacant house and the patients. He admitted that the Town Council had no immediate way to handle such an emergency. But he promised that the Council would do everything in its power to help. Once the Municipality became aware of its duty, it acted promptly.

The next day they placed a vacant godown at my disposal, and suggested that the patients be removed there, but the Municipality did not undertake to clean the premises. The building was unkempt and unclean. We cleaned it up ourselves, raised a few beds and other necessaries through the offices of charitable Indians, and improvised a temporary hospital. The Municipality lent the services of a nurse, who came with brandy and other hospital equipment. Dr. Godfrey still remained in charge.

The next day, they made an empty warehouse available to me and suggested moving the patients there. But the Municipality did not offer to clean it. The building was neglected and dirty. We cleaned it ourselves and obtained a few beds and other necessities with the help of charitable Indians. We then set up a temporary hospital. The Municipality provided a nurse, who brought brandy and other hospital supplies. Dr. Godfrey remained in charge.

The nurse was a kindly lady and would fain have attended to the patients, but we rarely allowed her to touch them, lest she should catch the contagion.

The nurse was a kind woman who wanted to care for the patients. But we rarely let her touch them, for fear she would catch the infection.

We had instructions to give the patients frequent doses of brandy. The nurse even asked us to take it for precaution, just as she was doing herself. But none of us would touch it. I had no faith in its beneficial effect even for the patients. With the permission of Dr. Godfrey, I put three patients, who were prepared to do without brandy, under the earth treatment, applying wet earth bandages to their heads and chests. Two of these were saved. The other twenty died in the godown.

We were instructed to give the patients frequent doses of brandy. The nurse even asked us to take it as a precaution, just as she was doing. But none of us would touch it. I did not believe it would help even the patients. With Dr. Godfrey’s permission, I used earth treatment on three patients who were willing to go without brandy. I applied wet earth bandages to their heads and chests. Two of these patients survived. The other twenty died in the warehouse.

Meanwhile the Municipality was busy taking other measures. There was а lazaretto for contagious diseases about seven miles from Johannesburg. The two surviving patients were removed to tents near the lazaretto, and arrangements were made for sending any fresh cases there. We were thus relieved of our work.

Meanwhile, the municipal authorities were taking other steps. A hospital for contagious diseases was about seven miles from Johannesburg. The two surviving patients were moved to tents near the hospital. Arrangements were also made to send any new patients there. This relieved us of our work.

In the course of a few days we learnt that the good nurse had had an attack and immediately succumbed. It is impossible to say how the two patients were saved and how we remained immune, but the experience enhanced my faith in earth treatment, as also my diffidence in the efficacy of brandy, even as a medicine. I know that neither this faith nor this diffidence is based upon any solid grounds, but I cannot efface the impression which I then received, and which I still retain, and I have therefore thought it necessary to take note of it here.

Within a few days, we learned that the good nurse had suffered an attack and died immediately. It is impossible to say how the two patients survived or how we remained immune. But the experience strengthened my faith in earth treatment and my doubts about brandy’s effectiveness, even as a medicine. I know that neither this faith nor these doubts are based on solid grounds. But I cannot erase the impression I received then, and I still retain it. I have therefore thought it necessary to mention it here.

On the outbreak of the plague, I had addressed a strong letter to the press holding the Municipality guilty of negligence after the location came into its possession and responsible for the outbreak of the plague itself. This letter secured me Mr. Henry Polak, and was partly responsible for the friendship of the late Rev. Joseph Doke.

When the plague broke out, I wrote a strongly worded letter to the press. I accused the Municipality of neglecting the location after it came into its possession. I also held the Municipality responsible for the plague outbreak itself. This letter brought me into contact with Mr. Henry Polak. It also helped lead to my friendship with the late Rev. Joseph Doke.

I have said in an earlier chapter, that I used to have my meals at a vegetarian restaurant. Here I met Mr. Albert West. We used to meet in this restaurant every evening and go out walking after dinner. Mr. West was a partner in a small printing concern. He read my letter in the press about the outbreak of the plague, and not finding me in the restaurant felt uneasy.

As I mentioned in an earlier chapter, I used to eat at a vegetarian restaurant. There I met Mr. Albert West. We met at the restaurant every evening and went for a walk after dinner. Mr. West was a partner in a small printing business. He read my letter about the plague outbreak in the newspaper. When he did not find me at the restaurant, he became worried.

My co-workers and I had reduced our diet since the outbreak, as I had long made it a rule to go on a light diet during epidemics. In these days I had therefore given up my evening dinner. Lunch also I would finish before the other guests arrived. I knew the proprietor of the restaurant very well, and I had informed him that as I was engaged in nursing the plague patients, I wanted to avoid the contact of friends as much as possible.

My co-workers and I had been eating less since the outbreak. I had long made it a rule to eat lightly during epidemics. So I had stopped eating dinner in the evening. I also finished lunch before the other guests arrived. I knew the restaurant owner very well. I had told him that, because I was nursing plague patients, I wanted to avoid contact with friends as much as possible.

Not finding me in the restaurant for a day or two, Mr. West knocked at my door one early morning just as I was getting ready to go out for a walk. As I opened the door Mr. West said: ‘I did not find you in the restaurant and was really afraid lest something might have happened to you. So I decided to come and see you in the morning in order to make sure of finding you at home. Well, here I am at your disposal. I am ready to help in nursing the patients. You know that I have no one depending on me.’

After not seeing me at the restaurant for a day or two, Mr. West came to my door early one morning. He knocked just as I was getting ready to go for a walk. When I opened the door, Mr. West said: ‘I did not see you at the restaurant and was really afraid that something might have happened to you. So I decided to come in the morning to make sure I found you at home. Well, I am here to help. I am ready to help nurse the patients. You know that no one depends on me.’

I expressed my gratitude, and without taking even a second to think, replied: ‘I will not have you as a nurse. If there are no more cases, we shall be free in a day or two. There is one thing however.’

I thanked them and replied without a moment’s thought: ‘I will not have you as a nurse. If there are no more cases, we will be free in a day or two. There is one thing, though.’

‘Yes, what is it?’

‘Yes, what is it?’

‘Could you take charge of the Indian Opinion press at Durban? Mr. Madanjit is likely to be engaged here, and some one is needed at Durban. If you could go, I should feel quite relieved on that score.’

‘Could you take charge of the Indian Opinion press in Durban? Mr. Madanjit will likely be busy here, and someone is needed in Durban. If you could go, I would feel quite relieved about that.’

‘You know that I have a press. Most probably I shall be able to go, but may I give my final reply in the evening? We shall talk it over during our evening walk.’

‘You know I have a press. I will most likely be able to go, but may I give you my final answer this evening? We can talk about it during our evening walk.’

I was delighted. We had the talk. He agreed to go. Salary was no consideration to him, as money was not his motive. But a salary of £10 per month and a part of the profits, if any, was fixed up. The very next day Mr. West left for Durban by the evening mail, entrusting me with the recovery of his dues. From that day until the time I left the shores of South Africa, he remained a partner of my joys and sorrows.

I was delighted. We talked, and he agreed to go. Salary did not matter to him because money was not his motive. But we settled on a salary of £10 a month and a share of any profits. The very next day, Mr. West left for Durban on the evening mail train, leaving me to collect the money owed to him. From that day until I left South Africa, he shared my joys and sorrows.

Mr. West belonged to a peasant family in Louth (Linconshire). He had had an ordinary school education, but had learnt a good deal in the school of experience and by dint of self-help. I have always known him to be a pure, sober, God-fearing, humane Englishman.

Mr. West came from a peasant family in Louth (Linconshire). He had an ordinary school education, but learned a great deal through experience and his own efforts. I have always known him to be a morally upright, sober, God-fearing, and compassionate Englishman.

We shall know more of him and his family in the chapters to follow.

We’ll learn more about him and his family in the chapters ahead.