Bombay Presidency, 1850-1920

This work focuses on the major health and sanitation problems of the nineteenth century: the health of the European poor, battling alcoholism and venereal diseases; the views of Indian men and women doctors, about diseases, curatives and birthing practices; and Florence Nightingale's interest in the Presidency, particularly her advocacy of village sanitation. Besides, the contributions of doctors B.K. Bhatwadekar and N.H. Choksy, to public health, through an analysis of their writings, are also explored in this monograph. The themes of the early twentieth century which emerge in this work are the review of sanitary improvements in Urbs Prima in Indis, regulations imposed on pilgrims passing through Bombay and at pilgrim sites, and the state of sanitation and disease control in the villages and towns. The book also revisits an important episode, the experience of Bombay in coping with the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, based on contemporary newspaper reports, and on reports of voluntary agencies, which provided relief.