FAMINE, DISEASE, MEDICINE AND THE STATE IN MADRAS PRESIDENCY (1876-78). LEELA SAMI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UMI Number: U5922B8 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U592238 Published by ProQuest LLC 2013. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 DECLARATION OF NUMBER OF WORDS FOR MPHIL AND PHD THESES This form should be signed by the candidate’s Supervisor and returned to the University with the theses. Name of Candidate: Leela Sami ThesisTitle: Famine, Disease, Medicine and the State in Madras Presidency (1876-78) College: Unversity College London I confirm that the following thesis does not exceed*: 100,000 words (PhD thesis) Approximate Word Length: 100,000 words Signed....... ... Date ° Candidate Signed .......... .Date. Supervisor The maximum length of a thesis shall be for an MPhil degree 60,000 and for a PhD degree 100,000 words inclusive of footnotes, tables and figures, but exclusive of bibliography and appendices. Please note that supporting data may be placed in an appendix but this data must not be essential to the argument of the thesis. In other words, examiners are not necessarily required to read beyond the 100,000/60,000 word limit.* Theses must be submitted to Senate House, NOT directly to the examiners. Failure to submit your theses to Senate House will delay your examination. ‘Candidates should check with their department as some departments may have a lower word limit than the University word limit stated above. Thesis Abstract The thesis is a critical examination of the relationship between different levels of the colonial state and its medical services in the relief of famine in Madras Presidency during 1876-78. The state was irrevocably divided in moral, administrative and financial terms in its responses to famine and the provision of famine relief during this episode These divisions made for inconsistencies in the relief of distress, and resulted in widespread suffering and starvation. However, they also allowed for considerable latitude by the Provincial Government in the implementation of Imperial famine policy, and for the medical profession to gain administrative authority by claiming expertise in the scientific determination of standards of state support for the famine stricken. This famine heralded the beginning of organized all-India state intervention in famine processes through the institution of famine codes and organized bureaucratic machinery for the early prevention of agrarian distress through prompt state intervention. To this extent, this particular episode was a ‘prime mover’ in the history of the medical profession and the history of state intervention in famine relief in India. The thesis seeks to address critically several problems in the historiography of famine, colonial medicine, disease and the state in modem South Asia through this case study. It attempts to do so through a critical re-examination of material used by previous authors and the use of some hitherto unused sources from the Provincial archives. 4 Table of Contents Pages Title Page 1 Declaration of Originality 2 Declaration of Number of Words 3 Thesis Abstract 4 Table of Contents 5 List of Tables, Figures and Appendices 6 Acknowledgements 7 List of Abbreviations 8 Transliterations P. 9-11 Introduction: Famine, Disease, Medicine and the State in Madras Presidency P. 12-81 Chapter 1: State Intervention and Famine Relief Policy 1876-78 82-147 Chapter 2: William Robert Cornish and State Intervention during the Madras Famine 148-196 Chapter 3: Vital Statistics, Famine Policy, Colonial Medicine and the State 197-243 Chapter 4: Starvation, Disease and Death in Madras 1876-78 244-314 Chapter 5: Administrative, Medical and Social Responses to Famine 315-346 Conclusions 347-353 Select Bibliography 354-374 Map 375 List of Tables, Figures and Appendices P. Nos. introduction Table 0.1 Famines in the Madras Presidency 1729-1866 74-77 Table 0.2 Governmental Agencies Involved in Health, Medical Relief and Sanitation 78-81 in Madras 1786-1880 Chapter 1 Table 1.1 Districts affected by Fam ine, January 1877 107 Chapter 2 Table 2.1 Richard Temple on Famine Relief in 1874 and 1877 171 Chapter 3 Table 3.1 Loss of Population 1871-1878 225 Table 3.2 Michael Kennedy’s Calculations of Population Loss 229 Appendix 3.1 Causes of Death 1877 237-243 Appendix 3.2 Cornish’s graph showing the link between mortality and food prices 243A Chapter 4 Table 4.1 Deaths by Cause 1871-78 258 Table 4.2 Monthly Distribution of Deaths 1876-78 260 Graph G4. Monthly Movement of Deaths 1876-78 265 Fig.4.1 Average distribution of deaths by cause 1871-75 266 Fig. 4.2 Distribution of Deaths by cause 1876 267 Fig. 4.3 Distribution of Deaths by cause 1877 268 Fig. 4.4 Distribution of Deaths by Cause 1878 269 Table 4.3 Table 4.3 Mortality in Famine Districts Dec'76-Jan'77 271 Table 4.4 Fever Mortality in 1877 287 Table 4.5 Increase or Decrease of Numbers by Caste 1871-1881 313 Table 4.6 Proportionate Increases and Decreases by Caste 1871-1881 314 Chapter 5 Table 5.1 Cholera Mortality in Thanjavur (Tanjore) and Kumool 1871-1881 323 Table 5.2 Length of Imprisonment and Mortality in the Gaols of Madras 1877 334 Map of Affected Districts 375 6 Acknowledgements The writing of this thesis has owed an immeasurable amount to several individuals and institutions. Professor Anne Hardy has been a source of moral, intellectual and emotional strength. I owe to her the very chance to carry on and complete my doctoral degree. Had it not been for her forthright support and deep sensitivity at a very difficult personal and academic juncture in my life and thereafter, this thesis might never have seen the light of day. Dr. Alex McKay encouraged me through several clumsy drafts of my chapters. I am grateful for his detailed and incisive comments on my work, for his insightful yet gentle criticism, and for his professional advice. Professors Janet Browne and Hal Cook have provided generous academic support, and Dr. Michael Neve was extremely helpful at a critical moment. A doctoral grant from the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL provided me with the financial, logistic and administrative assistance to carry out my research in London and India. The administrative staff at the Wellcome Trust Centre have been wonderful. I particularly thank Alan Shiel, who has been a brick in helping me to sustain myself financially through four long, hard years. I am deeply grateful for the cheerful generosity of the staff at the various archives and libraries I have accessed. These include the staff of the Oriental and India Office Collections and the British Library, the Wellcome Library, the Tamil Nadu State Archives (particularly Sivakumar and Neelavannan), the Roja Muthaiah Library, the Connemara Library, and the Maharashtra State Archives in Mumbai. Drs. Sanjay Sharma and Biswamoy Pati offered me valuable suggestions and advice when I visited New Delhi in 2004, and I have benefited from conversations with David Hall- Matthews, Sarah Hodges, Raj Chandavarkar,Chris Hamlin, Sujata Patel and Mohan Rao. I also thank numerous unnamed attendees at conferences where I presented my work, for their comments and suggestions. Family, well-wishers and friends across the world, contributed to make my research possible, tolerable and enjoyable in a variety of ways. Sumi, Rochelle, Bhavana, Pradeep, Geetha Aunty, Samiksha, Nahida, Nandini and Pratik kept me sane in London during my first year. Papuma, Chander Mama, Ambi Mama and Thuthi looked after me while I was in Chennai in 2004, and Apama and Bhavani were amiable company in the Tamil Nadu State Archives and at Chennai’s many eating places and cinemas. Rahul has always been there for me in his quiet way. Veronica, Anitha, Asha, Shanti, Deepa, Pragnya, Shambhavi and Dhivya have all been incredibly generous with their time and affection at various stages. Helga, Stephen, Candice, Laurence, Theresia and Lois were bright spots in the Wellcome. Barry Keane and Matthew Hughes made an important difference to my life. Ruby and Amma, thank you for everything. I would not have been here if it had not been for you. 7 List of Abbreviations used in the Thesis BMJ British Medical Journal CEHI Cambridge Economic History of India DRAC Department of Revenue, Agriculture and Commerce Gol Government of India GoM Government of Madras G.O. Government Order IESHR Indian Economic and Social History Review IFRF Indian Famine Relief Fund IMS Indian Medical Service IOR India Office Records JAS Journal of Asian Studies MAS Modem Asian Studies Rs. Rupees SoS Secretary of State for India SCR Annual Report of the Sanitary Commissioner for Madras TNSA Tamil Nadu State Archives Transliterations and Explanation of Terms Note: Several of these transliterations have been taken from N. Mukerji, The Ryotwari System in Madras, Calcutta, 1962. The remainder are adapted from Vol. Ill of the Manual of Administration of the Madras Presidency, Madras 1893. Akbari: A form of revenue derived from taxation on the production of liquors. Cholum : Sorghum Vulgare , or Indian millet. Choultry: A hall or public building used by travellers as a resting place, and also intended for the transaction of public business, Anglo-Indian form of Chavady.