One day many years ago a visitor,
While being conducted through the hospital at Gondal, noticed
that all the windows appeared to be open just so much and
more. The mathematical precision was so apparent that he went
up to one of them the better to examine it. As he tried to
move a sash he found that it was stuck fast. He walked up to
another and found it also firmly fixed.
The Medical Officer who was showing him around noticed
his surprise and said: " The windows are all locked. They
are kept locked At the time of the year it gets rather chilly
in the rarely morning and night . Patients are therefore sure
to be tempted to shut out the cold by closing the window. In
so doing however they exclude the fresh air, so necessary for
their recovery. This device, invented by His Highness,
prevents them from tampering with the ventilation of the
ward."
The Ruler of the state despite of all difficulties of all
difficulties, got the highest degree in the in the field of
Medical faculty of the Edinburgh University. For many years he
personally supervised its work.
Kumar Shree Bhupat Sinhjee was also
interested in medicines.
He was taken to Scotland at the age of Seven. He become the
student of Horrow at the age of thirteen . On leaving Harrow
he joined Trinity collage, Cambridge where he took the degree
of M.B. Then he studied for the exams held by the Royal
Collage of Physicians and the Royal Collage of Surgeons in
London. And was awarded the L.R.C.P
and M.R.C.S diplomas in 1914. After qualifying for the
Tropical School of Medicine he returned to Gondal in 1919 and
on the retirement of Dr. Hari Bhacaji was appointed the chief
Medical officer of the state.
During Bhagvat
Sinhjee’s regime there was only two medical institute a one
at Gondal and Other at Dhoraji. He set up dispensary on wheels
and sent it from village to village.
In the meantime action
were taken to protect the people against the small pox and
later inoculation against bubonic plague; some year later Sir
Thomas R. Fraser, when touring
India as chairmen of Indian Plague Commission praised the
well-equipped operating theater and medical, surgical and
lying in ward of the same hospital. In addition to provide
medical relief to person in and near the capital, the Gondal
Hospital was used for training DAIS (midwives).
Victoria Scholarship to the Pupil nurses.
The wealthy people in
Dhoraji started two private hospital built and endowed by the Muslim
merchants for the care of woman and children were
opened in 1915 in commemoration of Bhagavt Sinhjee’s 51st
birthday.
The state has opened
hospital at Upleta and Bhayadar and dispensaries at Gondal,
Bhayavadar, Sarsai and Jetalsar. They are staffed with
qualified doctors and trained nurses.
The emphasis of western
medical department has not completely destroyed. The peoples
faith in the Ayur Veda. An Ayur Vedic Medical Hall and
Dispensary exist at Gondal. The Raj-Vaidya Jivaram Kalidas
forms après of his own, a monthly journal devoted to medicine
and sanitation was published every month.
Temporary camps were
constructed outside the town for lodging people from the
affected parts of the urban area. The improvement made in the
supply of drinking water in Gondal and other towns had town
has greatly decreased cholera mortality. When the village
reconstruction scheme has been put to present the supply of
drinking water in rural areas.
Curious to relate, most
persons bitten by rabic treatment. They prefer to go to a ‘Sthanak’
(sacred place) of Vachhra Dada living in Vachhra, a small village near
Gondal who, by reciting incantations, it is stated, is able to
save 90% of the cases that are brought to him.
The education campaign
has however turned the thoughts of the rising generation
towards sanitation. They have learnt how to act, of
themselves, if unfortunately attacked by any infectious
disease, or at least retain from attending school or coming in
contact with other boys and girls until they have fully
recovered. In consequence of the active work for the
protection of the health of the Gondal people, the protection
of the health of the Gondal people , the death rates might be
expected, has fallen considerably.
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