3
7. Sanitary Improvements.—The total cost of sanitary works executed
during 1913-14 by Government, Municipalities, District Boards and
private individuals amounted to Rs. 17,28,946 against Rs. 13,14,368 during
the previous year. The amounts available for non-recurring and recurring
expenditure from the sanitary grants made by the Government of India
were Rs. 13,85,970 and Rs. 9,50,000 respectively. The total amount dis-
tributed was Rs. 7,43,367, of which Rs. 7,32,320 was for non-recurring-
expenditure. Municipal expenditure on sanitation during 1913-14 in-
creased under all important heads, the total increase amounting to
Rs. 5,56,687. This increase was principally due to capital expenditure on
water-supply and drainage, while there was also a considerable rise in the
amount spent on conservancy. 40.15 per cent. of the total receipts was spent
on sanitary works against 32.21 in the previous year. The surface drainage
scheme for Howrah made considerable progress, and portions of the Garulia,
Serampore and Budge-Budge drainage schemes were completed. Water¬
supply projects were completed in Hooghly-Chinsura, Serampore, Jessore and
Khulna, and a large sum was spent in the extension of the Howrah water-
works. Many other schemes were in progress or in contemplation. Steps
were taken to improve village sanitation in several districts by clearing out
impure tanks. by cutting down jungle and by improving drainage. The
Midnapore District Board spent Rs. 36,956 on these measures, which appear
to have been appreciated by the villagers.
8. The Governor in Council desires to draw attention to the value of
private effort in the improvement of the sanitary conditions of rural areas. An
enormous amount of good can be done by private individuals working in small
areas and directing public and private expenditure in an orderly and sensible
fashion. His Excellency in Council has read with great pleasure an account
in the public press of the reforms that have been effected in certain villages
in the district of Hooghly by Babu Sarada Charan Mitra, a retired Judge of
the High Court. He trusts that other public-spirited gentlemen will follow
the example thus set. It will obviously be of great benefit to Bengal if such
work were to become popular among gentlemen of Bengal.
9. Vaccination and Small-pox.—During
the year 1914-15. 1,605,711
vaccinations were performed, the number of persons vaccinated being
1,600,362. The number of primary vaccinations decreased from 1,575,510 to
1,139,384, while the number of revaccinations increased from 281,784 to
466,327. The decrease in primary vaccinations was most marked in the
eastern districts, and is due to the fact that reliable returns have not been
submitted in previous years. The enquiries regarding the falsification of
vaccination returns which have been carried out in Bakarganj by the Deputy
Sanitary Commissioner of the Dacca Circle have had a salutary effect on the
staff of the neighbouring districts. with the result that the returns are
nearer the truth than formerly. The increase in the number of revaccina-
tions was due to the prevalence of small-pox in Calcutta and elesewhere.
The ratio of the surviving infant population vaccinated fell as low as 29.9 per
cent. ; in Bakarganj and Faridpur the ratios were only 5.7 and 8.5 per cent.
respectively. The attention of the local officers has been drawn to the
unsatisfactory state of vaccination in East Bengal, and towards the close of
the year sanction was accorded to the appointment for a period of three years
of two special Inspectors of Vaccination to this part of the province.
The death-rate from small-pox rose from 0.19 to 0.21 per mille, but it is
satisfactory to note that the decline in the infant mortality from this disease
was well maintained. The number of deaths in the Dacca Division decreased
from 5,272 to 1,303, but the mortality in the Chittagong Division continued
to be high. Small-pox was prevalent in Calcutta during the first seven
months and the last month of the year, and its spread into the neighbouring
districts raised the death-rate in the Burdwan and Presidency Divisions.
10. Staff.—Major W. W. Clemesha, I.M.S., who was in charge of the
office of the Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, at the beginning of the year,
proceeded on two years' leave on the 23rd April, but was recalled to duty on
the outbreak of war and rejoined on the 8th September. During his absence,
Major Fry, I.M.S., Special Deputy Sanitary Commissioner for Malaria Research,
Bengal, acted as Sanitary Commissioner. Mr. G. B. Williams, Sanitary