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5. Cholera.—Following upon the good results of 1909, cholera again
assumed serious proportions during the year under review, being responsible
for 162,611 deaths (3.21 per mille), in comparison with 56,711 or 1.12 per
mille. The mortality, however, was below the average (1,74,051) of the five
years 1905-09. The Patna and Tirhut Divisions suffered most severely, and,
as usual, the disease was spread by the disregard of precautions in respect of
drinking water. The use of permanganate of potash for disinfecting wells
was resorted to with good results, noticeably in Gaya, Shahabad, Champaran
and Darbhanga, but in Purnea, owing to the ignorance of the people, opposition
was encountered, which the local officers should endeavour to break down.
The District Boards and Municipalities in the areas worst affected (noticeably
in Muzaffarpur), should do their utmost to effect an improvement of the sources
of water-supply. In Sitamarhi, no less than 16.35 per mille of the population
succumbed.
6. Small-pox.—The year was marked by a large and satisfactory decrease
in mortality from this cause, the total number of deaths being 7,440 only, as
compared with 38,609 in the preceding year, and 26,612, the average of the
five years 1905-09. In fact, the mortality was the lowest recorded since 1888-
89. Only one town, Bankura, suffered severely, and the matter of vaccination
in this area should receive special attention.
7. Vaccination.—The report on vaccination is for the triennial period
1908-09 to 1910-11, during which the total number of operations performed
averaged 2,036,145 per annum, of which 166,805 were revaccinations, in
comparison with an annual average of 1,897,867 (121,865 revaccinations)
during the preceding triennium. It is calculated that 600.5 infants per 1,000
were successfully vaccinated in 1910-11, as compared with 534.54 per 1,000
in 1907-08, the last year of the previous triennial period. The average
annual cost of the operations was Rs. 2,03,526, as compared with Rs. 1,70,555
during the years 1905-06 to 1907-08. These results are so far satisfactory,
and the progress made in Orissa, noticeably in Balasore, shows what can be
done if special attention is given to the subject. During the triennium the
system of vaccination from lymph was introduced in Chota Nagpur, in place of
the arm to arm method, and the Darjeeling Animal Vaccination Depôt was
abolished. It had been maintained as a reserve to the Calcutta Depôt, but
now that the latter can keep an ample stock of lymph in cold storage, the
expense of a second depôt can be avoided.
8 Plague.—The gradual decline in the mortality from plague since 1905
-unfortunately received a sudden check, and 46,584 deaths were registered
from this cause, as compared with 11,779 in 1909. No reason can be assigned
for this increase, but it synchronises with similar results throughout India.
The disease, as usual, was most severe in Saran (in which district nearly half
the total number of deaths occurred), followed by Patna, Shahabad and
Monghyr. Among towns, the four worst affected were Monghyr, Siwan,
Jamalpur and Buxar. In Calcutta there was a considerable decrease in the
mortality from this disease. It is noticeable that Major Gwyther, I.M.S.,
Civil Surgeon of Saran, reports that the foci of the epidemic in that district
during 1910, were much more scattered than during the preceding year.
Places far distant from one another were attacked, while the intervening
country was free, and the spread of the disease was not from village to village.
The number of plague inoculations performed was only 349, as against 704
in the preceding year. These were confined to the districts of Saran, Patna
and Monghyr, and the figures for the last five years show a steady decline.
The evacuation of houses continued to be the only preventive measure regularly
resorted to, and in all the circumstances this is the most efficacious and
practicable course, but disinfection and the use of kerosine oil emulsion were
also tried in some districts. Upwards of 3,70,000 rats are reported to have
been destroyed, but the numbers are less than in the previous year.
9. Fever.—The downward tendency in the mortality from this disease
which was noticed in the report for 1909, was maintained during 1910, the
total number of deaths recorded being 1,031,929 (or 20.42 per mille) compared
with 1,056,237 (20.90 per mille) in 1909, and 1,151,909 (22.79 per mille), the
average of the five years 1905-1909. The worst affected district was Shahabad,
in which the mortality was 30.25 per mille, followed by Darjeeling and Purnea.
It is satisfactory to note that Darbhanga, which was badly stricken in 1909,