MUNICIPAL
DEPARTMENT.
SANITATION.
CALCUTTA, THE 16TH JULY 1910.
RESOLUTION—No. 1022 San.
READ—
The Report of the Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, for the year 1909.
Read also—
The Report on Vaccination in Bengal for the year 1909-10.
Lieutenant-Colonel F. C. Clarkson, I.M.S., was in charge of the department
throughout the year under report, but proceeded on long leave on the 1st
March 1910, being succeeded by Major W. W. Clemesha, I.M.S., by whom the
reports now under consideration are submitted.
2. Climatic Conditions.—The rainfall during the monsoon period began
early, and was on the whole well distributed, being above the normal in all
Divisions except Chota Nagpur. The outturn of the crops generally was
excellent, and a marked improvement in the general health of the people is
chronicled.
3. Births and Deaths.—The number of births during the year under
review showed an increase over the figure of the preceding year as well as
over that of 1907, while the number of deaths was less than in either of the
two preceding years, this being the first occasion since 1904 that these two
phenomena have occurred together. The number of births registered in the
Province (exclusive of Angul) was 1,909,547, or 37.79 per mille of population,
in comparison with 1,823,716, or 36.09 per mille, during 1908. The increase
in the birth-rate is attributed to the improved condition of the people, and
was shared by all Divisions except Orissa, where the circumstances of the
previous year had been particularly unfavourable, and their effect continued
to be shown. The total number of deaths reported was 1,543,971, or 30.55
per mille, against 1,948,513, or 38.56 per mille, during the preceding year. In
the opinion of the Sanitary Commissioner this satisfactory decrease was
due mainly to the reduced mortality from cholera, fever, dysentery and
diarrhœa. In comparison with other Provinces, Bengal stood third in the order
of birth-rate in place of sixth during 1908, while it stood fifth in the order
of death-rate as against third in the preceding year. These results afford
reason' for congratulation, and the mortality recorded was the lowest since
1899. Within the Province the most unhealthy Division was that of Patna,
which showed no increase in the birth-rate and stood first as regards the
death-rate, though the latter figure was less than in 1908. Orissa, which
returned the highest mortality last year, this year shows the lowest.
4. The experiment for testing the accuracy of the registration of vital
statistics in a portion of the Burdwan district came to a close in July 1909.
Out of 6,890 deaths reported since 1906 in the area under observation, the
causes of death in no less than 2,751 instances were found to have been
wrongly reported, and almost half the "fever" deaths returned were really
due to other diseases. The numerical accuracy of registration was checked, as
usual, by vaccination officers. The Lieutenant-Governor regrets to observe the
bad results reported from Purnea, Hazaribagh and Jessore. The results in
Saran, though not good, show an improvement over those of the preceding
year. The District Officers concerned are requested to give the matter their
particular attention.
5. Cholera.—The mortality which in the preceding year was the highest
ever recorded, fell in the year under report to almost normal proportions, the