4
doubts the correctness of these figures and states that a new method of
inspection which was introduced under his orders has brought to light the
fact that in many districts from one-third to one-half of the children under
five years of age escaped vaccination.
12. Plague.—The mortality from plague continued to diminish, the
total number of deaths being 110, of which 78 occurred in Calcutta and 22
at Sainthia in the district of Birbhum. A sharp outbreak at the latter place,
which is believed to have been due to the importation of the disease by
Marwari traders, was successfully localised. The total number of deaths
during the year is the lowest on record ; and the Presidency was entirely
free from plague during the last five months of the year.
13. The Sanitary Board.—The Sanitary Board continued to do useful
work. Besides advising on a number of sanitary questions of considerable
importance, it considered and submitted to Government sketch projects for
three drainage works and four schemes of water-supply, of which the total
cost is estimated at Rs. 9,76,581.
14. Sanitary Improvements.—The total expenditure incurred on sani-
tary works executed during the financial year 1915-16 by Government,
Municipalities, District Boards and private individuals is estimated at
Rs. 14,60,006. Sanitary works were, as usual, carried out in the villages
through the agency of District and Local Boards and Union Committees, but
the Sanitary Commissioner reports that the complaint is almost universal
that the villagers do not understand the importance of sanitary measures and
are reluctant to contribute to their cost.
The total expenditure on sanitary engineering works during the calendar
year 1916 is reported to have been Rs. 4,61,894, or nearly 3 lakhs less than
in the previous year. The decrease is due to the unfavourable financial
situation consequent on the war. The greater part of the expenditure was,
as usual, devoted to water-supply. Water-works were completed at
Chittagong and Bankura, and schemes for the improvement of the urban
water-supply were under construction at Howrah, Barisal, Berhampore
and Burdwan.
Drainage schemes were fully completed at Katwa and
partially completed at Burdwan and Bhadreswar, while others were under
construction at Howrah, Bhatpara, Garden Reach and Tangail. The general
results of the year are summarized as follows by the Sanitary Engineer :—
" Although the amount spent on sanitary engineering works during the year was
small, the year was one of slow but steady progress. There was a considerable increase
in the number of persons supplied with water and in the quantity of filtered water given.
A number of important projects were prepared, and there should be no difficulty in
carrying out an extensive project of sanitary engineering works in this province when
financial equilibrium is restored."
A valuable indication is given by the Sanitary Engineer of the effect
which the metering of house connections has on the consumption of water in
towns. In Barisal it is reported that, as the result of allowing 51 metered
house connections, no increase has been caused in the consumption per
capita, although this is less than 3 gallons per head of the population
served, whereas at Hooghly-Chinsura the consumption per head has
increased from 4.81 gallons per head in 1914 to 11.29 gallons per head in
1916, concomitantly with the grant of unmetered house connections.
The Sanitary Engineer estimates that in this latter municipality one-
eighth of the inhabitants are consuming more than one-half of the water
supplied. The Governor in Council regards it as a most un-satisfactory
feature of the management of municipal water-works, constructed with
the help of grants from Government, that Municipal Boards should neglect
the rules which have been framed in the general interest for the regulation
of private connections so as to secure a fair distribution of the supply
among all classes.
15. Sanitary Officers.—Progress has been made in the appointment of
sanitary officers in municipalities under the Sanitary Officers, Bengal, Act II
of 1914, though there was for some time a disposition on the part of certain
municipalities to defer making appointments until orders were passed on