Part III.]
DISPENSARIES IN RAJPOOTANA.
11
DISPENSARIES IN RAJPOOTANA.
Surgeon-Major W. J. Moore, the Superintendent-General of Dispensaries
and Vaccination in Rajpootana, submitted the report.
Number of institu-
tions.
The total number of medical institutions was 73 from which reports were
received. Of these, 8 belong to British Rajpootana, 2 to the Rajpootana Public
Works Department, 1 to the Inland Customs Department, and the remaining
62 to the Native States. Deducting the jails of the latter, 10 in number, 53
dispensaries proper have been working in the Native States. Deducting the
Ajmere jail. seven dispensaries in British Raipootana.
Patients treated.
The total number of patients treated was 174,576 against 182,090 during
1872, being a decrease (common to all the dispensaries) of 7,514, a result
which is attributed to the absence of epidemic diseases, notably cholera
and dengue, which prevailed in 1872. This total does not include the
patients treated in the Jeypoor and Khetree institutions from which no re-
ports were received for 1872 and 1873, "but supposing the same number
of patients to have been treated in Jeypoor and Khetree in 1873, as for the
last year for which reports were received (viz. 1871), the grand total of pa-
tients for the province would be 206,741." Of the actual total, 150,593 were
treated in the institutions of Native States, and 23,983 in British States. Of
the total number treated in the Native States, 3,540 were patients from the
various jails (vide para. 23), and of the total number treated in British Raj.
pootana, 464 were jail patients.
Cost.
The total cost was Rs. 44,776, and the cost per patient a little more than
four annas, both figures being a little in excess of the previous year.
Diseases treated.
The proportion of the principal diseases treated does not differ materially
from the rates of previous years. Intermittent fevers gave 1961 per cent.,
remittent fevers 0.95, cholera 0.8, rheumatism 4.3, syphilis 3.53, leprosy 0.16,
ophthalmic affections 5.57, chest affections 6.45, dysentery and diarrhoea 5.99,
spleen 2.09, guinea worm 1.24, cutaneous diseases, 7.04, abscesses and ulcers
11.98, and injuries 2.71.
Public health.
Fevers.
Bowel—affections.
Small-pox.
Deugue.
Cholera.
The year is reported as having been more than ordinarily healthy, and
there was no epidemic disease prevalent. November, December, Septem-
ber, January, March and June, in the order named, were the most sickly months.
July, February and August the most healthy, According to the vital statistics
of Rajpootana, fevers were made responsible for 60 per cent. of the total
deaths, but Dr. Moore is of opinion that this represents a greatly exaggerated
number, occasioned by looseness of expression due to ignorance on the part
of the people. The most malarious places are Indurghur, Banswarra, Burt.
poor and Sambhur, judging according to the proportion of paroxysmal fevers
treated. At Aboo, only half the usual average of rain fell, and the proportion
of malarious fevers treated was less than for any period since 1868. Dr.
Moore expresses the opinion that ' the amount of fever prevailing after the
rains is found to be in exact proportion with the amount of water falling."
The vital statistics show bowel complaints as having caused 8.80 per cent. of
the total mortality, and small-pox accounts for 6.9 per cent. The latter
disease appeared in Jeypoor at the commencement of the year, in the middle
of the year at Bhurtpoor, and towards the termination of the year in Tonk,
Ajmere and Jhala Patun. Bhurtpore suffered the most severely, but the type
of the disease was mild and the mortality did not exceed 1.2 per cent. There
was some dengue in the Bickaneer State at the commencement of the year,
but otherwise the country was free from that disease. There were three deaths
from cholera in Jeypoor in January and six in February. In May six cases
occurred in Pertabguhr, and in June there were a few scattered cases in the
Bhurtpoor district. In August 80 deaths occurred in the town of Barait in
Jeypoor, and the disease then disappeared.
The crops were of an average quantity and no distress prevailed, although
the rainfall (21.27 inches) was below the average.
Operations.
Caste.
There were 215 major, and 7,318 minor surgical operations performed.
The major included 28 cases of lithotomy, 36 amputations, 5 extractions of
cataract, and 1 excision of a joint. Of those treated, 68.28 per cent. were
Hindoos and 29.29 Mahomedans. Females bore a proportion of 16.91 per
cent. to the total treated, and children 16.51 per cent.