3
(iv) Plague.— The mortality from this cause fell during 1913 and the
disease showed no sign of establishing itself in new areas. The number of
deaths—recorded was 36,383 as compared with 58,324 during the previous
year. The disease as usual was most severe in Saran, but it also assumed seri-
ous proportions in Shahabad, Patna and Monghyr. The increase in the
number of inoculations performed was inconsiderable, and it is clear that the
operation is generally still regarded with disfavour. The only exception to this
remark is furnished by the Bhagalpur District, where indications are not
wanting that the people are beginning to realize the protection which they
can secure at the cost of very trifling inconvenience. This gratifying develop-
ment is principally due to the perseverance and sympathetic policy of the local
Civil Surgeon, Lieutenant-Colonel Vaughan, I.M.S., and the Lieutenant-Governor
in Council takes this opportunity to record his high appreciation of that officer's
invaluable services in the matter. Nine itinerant Assistant Surgeons were
employed during the year for inoculation work and for the treatment of plague
cases. In Saran the evacuation of infected houses continues to be the most
popular method of protection, and it proved efficacious wherever it was adopted
in time and the people kept strictly aloof from the abandoned houses.
A Plague Manual has lately been issued by the Local Government for the
guidance of its officers and for the information of the public generally.
(v) Dysentery and Diarrhœa.—The number of deaths in 1913 was
25,549 or .74 per mille, as compared with 26,022 or .75 per mille in 1912.
The Orissa Division as usual suffered most, and the Lieutenant-Governor in
Council would be glad if the Sanitary Commissioner would institute enquiries
into the causes underlying the persistent predisposition of the residents of
this Division to the disease.
(vi) Respiratory diseases.—A slight decrease in mortality is observable
under this heading. A special ward for the treatment of tuberculosis has
lately been opened in the Bhagalpur Hospital, and His Honour in Council
is now considering the advisability of instituting a Sanatorium for the treat-
ment of this disease within the Province.
6. Travelling dispensaries.—Six travelling dispensaries modelled on
the lines which have proved so successful in the United Provinces were
established during the year under report. Four of them worked in the
plague-infected areas of Saran and Shahabad, and two in the malarial area of
the Kishenganj subdivision of the Purnea district. Much success attended
those instituted in the Saran and Shahabad districts. The Purnea dispensaries
on the other hand achieved little or nothing, and it has been decided to remove
them to other areas where they are likely to be more efficiently conducted
and more popular. The officers in. charge of the dispensaries are qualified to
perform anti-plague inoculations, but in view of the great distrust of inocula-
tion that prevails in the rural areas in which they tour the Lieutenant-
Governor in Council is disposed to think that for the present at any rate it
would be better to keep them entirely distinct from the inoculating agency.
7. Sanitary Improvements.—The
total expenditure on sanitation by
Municipalities during the year 1912-13 was Rs. 8,68,190 against Rs. 8,29,345
in 1911-12. This included an increase in expenditure under conservancy of
Rs. 48,808, of which Rs. 14,941 was spent by the Puri Municipality in
connection with the great Naba Kalabar festival of 1912. During the year
water-works were opened at Gaya and Monghyr. The sketch projects of
many important water-works and drainage schemes were completed or were
in course of preparation, details of which are given in Section XI of the
Report. In this important sphere of activity Government has been greatly
handicapped by the inadequacy of the existing engineering staff, but it is
hoped that the services of a fully qualified Assistant Sanitary Engineer will
soon be available.
8. Conferences.—A Sanitary Conference of officials and non-officials was
held at Ranchi in August 1913 to discuss the problems of urban and rural
sanitation and to advise Government as to the conditions, if any, to be attached