2
REPORT ON THE
the five years' cycle has come round, and that the disease is not "raging
epidemically," and has been kept under control and will shortly cease. It was
absent in Howrah in 1898, but in the year under report there were 25 deaths
from this cause. There were 2,332 deaths from plague in Calcutta, against 164
in 1898. These are included among deaths from other causes, when they were
returned or recorded after enquiry as such.
3. Plague prevailed throughout the year 1899, but it is recognized by
all but a very few persons, if such really exist, as now raging with great
virulence. Under these conditions, and looking to the fact that there is so much
uncertainty as to the actual number of cases of plague, it would, it is felt, be
unprofitable to note this year on the increased mortality from diseases generally
of the two towns during recent years, as desired by Government in paragraph 2
of its resolutions recorded upon my reports of 1897 and 1898. The subject is,
however, being carefully studied.
Apart from plague, there have been no unusual features in the incidence
of disease, which required special representation to Government.
4. Public Health in the Port of Calcutta.—The report of the Health Officer
of the Port of Calcutta for 1899 has already been submitted to Government,
and the following is an abstract from the remarks made by me thereon:—
5. Although the number of vessels leaving and entering the port was
slightly below those of 1898, the number of inspections was higher. The
sanitary inspections of cargo boats show a very large increase.
6. The low death-rate of 1898 amongst European seamen was not main
-tained. The admissions did not greatly increase, but the deaths amounted to
36.66 per thousand, against 15.42 in 1898. Enteric fever and sunstroke were
more fatal than usual, but cholera accounted for the largest increase. The
death-rate amongst natives rose from 122 to 125, or from 4.76 to 4.87
per mille only.
7. There was a considerable increase of venereal disease amongst
Europeans.
8. The Health Officer took active measures in all cases of small-pox
which were reported from ships to prevent the spread of the disease.
9, Plague caused the greatest amount of anxiety during the year.
Three hundred and nine vessels arrived from infected ports, but no case of the
disease was found on any of these vessels. From 25th April the disinfection of
clothing and bedding of native crews and third-class passengers was done
by steam.
10. The number of corpses found floating in the river has increased from
94 to 117. There was no abatement also of nuisance and filth in connection
with cargo boats, notwithstanding prosecutions and convictions. More stringent
measures would appear to be necessary.
11. There has been improvement in the conservancy in some places, but
more latrines are required in others.
12. Dr. Forsyth reports favourably on the work done by his Inspectors.
The report on the whole is satisfactory, and in my opinion the staff has
done its best to cope with the large amount of extra work which has been
caused by its duties in connection with plague.
13. Numbers treated in hospital.—Outdoor patients.— The total number of
out-patients treated at all the hospitals shows an increase of 31,784, the figures
having been 219,302 against 187,518 in 1898. The increase is shared by all
the institutions, except the Eden and the Dufferin Victoria Hospitals. The
cause of this large accession in the number of patients during the year under
review is that there was actual increase of sickness owing to the unhealthiness
of the year, and there being no plague-scare in that year, the sick people
resorted to our hospitals in larger numbers than in 1898. The Superintendent
of the Sambhu Nath Pandit Hospital explains the increase to be due to the
absence of plague-scare, as well as to the increasing popularity of the hospital.
The out-patient department at the Presidency General Hospital was put on a
satisfactory basis during the latter part of the year, and I am glad to find that
there was an increase of 401 patients, justifying thereby the decision which
was come to open it on every week day instead of twice a week as formerly.
The excess of 5,952 at the Medical College Hospital Proper is attributed to the