4
REPORT ON THE
The analysis of the above reports, which were drawn up in accordance
with promises given in previous years, shows that many of the deductions
which have been made are of a very conjectural character; that the increase of
mortality is not so large as was anticipated ; that, on the whole, the remedial
measures are well known ; and that, when money is available, they will not be
difficult to effect. To all that has been written above, I would add the extreme
importance of skilled and unremitting inspection and vigilance, without which
costly sanitary projects are of very little value. This is not the place
to enter in detail into the questions of improvement of the conservancy,
drainage, and overcrowding of the combined towns which form the capital
of India. Much has been done, but the most casual observer can see that much
remains to be done. The necessity for this is, perhaps, most forcibly indicated
by the high rate of infant mortality.
3.
Public health in the Port of Calcutta.—Dr. Forsyth held charge until
March 27th and Dr. J. L. Hendley during the rest of the year, and were assisted
by Dr. Banks, and Captains Green and Rogers, I.M.S., who acted as Additional
Health Officers. One thousand four hundred and thirty outward-bound vessels
were inspected against 1,242 in 1899, and 462 ships from infected ports were
met on arrival and inspected at Garden Reach against 309 in the previous year.
4. In 1900, 622 inward-bound vessels were inspected against 975 in the
previous year. The fall off is due to no record having been kept of foreign
vessels inspected while in port and not immediately on arrival. The increase
of inspection of inward-bound vessels was partly due to the number of hired
transports conveying troops to South Africa and China. No fewer than
147,013 seamen and 112,029 passengers were inspected, of whom the clothing
of 79,255 was disinfected. Fifty-five of the former who were outward bound
and 234 of the latter were detained. Twenty-one thousand four hundred and
forty-three European seamen arrived in the port against 19,647 in 1899.
Nine hundred and sixty-nine per mille were admitted into hospital, and the
death-rate, 40.44 per mille, was higher than it had been for 14 years, the
quinquennial mean being 25.20. No fewer than 124 of the total of 241 deaths
of natives were due to cholera, or 4.83 per mille, against 36, or 1.40 per mille,
in 1899. Deaths from fevers rose from 37 to 61.
5. Out of 22 cases of enteric fever, 17 were sent from the S.S. Fort
Salisbury, of which three died. The disease appears to have orginated at one
of the South African ports. It is believed on good grounds that the epidemic
was due to contamination of the drinking water in all probability by flies.
6. Malarious fever of a severe type occurred in the Kidderpore Docks
during the months of July and August. Almost every house contained cases,
and in almost every vessel which left the coal berths about the end of July and
beginning of August many cases of fever occurred when they were six or seven
days out from Calcutta. The admissions from venereal disease were 108.1
per thousand against 178 in 1899, and were fewer than in any year, except 1898,
for ten years past.
7. Four hundred and sixty-two vessels arrived from plague-infected ports,
but no cases were found in any of them.
8. There were two breaches of Port rules and plague regulations. The
vessels were recalled and report made to Government.
9. The ambulance cars were freely used during the year.
10. Municipal water was supplied to the shipping, and no complaints
were made as to quantity or quality.
11. One complaint only was made by the crew of a Russian ship as to
the quality of food, which was justified by an order to destroy it.
12. As regards conservancy of cargo-boats, 137 were found to be dirty and
the manjis were fined. Improvements to latrines in the ports are still needed.
13. The work was very heavy during the year owing to military demands
and was very trying to the Health Officer and his staff.
14. Numbers treated in hospitals : Outdoor patients.— The total number of
out-patients treated at all the hospitals shows an increase of 32,520, the figures
having been 2,51,822 against 2,19,302 in 1899. A portion of the increase
(11,938) is accounted for by the inclusion in this report of the statistics of the
Municipal and Dockyard dispensaries at Kidderpore, which are situated within
the limits of Calcutta. The working of these two institutions has been hitherto
incorporated in the report of this department on charitable dispensaries in Ben
-gal. It should be noted that with two exceptions, viz., the Eye and Howrah