MUNICIPAL
DEPARTMENT
SANITATION.
DARJEELING, THE 30TH JUNE 1903.
RESOLUTION—No. 1462T.—M.
READ—
The Report of the Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, for the year 1902.
Read also—
The Annual Statistical Returns and short Notes on Vaccination in Bengal for the year
1902-1903.
THE mortality in 1902 was greater than that in any year of the preceding
decade except 1900. The first four months, from January to April, showed
a considerable improvement over the two previous years, but in June the
death-rate was abnormal, and in September it was much the highest on record.
The seasonal variations exhibited by cholera in Bihar as usual presented a
marked contrast to those observed in Bengal, and more especially in Eastern
Bengal. In Bihar the mortality from cholera is usually greatest in the hot
months, whereas in Bengal the cold weather is the fatal period. In the case
of fever the heaviest mortality occurs at the close of the rains or the begin-
ning of the cold weather, but there is a recrudescence, which is very marked
in Bihar, about March or April. Such mutations would be more easily traced
if the Divisional totals were inserted in those tables in which figures for each
separate district are given. Small-pox, which claims the next largest number
of victims after fever and cholera, pursued its customary course, gathering
strength during the cold weather and then dying off gradually till the close
of the rains. In those districts, however, where the people live in detached
homesteads its incidence was slight, and, as has usually been the case in such
localitities, no seasonal variations were discernible.
2. The vital statistics from 1894 onwards have been compiled on a
uniform plan, and the figures for the different years may be accepted as
sufficiently reliable for purposes of comparison inter se. These nine years,
from 1894 to 1902, may be appropriately divided into three triennial periods.
In the first of these, from 1894 to 1896, the average mortality was 2,379,795 ;
in the second period, which, it may be noted, included the famine year 1897,
it sunk to 2,149,448; and in the three years ending 1902 it rose to 2,467,529.
3. The average number of reported deaths in the third triennial period
exceeded that in the first by 87,734, and a remarkable circumstance is that of
the total increase 78,875 related to infants less than one year old. The detailed
figures show, however, that there was a sudden increase in infant mortality
in 1899, and that it has remained at a higher level since then ; and it is probable
that the difference is due either to a change in the system of reporting or to a
change in the method of classification. Mr. Gait in the Census Report writes
of a tendency to ignore the deaths of infants under one year of age because
they are buried without any ceremony, and their decease is thus not likely to
attract much notice; and it is possible that such cases are now reported more
frequently than they formerly were. Apart from any question of increase, how-
ever, the Lieutenant-Governor considers that the rate of infant mortality is so
high as to deserve close examination. In this connection the attention of the
Sanitary Commissioner has been drawn to the appalling rate of infant mortality
in Calcutta, and to the fact that in 62 per cent. of the town areas shown in the
Provincial Appendix to his Report the total deaths exceeded the births; and
he has been requested to enquire how far the latter result is due to the high
death-rate among infants. At the same time it may be pointed out that
the statistics of towns can go but a very small way to explain the increase
in the whole Province, as the number of additional deaths of infants under one