MUNICIPAL
DEPARTMENT.
SANITATION.
DARJEELING, THE 10TH JULY 1907.
RESOLUTION—No. 676T.—SAN.
READ—
The Report of the Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, for the year 1906.
CAPTAIN CLEMESHA, M.D., I.M.S., was in charge of the department up to
the 15th November 1906, on which date Lieutenant-Colonel F. C. Clarkson,
I.M.S., who has submitted this report, returned from leave.
2. The rainfall during monsoon period was scanty and irregular
throughout the greater part of the Province. In Bihar, however, and more
particularly in the district of Darbhanga, there were heavy floods which
destroyed a great part of the bhadoi crops. In the cold season months of
January and February the rainfall in most districts was considerably in excess
of the normal. The exceptional climatic conditions of the year are reflected in
the record of vital statistics.
3. Births and Deaths.—Fewer births were recorded than last year, the
ratio per mille (excluding the districts of Angul and Sambalpur) being 37.22,
as compared with 39.55 in 1905. In Lieutenant-Colonel Clarkson's opinion
the reduced birth-rate was due to the general unhealthiness of the year
1905, and to the prolonged continuance of high prices of food-grains which,
by lowering the vitality of the people, acted as a check to the growth
of population. The total number of deaths registered was 1,823,243, or
36.08 per mille. Excluding Sambalpur, for which the figures for 1905
are not given, the total mortality was 1,807,930 against 1,922,369 in 1905,
and 1,703,970, the average of the preceding five years. The highest
mortality was returned from the districts of Bihar, where there were
severe outbreaks of plague and cholera; the lowest mortality was as usual
reported from Chota Nagpur. In accordance with the recommendation of the
Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India, the accuracy of the vital
statistics are at present being tested in certain parts of the Burdwan district.
The results so far obtained show that little or no reliance can in most cases be
placed on the reports submitted as to the cause of death, but the enquiries are
not yet sufficiently advanced to justify any definite opinion being pronounced,
and a further report on the work is awaited.
4. Infant Mortality.—The total infant mortality in the Province, though
still lamentably high, was sightly lower than that of the previous year. The
highest percentage of deaths among infants was as usual recorded in Calcutta.
Leaflets in the vernacular containing simple instructions regarding the feeding
and rearing of infants, and prescribing the diet of Indian mothers after
child-birth, were again distributed to the general public through the subordi-
nate vaccination inspecting staff. But, as the Sanitary Commissioner correctly
explains, it will probably be many years before any direct result can be
attributed to this measure.
5. Cholera.—The extensive prevalence of cholera during the year con-
tributed in a marked degree towards the general mortality. The number of
deaths registered from cholera was 192,596, including 61 in Sambalpur,
against 146,339 during the preceding year, and 116,490 the average of the
five years 1901—1905, the respective ratios being 3.81, 2.93 and 2.33 per mille.
The mortality from cholera was the highest ever recorded, and was un-
doubtedly due to the unhealthy climatic conditions prevailing during the year.
The districts most heavily attacked were Purnea, Bhagalpur, Champaran and
Khulna. Ranchi, as usual, was practically unvisited by the disease, and
doubtless owned its immunity to the fact that the population is scattered over
a large area, and to the good natural drainage existing in most parts of this
district.
6. Plague.—The total deaths from plague during 1906 were 59,619
against 126,084 and 75,433 in the two preceding years. The most severe