( 2 )
year old reported in 1902, as compared with that reported in 1894, is very
nearly equal to the total mortality from all causes in all the town areas put
together.
4. Deaths from fever formed 69 per cent. of the whole number reported,
which was a smaller proportion than in any of the previous eight years, with
the exception of the year 1900. A comparison of the three triennial periods
shows that from 1894 to 1896 the mortality averaged 1,731,437; from 1897 to
1899 it fell to 1,568,631; and from 1900 to 1902 it rose again to 1,680,915.
It is satisfactory to observe that in the Province as a whole the mortality did
not rise to its former level. A further analysis of the figures discloses that in
Eastern Bengal (i.e., in the Dacca and Chittagong Divisions) the mortality
rose during the second period, and remained practically at the same level
during the third; that in the Burdwan, Presidency, Rajshahi, and Orissa
Divisions it fell, and then rose to a higher level than before; that in Bihar
(i,e., in the Patna and Bhagalpur Divisions) it fell in the first and rose again
in the third period, but the later level was much below the first; and that in
Chota Nagpur the mortality in each period was lower than that in the
preceding.
The actual average annual mortality in the three triennial
periods was :— In Eastern Bengal, 289,686, 338,174, and 339,122; in the
Burdwan, Presidency, Rajshahi, and Orissa Divisions taken together, 681,451,
618,515, and 710,660; in Bihar, 658,773, 526,107, and 546,852; and in
Chota Nagpur 101,527, 85,838, and 84,280.
5. While, however, the mortality from fever in the whole Province has
diminished, the disease has, according to the statistics, increased in severity in
certain districts. During the last four years a district death-rate from fever
exceeding 35 per mille has been reported on fourteen occasions as compared with
eight in the preceding five years, while in the more recent quadrennial period it
has thrice exceeded 40 per mille, a rate which was never before reached. It is
not improbable that this increase may be explained by the improvement in
reporting which has been brought about by the introduction of the dafadari
system, and the better supervision thereby attained over the conduct of
chaukidars. Still, whether the previous returns were correct or not, it is
obvious that nothing should be left undone to ascertain, and if possible to
combat, the causes of the enormous mortality now reported. The Sanitary
Commissioner considers that any exhaustive investigation by Civil Surgeons
is impossible, and the Inspector- General of Civil Hospitals recommends that
an enquiry should be conducted by a specially qualified officer in one of the
fever-stricken districts, which would, he believes, clear up many of the diffi-
culties which now surround the subject. Enquiries of this kind have often
been held before and in some cases with useful results, but the knowledge of
tropical diseases has developed so rapidly within the last few years that an
investigation conducted now would, in the Lieutenant Governor's opinion, be
much more likely to prove efficient than could have been expected even five
years ago. His Honour has accordingly accepted this recommendation, and has
directed that such an enquiry should be undertaken as soon as the services of a
suitable officer can be spared.
6. The total number of attacks from plague during the year was 38,928
against 90,762 in 1901, and of deaths 32,967 against 78,629. The ratio of
deaths to attacks for the whole Province fell from 86.6 to 84.6, which probably
indicates a slight improvement in reporting attacks rather than a decline
in the virulence of the epidemic. This ratio is still, however, in excess of
what is considered to be the normal ratio of plague mortality, as well as of
the average ratio for the whole of India, which between the year of the first
outbreak of the disease in Bombay (1896) and the end of March 1902 is roughly
estimated to have been 77.3 per cent.
7. The preventive measures adopted in the case of plague remained
unchanged. Disinfection was systematically carried out in Calcutta and in
several mufassal towns, but it was generally viewed with suspicion in
rural areas, where evacuation of infected houses, which was for the most
part resorted to spontaneously, was the only measure in favour. Towards
the close of the year the system of desiccation by dry heat, which was
introduced with success by Dr. Sahwney in Jammu in Kashmir, was tried in
several places; but the experience gained in the short poriod of its working