Report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals / [Ceylon].

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1901]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals / [Ceylon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    31/124 (page 14)
    [Part IV. APPENDIX. PROVINCIAL REPORTS. (1) Western Province. This Province is under the supervision of Colonial Surgeon G. P. Schokman, M.B., C.M. whoso report is subjoined: — Population.—The estimated population of the Wostorn Province for the year was 932 63° The number of births and deaths registered during the year was 30,216 and 20,892 respectively. * Prevalence of Sickness.—The general health of the Province has been excellent. No epidemics of malarial fever were reported, and there was therefore no necessity to employ itinerating medical officers or distribute quinine powders, as was done in the past years. This absence of outbreaks can be accounted for by the uniform distribution of the rainfall and the less severity of the monsoon rains. In my last report I pointed out that the district of Negombo was the most sickly and'malarial part of the Province, and that no less than 30,919 had been treated out of a total for the Province of 63,398. Though fever did prevail to some extent in this district, there has been a marked diminution in their numbers, the whole district having been responsible for 10,234 cases. Dysentery and Diarrhoea.—There was an outbreak of dysentery, which lasted for a month, during the last quarter of the year, in some of the villages of the Hewagam korale, viz., Henpita, Jaltara, Bodatuwa, Tarala, and Hanwella. It probably arose from the contamination of the wells in these low-lying villages during the floods of the north-east monsoon rains. This disease also occurred in some of the villages in the Horana district, though not in a virulent form. Four cases of acute diarrhoea occurred on Keratuhena estate. Cholera.—At the beginning of the year three cases of sporadic cholera occurred in the town of Negombo. These were the last of the outbreak which began in December, 1900. Two of the cases proved fatal. The total number of coolies placed in quarantine at Ilagama, as having arrived from infected areas in India, was 2,496. Out of this number six cases of cholera occurred, one in January, two in March, two in November, and one in December. All the six cases died. The excellent arrange¬ ments obtaining at the camp prevented any spread of the disease. Smallpox.—This disease prevailed in the city of Colombo mostly throughout the year. The first case reported was in January from St. Sebastian street. The outbreak continued till the end of September. There were no reports during October and November. Two cases were admitted in December from the north of the city. The origin of the disease was traced to recent arrival? from India. With two cases remaining over from the previous year, there were treated at Kanatta 201, with 35 deaths. Of these, six were admitted from on board ship. None of the latter died. A qualified lady doctor was detailed for a house-to-house visitation in Moor street during the height of the epidemic ; she was not successful in discovering any concealed cases. Smallpox in Villages.—The prolonged outbreak in Colombo resulted in infecting several villages, viz., Akurugoda, Mahamulla, Henamulla, Mathupitiya, Bandaragama, and Moratuwa in tho Panadure district; Beruwala and Baruhupola in the Kalutara District ; Gangodawila, Kotte, Watara- pola, and Wellawatta in the Colombo District. The following places were also infected:—Migahawatta, Butpitiya, Eppamulla, Hendala, Mugurugampola, Suriyagama, Henaratgoda, Veyangoda, Mirigamn, Ja-ela, Kochchikada, and Negombo town. 'To combat this widespread distribution of the disease, besides the ordinary vaccinators, a special man was put on duty in the infected villages, guards were placed over the infected houses, and all cases in the outskirts of the city, more especially Peliyagoda, and in the town of Negombo, were removed to hospital. Those treated in their homes were attended to by the District Medical Officers. With these energetic measures, in a little over two months the disease was stamped out from the villagos. The following are the number of cases of smallpox, modified smallpox, and chickenpox treated and died in this Province during 1901 :— Smallpox Modified smallpox Chickenpox...' Total treated. Total died. 225 ... 58 • 86 ... 1 419 ... 1 Total ... 730 60 Sanitary Condition of the Chief Towns. Colombo.—The health of the town, but for the occurrence of smallpox, continued good during the year. There was no cholera. No noteworthy improvements were effected in the drainage or sanitation of the town. Panadure.—The sanitary condition of the town is not so good as it might be. There is an absence of drainage and public latrines. The water supply is from wells, and to all appearances good and abundant. The cemetery in the heart of the town used for many years has been closed, and a general cemetery opened at a distance from habitations. Moratuwa.—This town contains a population of 40,000, and is densely overcrowded and insanitary. Houses are crowded together in a small area without any respect to decency or the others. There are no public latrines, nor is the dry-earth system in vogue. comfort or well-being of