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.

    39/124 (page 18)
    [Part IV. Jails. Jails and Jail Hospital, Kandy.—The number of prisoners accommodated in the jails at Kami v was as follows :— ' No. of Prisoners. Daily Strength. Bogambra Jail ... ... 2,402 ... 409-57 Old Jail -... ... ... 2,104 ... 61-46 There was no overcrowding in either of the jails. The diseases most prevalent amongst the prisoners were malarial fever, bowel complaints, respiratory diseases, and eye affections. Chicken- pox was imported from outside and assumed an epidemic form ; these cases were at first transferred to the infectious diseases hospital, but when the accommodation was no longer available the prisoners were isolated in the association ward. During the epidemic the transfer of prisoners to and from the jail was stopped. Sixty-eight cases of conjunctivitis were treated during the year. The general health of the prisoners during the year was, on the whole, satisfactory. Nineteen prisoners were transferred on recommendations of Medical Boards to other jails. The number treated during the year was C34. The daily average sick was 15-58. The percentage of deaths to total treated was 2-20. Jail, Anuradhapnra.—During the year the number confined in this prison was 175. The daily average was 13-36. Thirty-one cases were treated during the year. The average sick was -66. Diseases most prevalent were dysentery, ague, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, malarial cachexia and debility. There has been no death in this jail since April, 1896. Jail, Nuwara Eliya.—The health of this jail has been satisfactory. Forty-two cases were treated during the year, percentage of deaths to total treated being 4-76, daily average sick being *80. Hospitals and Dispensaries. Most of the institutions in the two Provinces were visited by me at least once in the year, and some of them several times. The following institutions require rebuilding, viz., Dikoya, Kelebokka, and Uda Pussellawa. All the others are in a fair state of repair. The following new hospitals were opened during the latter end of the year, viz., Pussellawa and Dimbula. The new hospital at Maturata will be opened early in 1902. ' The temporary wards at Matale and Gampola are in a dilapidated condition, and should be replaced by buildings of a permanent nature. Two new wards were erected by the Railway authorities at Anuradhapura hospital for the treatment of the sick employes of the Railway Extension during the year. A new dispensary has been constructed and will be opened early in 1902 at Madngodu. ' Nursing. I deeply regret to record the death of Sister Maude, the Lady Matron of the Government Civil Hospital, Kandy, which occurred during the voyage to England. Under her supervision most of the nurses in the Central Province were trained. She took a great interest in her work, and was much respected by all who came in contact with her. The vacancy caused by her death was tilled up by Sister Eustacia, whose place was taken by Sister Stella. (3) Northern Province. This Province is under the supervision of Colonial Surgeon H. A. Moraes, L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S., whose report is subjoined :— I have the honour to submit my report of the Northern Province for the year 1901. Population, Births and Deaths, dec. The population of the Province for the year has been estimated at 352,938. The number of births registered was 14,587 and deaths 8,967. The birth-rate per 1,000 was 41-33, and the death-rate 25*40. The following table furnished by the Provincial Registrar gives particulars for each of the three districts:— Population Births Deaths Birth-rate per 1,000- Death-rate per 1,000- Jaffna. Mannar. 1901 312,867 24,885 1900 307,016 25,396 1901 12,985 942 1900 11,723 • ... 1,059 1901 7,134 1,185 1900 7,259 1,031 1901 41-1 37-85 1900 38-1 • 4169 1901 22-1 47-61 1900 23-6 40-59 Mullaittivu. 15,186 15,174 660 686 648 576 43-46 45-21 42-67 • 37-96 The above table shows that the population has increased by 5,352 over that of the previous year. The Jaffna District shows an increase of 5,851 and the Mullaittivu District of 12; w i e t Mannar District shows a decrease of 511. ' , - The number of births also exceeded that of the previous year by 1,119. I he , the only one of the three districts which shows an increase, viz., 1,262 ; but the Mannar 1 is nc s o\ s a decrease of 117, and the Mullaittivu District a decrease of 26. . . f 101 The number of deaths shows a slight increase, being 8,967 against 8,860, an increase oi xvi. The Jaffna District is the only one which shows a decrease, viz., of 125 ; while the Mannar shows an increase of 154 and the Mullaittivu District an increase of 72. lhe first and seconc q 1 of the year in the Mannar and Mullaittivu Districts were those in which the largest mortality occuuc , and it was due to the prevalence of fever, chest, and bowel complaints. .v ~j.ft .. The birth-rate per 1,000 in the Jaffna District shows an increase of 3, an L , . - decrease of 2*5 ; in increase of 7-02 per death-rate an increase of 4*71. te per 1,000 in the Jaffna District shows an increase m o, the Mannar District the birth-rate shows a decrease of 384, am t r 1,000; and in the Mullaittivu District the birth-rate a decrease ot 1 to a