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

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    32/90 (page 30)
    which proved fatal. The source of infection in this case was obscure. At Myiliddy, during April and May, there were three cases, of which one proved fatal. The first case contracted the disease at the Pearl Fishery Camp Marichchukkaddi. There was one case at Pnloli and one at Kankesanturai, during April. At Valveddyturai there was one case. At the Pearl Fishery Camp Marichchukkaddi six cases occurred in February and March. Of these, the first three patients were Arabs, who came infected from India, and the other three were Tamil residents of Jaffna, who contracted the disease at the Fishery Camp. In the village Erukalampiddy the first case was reported about the end of March, and the last about the middle of June. In all there were sixteen cases, of which two died. One case occurred at Delft. The patient visited the Pearl Fishery Camp in February, and within twelve days after his return to the island early in April fever set in, followed by the eruption of smallpox. He was promptly isolated, and was discharged cured in May. At Mannar three cases occurred in March and April. Two of these were infected at the Pearl Fishery Camp, and developed the disease shortly after their return to Mannar ; the other was the attendant of the hospital, who contracted the disease from the patients he attended on. The last outbreak occurred in the village Chunnagam, about 6 miles from Kankesanturai. The disease was introduced by a man from Trincomalee. In all there were eight cases, one of whom was the headman of the village. One case proved fatal, six were discharged cured, and one was remaining in hospital at the end of the year. With a view to prevent the spread of the disease, in all the above-mentioned stations the following sanitary measures were carried out:—All the patients and contacts were promptly isolated and placed under police supervision. House-to-house inspections were made daily. Vaccination and re-vaccination in the infected area were most vigorously carried out, and all the infected articles and cadjan roofs of infected houses were burnt. The infected houses wrere whitewashed, and disinfectants were freely used. It wrould be seen from the above figures that the largest number of cases occurred in the village Erukalampiddy, which is thickly inhabited by Moors, who have a great inclination to conceal patients. Chickenpox.—Thirty-three cases of this disease were reported from sixteen stations. The largest •number of cases (6), was reported from Chunnagam and Delft. Measles.—Only a few sporadic cases of this disease occurred in four stations, viz.. Kankesanturai, Batticotta, Mandativu, and Mannar. Cancer.—Only two cases were reported, one each from Cliavakachcheri and Point Pedro. Venereal Diseases.—605 cases were treated in thirty-four of the stations. The largest number of cases (211) wras reported from Point Pedro. Parangi.—923 cases were treated in twenty-one stations. The largest number (209) were treated at Vavuniya. Leprosy.—There are six cases of leprosy in the Province, all males, one each at Mariankudal, Point Pedro, Vannarponne, Nallur, and two at Kankesanturai. All are in the non-contagious stage. Cholera.—Two .cases of this disease occurred during the year, both in a native vessel which arrived at Kayts from Negapatam on the 17tli September. Relative Mortality in the different Seasons. The wet season begins with the setting in of the north-east monsoon rains, usually about the end of October and continues till about the end of December. The rainfall during the above period is usually very heavy. There is very little rain with the setting in of the south-west monsoon in May, after which the hot season begins and lasts till about the middle of October. During the months December, January, and February there is in addition a heavy fall of dew at nights, and mosquitoes breed in abundance ; and it is during these months that malarial fever prevails almost everywhere in the Province to a great extent. The largest number of chest affections, chiefly pneumonia and bronchitis, occur also about this time. The first quarter is the unhealthiest period of the year, and the mortality is the highest then ; the second quarter comes next; the third quarter is usually the healthiest; and sickness and mortality begin to rise again towards the end of the fourth quarter. General Sanitary condition of the Province. The general sanitary condition of the towns in the Province remains much the same as during the previous year. The only town in which some system of sanitation is carried on is Jaffna, and even here there is considerable room for improvement. In many places the houses are crowded together, and surrounded by fences that shut out both light and air. The compounds of many houses are low-lying and become water-logged for many days after heavy rains. There are low-lying tracts of land which remain marshy and swampy during and for some time after the rainy season. Very few houses are provided with dry-earth latrines, and most of them have filthy cesspits. A long-felt want, a Local Board, was at last established in July, but it was not brought into proper working order till about the end of the year. There is every likelihood that a great deal will be done by the Board in the near future to improve the sanitary condition of the town. Water Supply. The Jaffna town water for all purposes is obtained from wells. There are only few wells which supply water of fairly good quality which can be used for drinking. The water of most of the wells is hard, brackish, and unfit for either drinking or cooking. At Mannar the water supply is very unsatis¬ factory. Drinking water of good quality can only be obtained from some wells at Totakadu, a village situated about a mile and a half from town. Most of the people use the water of tanks, which is more or less polluted. The water supply at Mullaittivu is generally ample, and is obtained from wells. In Vavuniya most of the people use the water of tanks. There are a few wells, and nearly all run dry shortly after the rainy season. Vaccination. Vaccination was carried out satisfactorily throughout the year. The staff consisted of an Inspector and seven vaccinators. The work of the vaccinators was regularly inspected. The medical officers and apothecaries also carried out vaccination at their dispensaries once a week. The total number of persons operated upon by the vaccinators was 7,247 and by the medical officers 3,054. Of the total