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

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1902]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    53/128 (page 25)
    at Ratnapura recovered. In the North-Western Province 1 case was treated at Kurunegala, which ended in recovery ; and 2 at Puttalam, both of which died ; and 4 at Marawila, of which 1 proved fatal. It is not known how these cases originated. The following tables give a comparative statement of the numbers treated in the different hospitals of the two Provinces during 1901 and 1902 North- Western Province. Name of Hospital. Numbers treated. Average Daily Sick. Number of Deaths. Percentage of Deaths to Total treated. 1901. 1902. 1901. 1902. 1901. 1902. 1901. 1902. Kurunegala • • • • • • 3,189 3,431 102*50 99-76 247 224 8-70 7-02 Puttalam * •• 601 783 28*51 37-09 48 55 5-55 7-00 Chilaw • • • 289 272 90S 1007 26 22 11 *57 8-08 Marawila • 816 801 34-25 33-38 50 « 51 7-19 6-36 Nikaweratiya • • • ... 579 501 25*35 24-98 25 33 4-53 5-88 Dandugamuwa ... • • • 450 555 20-05 2317 12 24 6-88 4-32 Total ... 5,984 6,403 219-74 228-25 408 409 7-72 6-38 \ Province of Saba ragcimuwa. Name of Hospital. Numbers treated. Average Daily Sick. Number of Deaths. Percentage of Deaths to Total treated. 1901. 1902. 1901. 1902. 1901. 1902. ,1901. 1902. Ratnapura 1,002 771 51-63 _ 154 101 15-36 1309 Balnngoda ... • • • 1,293 1,602 92-59 96-66 225 129 10-46 8-05 Karawanella • « • 2,274 2,400 161-35 107-73 427 361 18-77 16-83 Rakwana 1,025 631 38-42 32-04 138 54 13-46 8-55 Kegalla • • • 738 881 42-58 47-22 91 107 12-33 12-14 Kolonna • • • 1,193 861 35-97 32-91 11 15 •92 1-74 Godakawela ... 637 565 27-69 22-47 22 25 4-01 4-42 Total ... 8,198 7,711 450-23 37111 1,073 792 10-75 10-27 There were 3,951 estate labourers treated in the district hospitals, and there were 425 deaths among them, giving a percentage of 2166 deaths to total treated. There are 28 dispensaries and branch dispensaries in the North-Western Province, and the number of persons treated in them during 1902 was 142,915, and the number of visits paid 230,889. The amount of money collected was Rs. 3,924-03. There are 28 dispensaries, 1 branch dispensary, and 11 permanent itinerating stations in the Province of Sabaragamuwa, and the numbers treated in them wore : persons 80,734, and visits 110,982. The amount collected was Rs. 1,570*28. ( i Meteorological Conditions. In both the Provinces the highest rainfall was recorded in the last Quarter, and the lowest rainfall in the first quarter of the year. The figures showing both the total diseases and malarial diseases treated were highest in the first quarter and lowest in the last quarter, which was the healthiest time of the year. There was a gradual decrease in the figures from the first to the last quarter. The figures indicating the rainfall, however, did not show a gradual decrease, as in the second quarter the rainfall was higher than in the first. The rainfall in the last quarter appears to have been unprece¬ dented. In Karawanella, which may be taken to represent the Province of Sabaragamuwa, there was a rainfall of 87*21 inches during this quarter, the record for October, the wettest month, alone being 34*14 ; and in Kurunegala, which may be taken to represent the North-Western Province, there was a rainfall of 52*4G inches, the record for October being 20*27 inches. The total rainfall for the year was 215*10 inches in 1902, as against 100*45 inches in 1901, in Karawanella ; and in Kurunegala it was 110*80 inches in 1902, as against 94*96 inches in 1901. The wettest district was Kitulgala, wliero the total rainfall for the year was 239*67 inches. % Sanilarg Condition of the Chief Towns. Kurunegala;.—Nothing has yet been done to improve the sanitary condition of this town. Steps are, however, being taken by the Local Board to provide water supply and drainage, which are its chief wants. Puttalam.—A purer and more ample water supply is required. Swamps require filling up. The Moorish quarters are deplorably overcrowded. Chilaw.—Sanitary condition has been much improved, but there is a good deal of overcrowd¬ ing in some parts, especially in the fishers’ quarters. Marawila.—There is not much overcrowding, but the drainage is unsatisfactory. Ratnapura.—No improvements have been made. The conservancy is insufficient, and the medical officer writes that the scavenging of the town might be considerably improved if more efficient supervision is exercised. The filter bed in the reservoir requires to be properly renewed. Rakwana.—The drinking water of the town obtained from the polluted stream running parallel with the bazaar road, is objectionable. Two good wells and a couple of portable galvanized latrines should be provided.