Report of the Medical Officer of Health / Municipality of Colombo.

  • Colombo (Sri Lanka). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1910]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health / Municipality of Colombo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/46 (page 41)
    ANNEXURE D, REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1910. Part I. General.—The year 1910 was an unusually cool and dry one, both the temperature of the air and the rainfall being below the average as shown by the meteorological statements. This is the eighth year in succession in which the rainfall has been below the average. The health of the population, as indicated by the mortality statistics, was remarkably good, the crude death-rate (28- 8 reckoned on corrected population) being the lowest which has been recorded since the registration of deaths was placed upon a satisfactory footing. The death-rate corrected for deaths of non-residents was only 23-0 per 1,000, while the rate further corrected for age and sex distribution was 27‘5 per 1,000. This reduction in the general death-rate was due to a decrease in the number of deaths from all the principal causes. The infant mortality, the mortality from diarrhoeal diseases, and from fevers were all lowrer than has hitherto been recorded : the mortality from the pulmonary group of diseases, which includes phthisis, was also below the average, but is still very high. With reference to the statistics given in this report it is necessary to remark that, except where otherwise stated, the rates have been calculated on the population as estimated prior to the taking of the Census on March 10, 1911 The population of Colombo town, as ascertained at the recent Census, was 211,184 ; from which it is now estimated that the mean population in 1910 was 207,684 instead of 193,857 as previously estimated. This represents the remarkable increase of 32| per cent, since the Census of 1901. The Superin¬ tendent of Census points out that the population given above is subject to a final revision, which may possibly include some thousands of Colombo residents who on the night of the Census were on a pilgrimage to St. Anna's in the Puttalam District. At the time of writing, the population of the various races is not available, and therefore all the race rates are calculated on the old estimated population. With regard to the incidence of infectious diseases, the most noteworthy occurrence was a small outbreak of smallpox, which began in August and lasted until the end of the year, there being 69 cases in all reported. The original source was not traced, but it was suspected that, as is usual in such cases, the infection was imported from India by one of the deck passengers. This theory is strengthened by the fact that several cases which occurred later were definitely traced to India, the patients having arrived in Colombo during the incu¬ bation period of the disease. Upon this being ascertained, steps were taken by the Chairman of the Plague Committee to prevent such importations by quarantining the South Indian Ports. Although disinfection of houses where persons had died of phthisis had, as recorded in the report for 1909, been carried out by this Department since July, 1909, this was not made a notifiable disease until the passing of Ordinance No. 6 of 1910, and notifications did not begin to be received until August, 1910, 222 cases being reported from that date and dealt with by this Department. For a fuller consideration of this question and of the proposals by the Tuberculosis Diseases Commission reference is requested to Special Report No. 85 of April 11, 1911. One of the most noteworthy undertakings by this Department during the year was the opening of the Municipal Free Dispensary at Church street, Slave Island, in February, an account of which is given later in this report. No fewer than 6,179 patients were treated during the eleven months, February to December, representing 12,462 visits, which shows the great need which existed for an institution of this kind. It is highly desirable that this system, which was approved some time ago by the Council, should be extended without delay to the other poor quarters of the town. A proposal to this effect has already been submitted by me (vide No. 203 of October 29, 1910), but I regret to say it has not so far been adopted (seo section 40). The Municipal enteric hospital, which was opened at the beginning of 1909, continued to do good work, 310 cases being treated with a case mortality of 14*5 per cent, which is very satisfactory considering the more otf less moribund condition of many of the cases on admission. Details of the work done are given later (see section 41). It is necessary once again to record the unsatisfactory state of the public markets, which are for the most part grossly under-staffed. A special report (vide No. 39 of February 25, 1911) dealing with this amongst other matters has recently been submitted. Remarks with reference to the other branches controlled by this Department wall be found under their respective headings. 2. Meteorology.—The following statements, kindly furnished by Mr. Barnard, Superintendent of the Observatory, show the chief points in regard to the meteorological conditions which prevailed during 1910 :— (a) Average Monthly Mean Temperature of Colombo (Fort). 41-42 Years. January 79-1 February 80-2 March . . 82-0 April .. 82-6 May .. 82-3 June .. 80-9 July .. 80-5 August 80-6 September 80-7 October 80-0 November 79-7 December 79 0 Year 80-6 44-11 Table I. (b) Monthly Mean Temperature at Colombo (Fort) during 1910. • ‘ .i O January 77-3 February 78-0 March .. 81-0 April .. 80-5 May 80-7 June 78-5 July .. 77-5 August 77*1 September 76-8 October 76-8 November 76-5 December 75-8 Year 78-0 (c) Average Monthly Mean Pressure at Colombo (Fort). 41-42 Years. Inches. January .. 29-875 February .. 29-874 March . . .. 29-854 April . . .. 29-838 May .. 29-806 June . . .. 29-811 July .. .. 29-803 August .. 29-828 September .. 29-845 October .. 29-847 November .. 29-856 December .. 29-841 Year .. 29-840 [ 51 ]