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

  • Colombo (Sri Lanka). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1925]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    5/74 (page 39)
    MUNICIPALITY OF COLOMBO. 3 OOT Njgo/... . ^ REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1925. 39 APPENDIX C. I have the honour to forward the annual report of the Public Health Department for the year 1925. CONTENTS. Part I. Introductory Review. I. —Meteorology. II. —Population. III. —Births. IV. —Deaths. V. —Ward Deaths. VI. —Race Deaths. VII. —Principal Causes of Deaths. XXIII.—Expenditure. XXIV. —New Works, &c. XXV. —General Sanitation. XXVI. —Dairies and Milk. XXV11.—Bakeri es. XXVIII.—Eating-houses. XXIX.—Aerated Water Factories. Vital Statistics. VIII. —Infant Mortality. IX. —Infectious Diseases. X. —Plague. XI. —Cholera. XII. —Smallpox and Vaccination. XIII. —Chickenpox. XIV. —Measles. XV. —Diphtheria. Part II. Administration. XXX. —Laundries. XXXI. —Mosquito Prevention. XXXII.—Cleansing and Disinfection. XXXIII.—Rat and Flea Destruction. XXXIV.—Housing. XXXV.—Dispensaries. XXXVI.—Child Welfare. XVI. —Diarrhoea and Dy¬ sentery. XVII. —Enteric Fever. XVIII.—Continued Fever. XIX. —Phthisis. XX. —Influenza. XXL—Pneumonia. XXII.—Malaria. XXXVII.-Enteric Hospital and Segregation Camp. XXXVIII.—Laboratories. XXXIX.—Cemeteries. XL.—Pearl Fishery. XLI.—Legislation. XLII.—Staff. Annexures. A.—Report of City Microbiologist. | B.—Report of City Analyst. Introductory Review. The year 1925, like the preceding year, was abnormally wet, the total rainfall being 123‘9 inches, which is 38*71 above the average. The birth-rate, which rose so remarkably in 1920-1921 after the depression caused by the War, was again well above the average in 1925, viz., 29*9 per 1,000. The continued high birth-rate would appear to indicate that Colombo, in common with the Island generally, is at present experiencing an exceptionally prosperous time, a conclusion which seems to be borne out by the returns of the Post Office Savings Bank. But for the disturbing effect of a rather sharp wave of influenza, in May to July, the health of the population was, on the Avhole, good. The crude death-rate was 30*2, as against the average of 30*8, and would undoubtedly have been considerably lower but for influenza. The infant mortality, viz., 220 per 1,000 births, was the lowest on record, notwithstanding the unfavourable effect of influenza. The incidence of plague, with 64 cases, was the lowest recorded since the disease appeared in Ceylon in 1914. The problem of eliminating plague from Colombo has been materially advanced, as the result of Dr. Hirst’s valuable research work in connection with rat fleas, which has enabled him to map out the dangerous “ cheopis infested zones ” in the city. Advantage of the information thus gained has been taken to more effectively direct the work of rat and flea destruction. The town is, however, still exposed to the ever recurring danger of importation of X. cheopis (the plague flea) from foreign countries, the problem of preventing which is apparently beset with practical difficulties. Cholera, which broke out in the eastern part of the Island, failed to establish itself in Colombo, only two cases, the source of which was not definitely traced to India, having occurred, while four cases occurred which were definitely traced to India. Smallpox, likewise, failed to establish itself, although, on epidemiological grounds, an outbreak was due during the year. Thus, although 23 cases were registered, 22 of these were transferred from incoming ships to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, and one, which was discovered in the town, was proved to have arrived from Rangoon during the incubation period. No locally-acquired case occurred during the year in the town. Enteric fever, on the other hand, assumed a rather menacing aspect during the first half of the year, as the result, chiefly, of the dumping of town scavenging refuse in proximity to inhabited areas. A certain amount of infection was also caused, apparently, by the pollution of bathing places in the Kelani river at Grandpass by sewage from the treatment works. There was no direct evidence that enteric fever was spread by infected milk ; but there is reason to suspect that a certain amount of infection may have been so disseminated by the milk supplied by unregistered dairymen. Thus, the City Analyst’s report shows that after action was taken to suppress these illicit milk dealers, i.e., chiefly in the second half of the year, the amount of milk