Report of the Health Officer, Corporation of Madras Health Department.

  • Madras (India). Health Department.
Date:
[1936]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Health Officer, Corporation of Madras Health Department. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    59/172 (page 33)
    id January. As for the “ oxygen absorbed '’ figures, they varied between 0*119 and 0*180 parts per 100,000 representing the maximum in August and minimum in January respectively (Table No. IV). Filtrates from Beds:—As in last year, 17 filter beds were in use. The depth of sand in each filter remained nearly the same. The method of filtration also continued to be the same ;the beds were acting merely as strainers to remove the gross suspended matter. As a result the chemical and bacteriological results of filtrates from beds were far from satisfactory (Tables III & IV). The yearly average percentage of first class samples (L.F. 60 cc.) was only 12-5. The average colonies per cc. was 605 (Table III). Chemically the figures for “ Ammonical N ” varied from a trace to 0*006 part per 100,000; those for “Albuminoid N” varied between 0-025 and 0-048 parts per 100,000. The figures for oxidisable organic matter (Absorbed oxygen) varied between 0-092 and 0*155 parts per 100,000. The annual average reduc¬ tion of organic matter was only 18*1 per cent (Table IV). Test Tap Samples :—The number of first class samples was 79*2 per cent and the average total colonies count per cc. was reduced to 359. On the chemical side, all the figures showed a distinct reduction over those of the filtrates from beds. The average dose of chlorine which was applied to filtered water was 1-0 ppm. throughout the year (Table IV). Distribution System:—There was a fall in the number of first class samples (41-3 per cent) and an increase to 505 in the average total colonies count per cc. Chemically an all round reduction in the figures for organic matter over the test tap samples was noticed (Table IV). S. V. GAN APATI, M. Sc., Water Analyst. Skin and Leprosy Clinics of the Madras Corporation:—The work done during the year under report by the Ice House Skin and Leprosy Clinic and the Skin and Leprosy Sections of the Vyasarpady and other Corporation dispensaries is detailed below. Ice House Skin and Leprosy Clinic :—This has been in existence since 2-2-1934 and is in immediate charge of a trained Hony. Leprosy Officer. Rao .Saheb P. Parthasarathy Naidu continued to be Hony. Leprosy Officer of the Corporation during 1936. The clinic as its name implies undertakes to treat skin diseases and leprosy only. An oil immersion microscope has been supplied and is mainly intended for the detection of micro-bacterium lepra in the nasal and skin smears, the myielium and spores in fungoid diseases, foeces in ankylostomiasis etc. Blood specimens are taken and forwarded to Guindy in leprosy cases of a leutic nature. The total number of new and old skin and leprosy cases, treated during 1936 was 25,454 with an average daily attendance of 71 against 24,323 cases with a daily average of 67 of the previous year. Total number of injections given for leprosy was 3637 against 3319 during 1935. The number of Hansen cases regis¬ tered since the opening of this clinic until 31-12-36 was 1745. This clinic has also trained the Medical Officers of the Corporation dispensaries to enable them to treat leprosy and the prevalent skin diseases. There were 460 cases of leprosy and 2029 other skin ailments among the Corpo¬ ration school children. Skin and leprosy sections of the other Corporation dhpensar ies:—Arrange¬ ments have been made to treat leprosy in the Vyasarpady General Dispensary from 4-8-1931. During the year under report 181 leprosy cases and 1567 other skin affections were treated against 134 and 1901 cases respectively during the previous year. The M. & S. M. Ry. authorities having opened a leprosy clinic of their own, their cases which were hitherto attending this clinic, will hereafter attend their own dispensary. H—9