Annual public health report of the Province of Orissa; and Annual vaccination report.

  • Orissa (India). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1940]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual public health report of the Province of Orissa; and Annual vaccination report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/116 (page 6)
    as a result of which the rural water-supply ultimately turns out to be a constant source of nuisance. The money is more often expended in the excavation of open tanks or shallow ring wells without obtaining expert opinion of the Public Health Department. I, therefore, reiterate that a proper co-ordination of efforts on the part of all concerned is highly necessary for evolving proper methods of supplying sufficient and wholesome water for drinking purposes in the rural areas. I may, however, note in this connection that the Government have already realised this fact and have taken action with a view to bring about considerable improvement in this respect. 4. preventive measures.—The usual method of preventive measures for the control of the cholera epidemic was adopted by the local bodies concerned, viz., inoculation against cholera and disinfection of water sources, disinfection of excreta, etc., of the infected houses and educative propaganda by Public Health lectures with and without the aid of magic lantern, distribution of pamphlets, etc. Besides the permanent staff, the local bodies concerned appointed temporary additional staff from their own fund. Wherever the staff employed by the local bodies was considered inadequate to cope with the situation, temporary doctors and Health Inspectors were appointed and detailed by the Public Health Depart¬ ment to supplement the Public Health staff of the local bodies. A free supply of 2,60,900 doses of cholera vaccine and 6,555 phials and 1,000 ampoules of cholera bacteriophage at an approximate cost of Rs. 5,600 and Rs. 2,456 respectively was also made by this Department to the local bodies concerned. 5. Smallpox.—Smallpox is nearly as dangerous as cholera in the province, prevailing in an endemic form and assuming epidemic proportions at definite intervals. Cases of smallpox were reported as usual throughout the year. The total number of deaths recorded from this disease during the year was 5,754 or 0*81 per mille of population against 3,282 or 047 per inille of popula¬ tion in the previous year. The following table will show the distribution of smallpox in the province month by month during the year :— Month. Number of deaths. January February March April May June July August September October November December 511 843 964 728 715 446 379 268 169 154 195 382 Total .. .. 5,754 The highest number of deaths was recorded in the district of Cuttack there being 3,634 deaths as against 2 645 in the previous year. The death, i;ate yras 1*67 against D22 in the previous year. The disease was also prevalent