Administration report / Public Health Department, Colombo Municipality.

  • Colombo (Sri Lanka). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1920]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Administration report / Public Health Department, Colombo Municipality. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/78
    -:o:- 1. Climatic conditions.—(see Statement I).— Tenipcraliire. The mean monthly temperature daring the year was 80'5^ which is only very slightly below the average. The hottest momh was May with a mean temperature of Sil’O', while the coolest was December with a mean temperature of 78-6°. Rainfall.—The total rainfall recorded at the Colombo Observatory was 90‘73 inches, which is 9*87 inches above the average. The wettest months were April with 14*77 inches, June with 17*44 inches, October with 15*27 inches, and November with 14*49 inches. The driest months were January and August with 0*83 and 0*94 inches respectively. Humidity.—The monthly mean humidity for tlie year was 81 per cent, as against the average of 80, and ranged from 79 per cent during the months January, February and December, to 84 per cent during June and November. 2. Population,—The population of Colombo as estimated at the middle of the year, in accordance with the previous intercensal rate of increase, was 278,664 ; but the provisional report on the recent Census shows that this is very considerably over the mark. Until however the final report of the Census is available, revision of the rates cannot be undertaken, and in tliis report there¬ fore they are all reckoned on the basis of estimated population. For this reason the birth and death-rates, but especially the rates for wards and races must be accepted with reserve. 3. Marriagres.—The best index of the economic state of a people is usually the marriage late, which was described by Dr. Farr, the father of Vital Statistics, as “ the barometer of prosperity.” It is therefore unfortunate that the marriage rate for Colombo is not available, as the marriages recorded in the town are not separately tabulated ; but are merged in those of the much wider and largely rural area which is included under the heading of “ Colombo District. ” Even these however are of interest as the following statement shows :— Mai'i'iages in Colombo District including Mohamedan Marriages, 1912-1920. 1912 4627 I9iy ol02 1911 4925 l9ir. 4724 191(i 4b55' 1917 4869 191H 4452 1919 ;-i88() 1920 4502 The marked dro}) in 1910 was doubtless caused by the rice crisis 4. Births.—7,197 births were registered during the year, representing a birth-rate of 25*8 per 1,000, which is the highest recorded for 14 years. As diagram I. shows the birth-rate rather markedly declined during the period of the war, the lowest point being reached in 1919, with rate of only 21*7 per 1,000. As the birth-rate is, next to the marriage-rate, probably the best index of prosperity, the great improvement in 1920 is encouraging ; but as it is probably to some extent in the nature of a reaction after the depression caused by the war, it is improbable that it will be maintained at such a high level during succeeding years. So far as it goes however it is very satisfactory, especially as it occurred in conjunction with an exceptionally low* infant mortality. 5. Deaths.—8,100 deaths were registered daring the year, representing a crude death- rate of 29*1 per l,00C^iis against a crude rate of 28*8 in the previous year. 2,689, or one-third of the total deaths registered, occurred in the Hospitals, and of these, 1,088 he., 13*4 per cent of the total deaths and 40 per cent of the Hospital deaths, were non-residents of the town who came sick here for treatment. Exclusive of these deaths of non-residents the death-rate was 25*2 per 1,000, which is the same as the corrected rate for 1919. 6. Principal Causes of Deaths.—(For details see statements 10 and 14). Amongst the principal causes of deaths Pneumonia was as usual the chief, with 1,106 deaths ; next comes Phthisis with 729 deaths ; Diarrhoea and Enteritis with 605 deaths; Infantile Convulsions 590 deaths ; Debility, 494 deaths ; Enteric fever, 338 deaths ; Infiuensa, 253 deaths ; and Plague, 209 deaths. Compared with the previous year there was a marked reduction in the mortality from Intiuenza and Pneumonia while Debility, Remittent and Simple continued fevej*, intestinal para¬ sites, paralysis and rickets, all showed slight improvement. On the other hand, there was an increase in the mortality from Plague, Smallpox, Enteric fever, Diarrhoea, D^'sentery, Infantile Convi^lsions, Hookworm, Syphilis and Tetanus. The most marked increases occurred in the case of Infantile Convulsions and Plague.