Report of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services / [Ceylon].

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1931]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services / [Ceylon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/92 (page 10)
    The ligurcs do not include the cost of new buildings and additions and improve¬ ments to, and maintenance of, existing ones. The revenue of the Island during the financial year ending September 30, 1931, was Rs. 87,863,541.90. II.—PUBLIC HEALTH AND GENERAL EPIDEMIOLOGY. A.—GENERAL REMARKS. The Western Province suffered from a number of sharp but localized outbreaks of benign tertian malaria from April to J une in villages lying in the valleys of the Kelani river and Maha-oya and their tributaries. The JEiewagam, Hapitigam, Aiutkuru, and Siyane korales were particularly affected and itinerating apothecaries were detailed to distribute quinine. The outbreaks were attributed to the drought in the early part of the year which produced a fall in the river levels with the formation of jiools in which Anopheles culicifacies found favourable breeding places. There was rather less enteric fever than in 1930 but the disease was still unduly prevalent. There was a definite decrease in the amount of dysentery and the disease was milder in character than in 1930. In the Central Province there was much less malaria than in 1930 but as usual the disease occurred in the dry zones during the last quarter of the year after the north-east monsoon rains had set in. An epidemic of malaria which was at its worst in August broke out in the Durnbara Valley. The Southern Province enjoyed a healthy year. There was a very great reduc¬ tion in the amount of malaria as compared with recent years and, except at Galle. Matara, Deniyaya, and Balapitiya, there was practically no enteric fever. In the town of Galle itself the decrease in the typhoid rate was considerable, thanks to energetic action on the part of the Medical Officer of Health of the Municipal Council. There wras rather more influenza than usual in the Province. In the Northern Province malaria while much less common than in 1930. assumed epidemic proportions at the beginning of the year and accounted for nearly half the patients treated at dispensaries. During the fourth quarter of the year, dvsenter.y and other bowel complaints were prevalent. The North-Western Province is one of the most malarious provinces of the Island, and the number of cases of malaria rises rapidly after the rains of each monsoon, particularly in the early part of the year after those of the north-east monsoon. There were, however, fewer cases than in 1930 In the Province of Uva there was a long drought from May to October and as the result of the drying-up of the Badulla-oya and the formation of stagnant pools, a severe epidemic of malaria occurred in the neighbourhood of the river during August and September and staff was specially detailed to treat patients in their homes. There was as much malaria as in 1930. Influenza prevailed in epidemic form in various parts of the Province. The Province of Sabaragamuwa suffered from a severe epidemic of influenza and the number of cases of malaria showed little diminution as compared with 1930. In this Province also the malaria was associated with the drought and occurred principally in the vicinity of rivers and streams. There was less dysentery than in the previous year but rather more typhoid. In the Eastern Province malaria was endemic throughout the year and there were epidemics associated with the north-east monsoon rains in the last quarter. There was, however, much less malaria than in 1930. A small outbreak of small¬ pox occurred in Trincomalee at the end of the year, the first case having acquired the infection in India. There were few cases of enteric fever but dysentery was moderately prevalent. In the North-Central Province the heavy rains at the end of the previous year were followed by the usual outbreak of malaria reaching its peak in January, but the outbreak was less severe than those of recent years. tj 1.—GENERAL DISEASES. The most prevalent general diseases of hospital in-patients have been rheumatism, intestinal disorders (diarrhoea and enteritis), bronchitis, and pneu¬ monia. Year by year the number of patients who seek' hospital treatment for cancer is increasing.