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

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1937]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    15/138 (page 11)
    The basin of the Mi-oya was particularly affected. The outbreak reached its peak during the latter half of December and the decline was gradual. One case of plague was reported from Marawila. North Central Province.—From the end of the fever season in March, the health of the province was on the whole satisfactory until November. As a result of the failure of north-east monsoon rains there was an exceptionally severe fever season and large attendances wTere reported from all hospitals and dispensaries in the province. There was a small outbreak of typhoid fever at Poonawa; 7 cases with 4 deaths. There were no cases of smallpox and cholera. Province of Uva.—During the first half of the year, the health of the province wras satisfactory. During the latter half there was an increase in the number of cases treated at hospitals and dispensaries due chiefly to' increased incidence of malaria and influenza. No cases were recorded of smallpox, cholera, and plague. Province of Sabaragarnuwa.—There were no serious epidemics of any kind. In Ratnapura District typhoid fever prevailed throughout the year in sporadic form, but there wras no marked increase in the incidence. Prevalence of malaria showed no increase until November when a mild outbreak occurred which was more or less localized in the Godakawela area. The health of the Kegalla District was satisfactory. 1.—GENERAL DISEASES. The most prevalent general diseases of hospital in-patients were rheumatism, intestinal disorders (diarrhoea and enteritis), bronchitis, and pneumonia. Year by year the number of patients who seek hospital treatment for cancer is increasing. The following statement shows the numbers of cases and deaths of these diseases dealt with in hospitals throughout the Island during the years 1933 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1937. Rheumatism— Cases 3,133 . . 3,934 . . 3,643 . . 4,284 . . 4,641 Deaths 12 . . 10 . . 14 . . 8 5 Intestinal disorders— Cases 3,505 . . 7,625 . . 10,639 . . 8,918 . . 9,930 Deaths 723 . . 1,045 . . 2,163 . . 1,093 . . 1,194 Bronchitis— Cases 5,024 . . 6,073 . . 6,240 . . 6,906 . . 8,446 Deaths 256 . . 279 . . 336 . . 323 . . 358 Pneumonia— Cases 6,798 . . 9,515 .. 10,706 . . 10,014 . . 13,383 Deaths 2,297 .. 3,054 . . 4,205 . . 4,069 . . 4,270 Malignant Growths— Cases 1,112 .. 1,233 . . 1,279 . . 1,636 . . 1,512 Deaths 113 . . 141 . . 137 . . 168 . . 166 The total number of deaths from “ Cancer and other Tumours ” reported by the Registrar-General in respect of the whole Island was 612 during the year 1937, as compared with 580 in 1936, 589 in 1935, 570 in 1934, and 483 in 1933. Most of the operable cases of cancer resort to the General Hospital, Colombo, for treatment; of a total of 1,512 cases of cancer dealt with in all the hospitals 995 were treated in the General Hospital. On account of the prevalence of betel chewing the site of the disease in the majority of cases was in the region of the buccal cavity, usually the cheek. The analysis of cases treated is given on page 12.