Report on the public health administration of the Punjab.
- Punjab (India). Public Health Department.
- Date:
- [1928]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report on the public health administration of the Punjab. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![the result of the 29th and 30th provincial spleen census taken in June and November, respectively. The mean spleen-rate of districts, as determined in these months, is shown in Appendix D, Chart VI. At the census in June 81,734 scholars attending 867 schools were examined, whilst 87,300 scholars belonging to 908 schools were examined at the census taken in November. The provincial spleen rate on the former occasion was 1.2*55 per cent. in June and 1139 per cent, in November, the small decline in November, instead of the usual rise, being indicative of the extreme mildness of autumnal malaria during the year under review. Other field investigations carried out during the year comprised an inquiry into the cause of a localized outbreak of disease, which was eventually proved to be typhus, in Dera Ghazi Khan district. The disease was pro¬ bably transmitted by lice, but it was observed that some of the patients were bitten by ticks. Eield and laboratory investigations were also undertaken with ‘ cyanogas ” dust, with a view to prescribing a technique by means of which hydrocyanic gas could be used with safety in Indian villages as a raticide and a pulicide. It was shown that, with ordinary care, little or no danger attends the use of this method of destroying rats and rat-fleas and detailed instructions for ifs employment, under proper safeguards, were issued. • | • ] Experiments were also undertaken to test the efficacy and to deter¬ mine the cost of using “ Paris green ” (copper aceto arscnite) as a larvicide under Indian conditions. The result of this investigation went to show that, although '4 Paris green ”, if properly applied, is an effective larvicide (in the case of anopheline larvae), it must lie applied (under supervision) at least once a week during the hot weather—and that, as the amount re¬ quired to cover l,t 00 square yards costs about Rs. 3*0, the cost of this anti- larval measure, if employed on a large scale, is considerable. Routine work comprised the bacteriological examination of municipal water-supplies, of which 87 samples were examined during the year. The Bureau also opened a field bacteriological laboratory at Thanesar in con¬ nexion with the Sun Eclipse Pair. Other routine work conducted in the Bureau comprised the exami¬ nation of 1,785 specimens submitted by District Medical Officers of Health or bacteriological examination, whilst the statistical work in connection with the study of the influence of meteorological conditions upon certain diseases was continued. As regards work of an educational nature, a number of charts, graphs, photographs and models were prepared for exhibition in the public health section of the Demonstration Train, whilst a start was made in organizing a Hygiene Museum by preparing or purchasing exhibits portraying the main facts regarding the cause and mode of spread of the more important epidemic diseases. In January, 1928 the Bureau was visited by Dr. Madsen, President of the Health Committee of the League of Nations in company with the members of “ Health Inter-change ” organized by the League of Nations, as well as by others interested in the public health problems of India, for all of whom special arrangements were made to demonstrate the work con¬ ducted in the Bureau and to explain its hearing upon the public health problems of the Punjab. 38. Public Health Equipment Depot.—The Public Health Equip¬ ment Depot at Jullundur continued to fufiction with efficiency and success. The value of the stores in hand on June 1st, 1928 was Its. 12,701-7-8 and, as articles purchased during the year cost Rs. 63,925-6-5, stores to the value of Rs. 76,626-U-l were available for issue. The cost price of the articles sold during the year amounted to Rs. 54,729-1-4, and their sale-price, after adding depot charges, amounted to Rs. 65,771-7-11. There was thus a gross profit of Rs. 11,012-6-7 during the year, whilst the annual maintenance charges amounted to Rs. 9,408-13-7, thus leaving a profit of Rs. 1,635-9-0, as c ompared with Rs. 8,993-3-1 in the preceding year*](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31477951_0036.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
