Report on the sanitary administration of the Punjab and proceedings of the Sanitary Board for the year ... and the report on sanitary works for.

  • Punjab (India). Sanitary Board.
Date:
[1908]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the sanitary administration of the Punjab and proceedings of the Sanitary Board for the year ... and the report on sanitary works for. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/86 (page 2)
    2 6. Only a small portion of the total mortality was due to the plague t the death-rate from this cause being only slightly higher than that from small¬ pox. Measures continue to be taken, though little popular enthusiasm is aroused. The plague staff are as devoted as ever, and the Lieutenant-Governor fully recognizes that the work of the staff cannot be entirely judged by results. In Sir Louis Dane’s opinion the decrease in mortality can neither be attributed to inoculation, nor to the destruction of rats, nor* seeing that in this year also the mortality has kept low following a year of heavy autumnal rainfall and during a wet spring, to the absence of rainfall in the autumn of *907. The probability is that the disease is working itself out. Sad as is the tale of victims, it is not too much to hope that the scourge is, under divine Providence, being gradually [removed from the land. 7. The principal feature of the year was the severe outbreak of malaria during the closing months. The death-rate from fevers rose to 34-66, which has only twice been exceeded—in 1890 and 1892, when it was 38-05 and 34 83 respectively. Both these years were marked by great scarcity, coupled with a heavy monsoon rainfall. During the last four months of 1908 there were no less than 460,000 deaths from fever. If the case mortality be taken at 10 per cent, (which is a high estimate), there must have been 4,600,000 persons suffering from malaria, or more than one-quarter of the population of the province. Strenuous efforts were made to carry through the distribution of quinine to the very homes of the people. Itinerating dispensaries were organized. The services of thd -plague staff, of school masters, native druggists, village headmen and Government officials were taken full advantage of. Where a system of regular weekly or bi-weekly dosage was introduced the results were most satisfactory and an almost complete immunity from fever was secured. Sir Louis Dane urges on all concerned the cardinal importance of taking the necessary measures to meet a calamity such as last year’s, which disorganized the whole province, with a distributing agency fully equipped and minutely organized. In the case of a great malarial outbreak foresight is everything, and plans laid down in times of freedom from sickness tnay prove the means of saving thousands cf lives. 8. The sum of one lakh of rupees was placed at the disposal of the sSanitary Board for distribution to municipalities during the financial year of 4908-09. Allotments of some Rs. 69,oco w^re actually made during 1908, and during the year power was delegated to the Sanitary Board to allot with the approval of Government grants up to a total of Rs. 50,000 per annum to district boards. C . . » J. *’ - . * ” ' ' k 4 9. The Lieutenant-Governor is much indebted to Majors Wilkinson and Perry, and to Messrs. Goument, Bagley and Baines for the care and attention which they have bestowed on this most important question of sanitation during the year under report. 7 : - ' i.*:: j- 0 - pmarntmmmamammmm r ; f, / r.j 2 - \ ; . .. > Order.—Ordered that a copy of the foregoing remarks be circulated with the report, and be furnished with the usual number of copies of the report to the Government of India ; also th^t the review be published in the Punjab Government Gazette. ^ v * “ . , . . ‘ * ** “ * * Ordered also that a copy be forwarded to the Sanitary Commissioner, Punjab, for information t M'; »;.!•. i:! 0 <( / '.»! r ; ; !; - .j By order of His Honour the’ Lieutenant-Governor, • • ' • i0 ] ; i: i r ' g H. P. TOLLINTON, ^ > ^ 2 ; ;' 1 , • • ' . • f ; Offg. Secretary to Government, Punjab. ... ..