'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904' [‎67r] (21/112)

1903-1904.]
Si; MM A. BY.
XT
nd ow iQg toil
m the amount
lis and in ^
1 head decrees
ceipts by alt
rovement, wl
ie ^ 5 ooo i
l ability ont
Jcustomed, 1
^ase, whichi
spirit and toil
introduced it
7 modified foi
it in the otl
at produced
u cons urn pti
taken by cl
iff rates. 1
gallons ini
b of toddy a
onding incre;
argement of I
ber of detec
.ption of eit
.siderably. 1
« *
provement,
the year d
ined with a i
There ^
that the pi
s the manrf
5 Act imi^ 1
anticipated—a fact which may be mainly attributed to a gradual return to
normal prosperity after the famine, which resulted in the taxation of some
incomes which were formerly assessed at less than Es. 1,003 as well as in
enhanced assessments on incomes above the new limit of exemption.
60. Among incorporated Local E’unds, the Government Central Book bocal Funds.
Dep6t Fund and the Steam Boiler Inspection Fund bettered their fmanoial
position during the year, while that of the Sind Village 0^3icers , Cess Fund was
slightly worse. Nearly all the Excluded Local Funds showed increased closing
balances, the only exception being the Mounted Police Funds, in the case of
which the decrease was more than made up by investments during the year.
The transfer of the Educational Funds to private Trustees was continued.
61. The vital statistics of the year 1903 disclose two lamentable facts—the BirfcliP and
first is a large increase in the plague mortality, and the second is a large decrease deaths,
in the birth-rate. "Whether these two facts are in any way connected seems
doubtful, as several of the worst plague-affected districts actually show improved
birth-rates; hut plague is doubtless one of the reasons for the increase in infant
mortality which rose to the excessive figure of over 210 deaths per 1,000 births
in the whole Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , the ratio being 535 deaths per 1,000 births in the
City of Bombay. The mortality from other causes than plague has remained
nearly constant in the last three years. The ratio of deaths from fever showed
a slight improvement. There was a slight outbreak of small-pox., but there
were few cases outside Bombay City, and the mortality from it was well below
the average. There were fewer deaths from cholera than in any year since 1886.
These minor improvements, however, afford little consolation in face of the
serious decrease in the birth-rate and the loss of nearly a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of lives more
than in the previous year, from plague.
62. The completion of the Uganda Eailway and the consequent cessation Emigration and
of the demand for Indian labour in that part of Africa combined with the bnmigration.
legislative measures adopted by the South African Government to exclude
undesirable immigrants practically put an end to emigration from the ports of
Bombay and Karachi. Within the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. and to and from beyond its
borders the usual temporary migrations took place : but cases, where local
scarcity was the compelling influence, were very few.
63. The number of medical institutions in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. and Sind increased Medical Relief,
slightly during the year and the accommodation for in-door patients considerably.
There was, however, a small falling off in the actual number of in-door patients
treated. The small decrease in the number of patients suffering from malarial
fever, following on the large decrease of the previous year, has possibly some
connection with the efforts made to place quinine within the reach of all classes.
There was a further increase both in the receipts and the expenditure of the
medical institutions.
64. The seven lunatic asylums in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. and Sind bad slightly Lunatic Asylums,
fewer inmates than in the previous year. There was a satisfactory improvement
in the percentages of sickness and deaths.
eceipts of 1 c -^ e ^ point °f interest in connection with the improvement of Sanitation.
^ sanitation during the year was the large expenditure incurred by the Ahmed-
1 gric!# Municipality on its new drainage scheme. The abolition of 37 Sauitary
Committees in the Poona District, rendered necessary by the apathy of the
]j inhabitants, is not an encouraging feature. The officers of the Sanitary
ne to ’ Department appear, however, to have shown increased energy in the direction
ount of ^ of village inspection.
} less ^