'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905' [‎166r] (107/116)

CHAPTER VI—VITAL STATISTICS AND MEDICAL RELIEF.
1. Births and Deaths.
For details see Annual Report of the Sanitary Commissioner for the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. for 1904 with
appendices and tables under XIII—Vital Statistics—appended to Judicial and Administrative Statistics of
British India.
1. Births and deaths amongst the European civil population numbered 306 and 271
against 270 and 253 respectively in 1903 ; giving rates per mille of 16°27 and 14*41 against
14*36 and 13*45.
2. Among Eurasians births numbered 171 and deaths 177 against 139 and 160 respectively
in 1903, giving rates per mille of 26*08 and 26*99 against 21*20 and 24*40.
3. Births numbered 648,594 against 576,949 in 1903., an increase of 71,645. The ratio
ner mille was 35-04 against 31*22 in 1903. There was an increase in all districts saveDhdrwar
and the Upper Sind Frontier.
4. The proportion of male to female children was 107*70 to 100 as compared with 107*94
in 1903.
5. The number of deaths declined from 811,525 to 764,914, a fall of 46,611. The death
rate of males per mille to males living was 40*92 and of females to females living 41*88. The
death rate was highest in Bijapur (70*81) and lowest in the Upper Sind Frontier (12*17).
The death rate in the City of Bombay was 55*63 against 67 last year.
6. The highest death rate pier mille living was amongst infants under one year of age,
being 307*92 against 316'75 last year and the lowest between the ages of 5 and 10, amounting
to 23*13.
7. The death rate among the Muhamadan population fell from 30*65“to 27*06 per mille,
the maximum death rate being in Nasik (S7‘06) and the minimum in the Upper Sind Frontier
(11*30). Among Hindus the death rate was 45*40 per mille against 47*70 last year when,
however, Jains were included with Hindus. The death rate was highest in Bijdpur (71*55)
and lowest (18*84) in Larkhana. The death rate among Jains was 37*13, among Christians
22*53, and among Pdrsis 25*22.
S. “ Fevers ” with a ratio of 13*60 per mille accounted for most [deaths, but were closely
followed by plague with a ratio of 12*12 per mille. The corresponding ratios last year were
14*05 and 15*22 respectively. Respiratory diseases, and dysentery and diarrhoea had ratios of
3*22 and 3*33 respectively.
9. Deaths due to small-pox increased from 2,732 in 1903 to 4,289. The disease was
especially prevalent in the Khandesh and Nasik districts and Bombay City.
10. Deaths from cholera numbered 13,156 as against 1,825 in 1903. Of the total deaths
68 per cent, were recorded in the four collectorates of Poona, Sholapur, KMndesh and Kolaba,
the epidemic being especially severe in Poona and Sholdpur. It was practically absent in
Gujarat and Sind.
11. The number of deaths fell from 259,704 to 251,330. Ahmedabad again reported
the highest death rate per mille (26*70), but Broach and Surat were not far behind with 21*85
and 20*18. The City of Bombay was again the lowest with 3*14. January was the most
fatal month.
12. During the year there were 223,957 deaths from plague, a decrease of 57,312 com
pared with the previous year, The highest death rates were in Bijapur (o8*46), Ivaira (26*82)
and Satara (24*98), The decrease was most marked in Belganm, Dkdrwar, Sholapur,
Ahmedabad and Poona, but there were conspicuous increases in Bijdpur and Nasik. The disease
rose gradually from January to March and then declined reaching a minimum in June. The
greatest number of deaths (36,513) occurred in October.
13 These diseases caused 61,470 deaths in 1904 against 55,443 in 1903, and a decennial
mean of 71,612. The number is still in excess of that of a normal year although less than in
the famine years.
14. Deaths under this head numbered 59,574 as against 59,349 in the previous year.
15. During the year 6,333 persons met with [violent deaths against 6,693 in 1903.
Drowning (2,658) and snake-bite (1,305) accounted for the largest number.
16. Deaths from other causes numbered 144,800, practically the same number as last year.
The ratio was highest in the City of Bombay (19*77).
17. Notwithstanding a general rise of prices there was an increase in the birth rates of
all collectorates save Dharwar and the Upper Sind Frontier. There is no reason to suppose that
the high prices of food-grains appreciably affected the birth rates.
Europeans,
Eurasians
Native population’—
Births.
By sexes.
Deaths.
By ages.
By race.
Causes of death.
Small-pcx.
Cholera,
Fevers.
Plague.
Dysentery and
diarrhoea.
Respiratory
diseases.
Violent deaths.
Other causes.
Influence of prices
on birth and death
rates.