'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908' [‎19r] (36/137)

1907-3903.]
SUMMARY.
XXY
malaria, dysentery and respiratory diseases. The number of deaths from cholera
shows a marked fail from 46,119 to 7,656, but last year’s figures were abnormally
high. The mortality from small-pox was the lowest since 1893. On the other
hand, the mortality from plague, which fell from 228,000 in 1904 to 71,000 in
1905 and 51,000 in 1906, rose to 93,000 in the year under report. Sdtara,
Belgaum and Kaira mainly account for the increase, over 67 per cent, ol the
total number of deaths from plague being recorded in’these collectorates. The
increased virulence of the plague epidemic has obviously had more effect
than any other factor on the vital statistics of the year.
54. There was no marked movement of the population during the year, Emigration and
beyond the seasonal emigration in search of employment which, in some
districts of 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. , has become part of the normal scheme of things.
In consequence of the poor season the exodus of labourers from Kaira and
some parts of the Deccan was rather more extensive than last year. On the
other hand, the railway works proceeding in the Poona District and the
Godaveri Canal Works in Nasik provided employment near home for consider
able numbers who would otherwise have swelled the stream of emigration to
Bombay. The absorption of the soil by the capitalist landlord is rendering
Ratnagiri and Kolaba increasingly dependent on external resources; the former
district sent a quarter of its whole population to the Bombay labour market.
Turning to emigration over seas, the Uganda Railway continued to attract a
considerable number of artizans—mostly from the Punjab—though not
nearly so many as last year. The restrictive legislation in South Africa has
•naturally checked the flow of emigration from Surat to that country.
55. A net increase of three in the year under re ort brings the total number Medical Relief,
of medical institutions up to 704. There was a decline of 3^ per cent, in the
number of patients treated, due, no doubt, to a general improvement in public
health, since there were fewer case* under all classes of disease except diseases
of the eye. Malarial fever was as usual the commonest ailment. The propor
tion of female patients rose slightly to i8 per cent, but it is clear that women
are still indisposed to avail themselves of public medical relief. More than
half of the total expenditure of 16| lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees was contributed by Government. Good
progress was made with the numerous new hospitals and buildings in course of
construction; and also with the formation of a Central Nursing Association for
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. , which will shortly be an accomplished fact.
56. There was a small increase in the population of the Lunatic Asylums.
The general health of the inmates was satisfactory. Expenditure rose con
siderably owing to outlay on buildings.
57. District Municipalities spent 19J lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees *, or 27 per cent, of their net sanitation,
income, on water-supply and sanitation. The expenditure of Local Boards on
the same ohji-cts amount d to 3 ia'<hs, not quite 5 per cent, of their income. A
large number of important works are in progress under the direction of the
Sanitary Board, and the liberal offers of assistance to local bodies contained in
recent Government order- will doubtless leal to a great increase of activity in
the near future Thn usual sanitary supervision was maintained over vessels
in the harbour, particular!, those eugaged in the pilgrim traffic.
58 The number of primary vaccinations shows a slight increase and the Vaccinatio
number of re-vaccinations a considerable increase compared with last year,
though the figures are still much below those of 1905-1906. . The new
glycerinated vnccine has given fairly good results on the whole. Eighty-three
per cent, of all tne villages 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. were visited by vaccinators.
b 999—7 s