'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1908-1909' [‎84v] (30/132)

BOMBAY
ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
xxir
[1908.19q^
The total decrease in the number of deaths was 104,76 .and the net bi rt!ls
therefore rose from 3,927 in the previous year to 158,363 m the year Utlder
review while the death-rate declined from 32-8^ to -"•l5 per thousand
compared with an averase of 37 00 for the five preceding years The decrease
in mortality was chiefly due to the abatement of plague, deaths from which f e H
from 93,609 to 27,346, the lowest figure since the commencement of the epidemi e
in 1897. There were fewer deaths from all other principal diseases with the
exception of small-pox, while the mortality from cholera fell from 7,656 to 1, 759
and is the smallest recorded for 20 years. In view of the continued dearness of
food-grains the returns again illustrate the fact that as an influence upon
vital statistics prices are altogether subordinate to fluctuations in the chief
epidemics.
Emigration and 54. Emigration from Bombay to South Africa still continues on the small
Immigration. gcale to wh[(ih [t wag reduce d by the colonial immigration laws. In addition,
both Bombay and Karachi annually send out small contingents of artizans to
Mombasa, whence they return after three years’ service on the Uganda Railway.
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. there are no signs of any permanent shifting of
population, and only the usual periodical movements of labour manifested
themselves during the year. Such movements invariably bear a close relation
to the character of the season and possess great economic value; the tendency
being for a good harvest to attract the necessary labour from outside, while a
bad season is followed by an exodus in search of work either in more favoured
tracts or in large centres where labour is always in demand. It was largely an
automatic adjustment of this character that saved Bijapur from the necessity of
relief works during the year. Similarly the poorness of the rabi crops in many
parts of the Deccan released a large volume of labour for which the usual market
was provided by the cotton factories in Khandesh, the sugarcane-crushing works
in Poona, the Godaveri canal works and other Government and Railway under
takings in Nasik, the quarries in Kolaba and agricultural operations generally
both within and without 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. . The large cotton-growing districts of
Gujarat and in particular the ginning factories of Ahmedabad give employment
chiefly to the inhabitants of the neighbouring Native States, and work on the
canals in Sind similarly attracts immigrants from Kuteh and Kathidwar. But
the most important outlet for labour is found in the mills and docks of Bombay
City. These form a perennial resource from which the inhabitants of the Deccan
and Konkan Districts within easy reach are accustomed to supplement their
agricultural earnings; but in an unfavourable season such as that under review
they absorbed even larger numbers than usual, while the Ratndgiri District
once more sent nearly a quarter of its total population.
Medical Relief.
5o. With a net increase of 14 the number of medical institutions open at
the end of the year stood at 718. Excluding the figures of private non-aided
institutions and those which serve only special sections of the public, the
number of patients showed a small increase, hut remained considerably behind
the figures of 1906. In all, more than two million persons were treated during
he year. Practically one-third of the whole number were females, a consider-
able advance compared with the previous year when the proportion was 28 per
cent. In-door patients as usual formed a very small minority, amounting only to
s per cent, of all the persons treated. In all parts 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. malarial
fevers were more prevalent than usual. There was a regrettable increase of 14
per centum in the number of cases of tubercular diseases, principally in Sin* 3 -
brujarat and the Deccan. The advance is partly due to more accurate diagnosis,
hut alter allowingfor this there is too much reason to believe that consumption is