are
located.
There
two other outposts, besides this Point, namely, the L'ght-House in
are
comprise False
which
south-westerly direction, and Jamboo facing west, both the mainland. These last two named places will not be treated of here, though a few remarks will be made
a
ou
later
on.
Hukitola in itself is a very small island, being at high water during spring tides about 600 feet long by about 200 feet broad, the greater part of the land adjoining it is called Dowdeswell Island, where the Postmaster with the Post and Telephone Offices and the native medical subordinate with his dispensary are located. Hukitola and Dowdeswell Island combined in one, ia
quarters length,
about three
miles in
seven
I shall
adopt
the
name
of a mile in breadth, and about and for convenience of description of Hukitola for the two put to-
the stream that is between them is
only about skeleton bridge at one point, over which a truck line runs to the Beach. The boundaries of the island are : on the north is the gether, 12 feet
wide, covered by
a
passing vessels drop anchor, on the south separated from the mainland by a narrow neck of
Point, it is
as
where
water which can
easily
be walked
through
at low
water?
and has the Light-House as well in this direction ; on the east is the beach and the broad watery expanse of the Bay, and on the west is Jamboo. On landing the objects that are first presented to the view of the visitor are the following buildings, &c. ;.the Traveller's Bungalow, the Bungalows of the Port Officer, the Assistant Superintendent of Customs, and of three Preventive officers ; the Refuge House like a lower, the Police Station, and the huts of the coolies and servants, the Customs Department, and I as also a store-house of a piece of ordnance, I should say a small raised platform, aud lastly the
had almost forgotten,
pounder,
seven
on a
Flag-staff.
The surface of the soil is nearly all sand, save here and there a layer of clayey loam apparently deposited from the washings of the mouths of the Mahanuddy the river part always a swampy marsh of
greater
;
NOTES ON FALSE POINT. By Asst. Apothecary j, K, Masset* For the use of travellers, surveyors, visitors, and others who may have occasion to make a stay at Hukitola, I will make an attempt to give a brief description of the place, which will serve as a guide ; and I trust it may prove of some benefit to the public. Having been for time resident on the island, I feel it almost my duty to place on record my experiences of a place which, though little known at present, is likely at some later date to become of some importance. If uninterrupted, a steamer arrives here from Calcutta, a distance of a little over 200 miles, iu about twenty-four hours, the vessel anchors at the Point, and from there in some
a
boat,
or a
to laud at
Officer,
steam-launch, you
through the Harbour
which is the outpost where the Port subordinates of the Customs Department
Hukitola,
aud
come
other scrubby shrubs. The parts mangroves, and a few which are dry are covered with long grass, and where there is moisture, as the tracts between the swamps aud dry land, the soil is richly covered with thick green suitable for cattle ; in some parts grass, which seems very there is almost a deuse jungle of low trees, where deer
great number of cocoanut trees, quarters of the subordinates forming also a lot of young plants avenue, as a splendid the ground is a variety of and along growing wild, creeper"which bears pretty violet bells, blooming beabound.
There
aud facing
are a
the
October and December. &c , The ordinary population, i. e, exclusive of visitors, oneto which about about of 60, may fail ly be put down tenth are Europeans and Eurasians. Port Officer, The English community consists of the of Customs, of three Prethe Assistant Superintendent clerk plus a Customs clerk, and the Tidal ventive tween the months of
officers, at families, who are almost half the year away which is then at its height. the fever, to Cuttack owing from These officials obtain their supplies of provisions their
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
264
Cuttack, and some articles from the neighbouring villages. The bungalows that they dwell in are made of bamboo matting and thatch work, the roofs high, and the floors paved with stone-tiles ; these houses are nearly all situated on the shores of the harbour. The largest Section of the population is the native community, nearly all of whom are Oriyas of the lowest caste. The number is constantly fluctuating. To dwell a little ou the habits, &c., of the natives will, 1 hope, not be out of place. These Oriyas do not keep their families with them and are habitually filthy ; they anoint themselves with an
ments at
well stocked with medical aid. The principal diseases are those that hrive malaria Ague and Remittent fever, as their causation, chiefly which
a
dirty oleaginous
stain
of them are smokers of the
" weed, indulge in occasional free-andeasies" of arrack, a most abominable and injurious distillation from decomposed rice, the odour of which at first is enough to cause one to put it away from him as a curse.
and some
even
The staple article of food consumed by aided as a relish by dall, fish, crabs, Meat is an article of diet which they can
them is rice,
shrimps, &c. ouly procure
high days and holidays. The work they generally are engaged in, is plying boats to vessels and adjoining outposts, also tending the young cocoanut plants that have been lately set there. on
Then there are some coolies that belong to the Public Works Department who are employed iu trucking stones beach. These coolies live in low thatched houses adjoining each other, always cooking within them, which admit of very little light and fresh air, rendering them quite unhealthy, especially during the rains, the flooring to the
Much improvement can be made the sanitary condition of their dwellings is anything but satisfactory. There is nothing good that is peculiar to the place
becoming quite damp. iu this quarter,
as
shells to be gathered on the beach, oysters and fish which generally abound at all ports. The place is infested with rats and fleas, the former prove very destructive to crockery, &c., and provisions in general, disturbing sleepers at night with their racing and chasing on the roofs and along the matting walls, and often biting the toes or fingers of the occupant8 save
of the house. sance
As for the fleas
they
to man as well as to domestic
are
a
auimals,
perfect nuiwhich gene,
rally sickeu and die. Herons, storks, snipe, and many other birds that are common to marshes and brackish water, abound. Alligaand sharks are plentiful quadrupeds, deer, jackals
tors
iu the harbour.
especially during
With regard and foxes are very common. the island is decidedly unhealthy, the rains and the early part of
the
but
to
The climate cold
effected
of
season,
by levelling
great improvement can be large marshes, and further
up the
by promoting cultivation ; dwelling-houses could be a
the
sauitar^ condition more brighteued.
of the
little
Under the present circumstances
subordinates, owing
especially the former, not treatment, aud proving very
the most common,
are
being readily amenable obstinate and
to
intractable iu
many
cases.
It has been
by others, and verified by the statistics I have on record, in connection with the Marine Survey Party, that during spring tides the numremarked by
me, as well as
ber of febrile cases is highest. One occasion showing less than eight cases of fever out of a strength of about 40 iu one day ; this high percentage being observed at
spring
majority
place, decliue appointsurveying parties of the different proceed there, eveu on temporary duty> also
are
accidentally, he would receive The
as
times, departments, who
no
his clothes.
1882.
to fear of the uuhealtbiuesa of the
inferior description of cocoanut oil, over which a thick coating of dirt keeps accumulating, emitting a most obnoxious odour, in fact if one was to brush past them ou
[October 2,
tides.
most prominent affection noticed by ine> prevalent amongst the natives, was a modionly though fied variety of Itch, about the nates, and geuitals,
Another
as a consequence induration of the scrotum and prepuce, in many instances leading to phimosis, and in severe cases to the operatiou of circumcision. This cutaneous disorder depends greatly on, in fact I am of opinion is the result of filthiness associated with
causing
the action of brine. Taking the three
out-posts together,
some
very im-
come under observation, portant and interesting cases both for the Surgeon aud Physician; the treatment received of Hospital Assistants, by these cases, is from the hands the journey taking or they are transferred to Cuttack, over
four-and-twenty hours in a boat, thus placiug patients sometime9 in imminent danger.
the
lives of the
During my short stay of three months at Hukitola in medical charge of Marine Survey Party No. 2, I had occasion to witness a most painful case of retention and consequent extravasation of urine, which would have terminated fatally had I not operated very probably on the case, to undergo which, the man was sent to me from a distance of about seven miles. I apologize for suggesting before conclusion that a great boon would be conferred on the people of False Point, if iu addition to the Hospital Assistants for the three an Assistant Surgeon, or Assistant Apo" thecary, located at Hukitola, designated Port Surgeon'' at officer the warraut medical is termed,) Bimlipatam (as duties of these native medica to superintend the subordinates, attend to the sanitary condition of the
outposts they bad
outposts,
see
to the serious cases, and
which cannot be entrusted to the
perform operations
Hospital
Assistants.