omitted or curtailed without injury to the argument. "We propose therefore to reproduce in our next issue this portion of of the report in extenso, in preference to offering an abstract
here, and
we reserve
further comment.
"We cannot,
however, refrain from drawing attention here to a very vital point regarding the general health of Calcutta which was among the earliest results of Dr. Payne's enquiry into the state of the town. It is a point which, the report tells us, must be borne in mind whenever the death-rates of Calcutta are discussed; unless we are to lapse into the discrepancies and confusion of ideas which have heretofore prevailed, and which must greatly hinder progress and stimulate opposition whea large money outlay is demanded. To be told that Calcutta
tensity, The Health Officer of Calcutta has issued his report for the The arrangement of the
second quarter of the curreut year. subject matter is the same as that
adopted in the first of Dr. Payne's reports, viz., 1st, the vital statistics and general health of the town; 2nd, the working of the several establishments controlled by the office; and 3rd, the special topics to which attention has been given, during the period in review, apart from routine. As the foundation on which all
supported,
too
much
knowledge
of
public health preparation
cannot be devoted to the
care
of vital statistics.
It was absolutely necessary that without system of such statistics should be set on foot in Calcutta. The want of figures that cQuld be utilized has brought
further
delay
a
much discredit
on
the Health
Department of the Municipal must hope, entering on a stage demonstration which figures afford can
Office, and Calcutta is of its career when thy
now,
we
alone lead to exact conclusions
eanitary plation.
work
as
has
already
on the value and results of such been done and is now in contem-
Matters, which ought to have admitted of definite statement long since, are still spoken of in the language of speculation and conjecture. With nearly half a million of people for our field of observation, we do not know whether enteric fever few years ago appeared, any data to
existed
or
a
not;
guide
us
nor
in
had
we, until
forming
a
this report
judgment
as
to
whether cholera had decreased in the town under the distribution of pure water.
that there had
been
man
had seen
any
opponent
for
A floating surmise prevailed improvement, which was based on what each himself, and was open to contradiction by
of the influence of water
on
the disease.
as Dr. Payne points out, difficulties which beset, long time must continue to beset, the fever enquiry ; but the report throws some light on the history of cholera and its course and progress, and makes it the bounden duty of those who have authority in the town, and the vital interest of those who have none, that they should spare no efforts towards the completion of the water supply which has already done so much
There
and for
for the
are,
a
public
health.
This is the
Health Officer and
for certain good reasons, the special topic which, for exposition on this occasion, has selected
to it the third
importance will allow
portion of
the report is devoted.
Its great
claims fuller treatment than our space in this issue us to it. There is not a paragraph that can be
give
in rare abundance and in-
time to see in its periodic returns death-rates recorded which surpassed in many towns of Europe and in some of England, must bring a sense of dilemma to the most earnest of sanitary reformers, and lay open to cavil the very principles of hygiene. This liability has been incurred hitherto by every one who has undertaken to urge on the Municipality of this town the hurtfulness of filth; but the fallacy is now exposed and the same
SANITATION IN CALCUTTA.
is
affords,
all the most potent factors of fatal disease, and at the
are
way made clear. Dr. Payne believes that the
explanation lies in the composition population of Calcutta. Of the males, he states, a very large proportion, probably one-half, are not permanent residents of the place. Their homes and families are at a distance, and on the first symptom of illness they take to flight and die or recover elsewhere. The males largely predominate in the population, and the effect of their migration on the death-rate is accordingly very large. It explains many other details which would until now have perplexed the statist, e. g., the greater death-rate of women, and while it effectually obscures the real mortality of the town by shewing that the death registers afford no true measure thereof, it vindicates the local registration itself from the suspicion of inaccuracy which the smallness of numbers have very naturally suggested. This point has been mentioned with strong insistance by Dr, Payne, from the time when his first monthly return was preand habits of the native
sented, and all who for in
we
are
trust
in
England,
a
his remarks will attract the attention of
position
to
where it seems
for Calcutta will
influence the
probable
that
course
of events;
sanitary
reform
the best efforts may be traversed by any one who shall adduce the death registers of the place as evidence of a fair state of public health.
originate,
Let the statement be made
categorically for the evidence is registers are good the deaths of males recorded here do not and cannot represent all or nearly all those that arecaused here ; that what they do exhibit is the effect of sudden disabling illness which makes flight impossible that the female population, being more fixed, shews a death-rate more nearly true ; and that there is an enormous absolute quantity of irresistible,
that
though
the
fatal zymotic disease which is in strict accord with the condition, of the town, though it does not fully appear in the recorded death-rates in consequence of the early flight of men whos# sickness allows them to fly.
here, and
we reserve
further comment.
"We cannot,
however, refrain from drawing attention here to a very vital point regarding the general health of Calcutta which was among the earliest results of Dr. Payne's enquiry into the state of the town. It is a point which, the report tells us, must be borne in mind whenever the death-rates of Calcutta are discussed; unless we are to lapse into the discrepancies and confusion of ideas which have heretofore prevailed, and which must greatly hinder progress and stimulate opposition whea large money outlay is demanded. To be told that Calcutta
tensity, The Health Officer of Calcutta has issued his report for the The arrangement of the
second quarter of the curreut year. subject matter is the same as that
adopted in the first of Dr. Payne's reports, viz., 1st, the vital statistics and general health of the town; 2nd, the working of the several establishments controlled by the office; and 3rd, the special topics to which attention has been given, during the period in review, apart from routine. As the foundation on which all
supported,
too
much
knowledge
of
public health preparation
cannot be devoted to the
care
of vital statistics.
It was absolutely necessary that without system of such statistics should be set on foot in Calcutta. The want of figures that cQuld be utilized has brought
further
delay
a
much discredit
on
the Health
Department of the Municipal must hope, entering on a stage demonstration which figures afford can
Office, and Calcutta is of its career when thy
now,
we
alone lead to exact conclusions
eanitary plation.
work
as
has
already
on the value and results of such been done and is now in contem-
Matters, which ought to have admitted of definite statement long since, are still spoken of in the language of speculation and conjecture. With nearly half a million of people for our field of observation, we do not know whether enteric fever few years ago appeared, any data to
existed
or
a
not;
guide
us
nor
in
had
we, until
forming
a
this report
judgment
as
to
whether cholera had decreased in the town under the distribution of pure water.
that there had
been
man
had seen
any
opponent
for
A floating surmise prevailed improvement, which was based on what each himself, and was open to contradiction by
of the influence of water
on
the disease.
as Dr. Payne points out, difficulties which beset, long time must continue to beset, the fever enquiry ; but the report throws some light on the history of cholera and its course and progress, and makes it the bounden duty of those who have authority in the town, and the vital interest of those who have none, that they should spare no efforts towards the completion of the water supply which has already done so much
There
and for
for the
are,
a
public
health.
This is the
Health Officer and
for certain good reasons, the special topic which, for exposition on this occasion, has selected
to it the third
importance will allow
portion of
the report is devoted.
Its great
claims fuller treatment than our space in this issue us to it. There is not a paragraph that can be
give
in rare abundance and in-
time to see in its periodic returns death-rates recorded which surpassed in many towns of Europe and in some of England, must bring a sense of dilemma to the most earnest of sanitary reformers, and lay open to cavil the very principles of hygiene. This liability has been incurred hitherto by every one who has undertaken to urge on the Municipality of this town the hurtfulness of filth; but the fallacy is now exposed and the same
SANITATION IN CALCUTTA.
is
affords,
all the most potent factors of fatal disease, and at the
are
way made clear. Dr. Payne believes that the
explanation lies in the composition population of Calcutta. Of the males, he states, a very large proportion, probably one-half, are not permanent residents of the place. Their homes and families are at a distance, and on the first symptom of illness they take to flight and die or recover elsewhere. The males largely predominate in the population, and the effect of their migration on the death-rate is accordingly very large. It explains many other details which would until now have perplexed the statist, e. g., the greater death-rate of women, and while it effectually obscures the real mortality of the town by shewing that the death registers afford no true measure thereof, it vindicates the local registration itself from the suspicion of inaccuracy which the smallness of numbers have very naturally suggested. This point has been mentioned with strong insistance by Dr, Payne, from the time when his first monthly return was preand habits of the native
sented, and all who for in
we
are
trust
in
England,
a
his remarks will attract the attention of
position
to
where it seems
for Calcutta will
influence the
probable
that
course
of events;
sanitary
reform
the best efforts may be traversed by any one who shall adduce the death registers of the place as evidence of a fair state of public health.
originate,
Let the statement be made
categorically for the evidence is registers are good the deaths of males recorded here do not and cannot represent all or nearly all those that arecaused here ; that what they do exhibit is the effect of sudden disabling illness which makes flight impossible that the female population, being more fixed, shews a death-rate more nearly true ; and that there is an enormous absolute quantity of irresistible,
that
though
the
fatal zymotic disease which is in strict accord with the condition, of the town, though it does not fully appear in the recorded death-rates in consequence of the early flight of men whos# sickness allows them to fly.
