STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENCY JAIL, CALCUTTA, DURING THE YEARS 1871-
VITAL 1876.
By Surgeon-Major [Dr.
Mackenzie lias
S. Coul
Mackenzie,
kindly placed
careful report of the health of the
at
our
M.D.
disposal
a
prisoners?European
very and
Native?during the six years, 1871-76, in which }>e held the office of superintendent and medical officer. The facts recorded thus possess an additional value from having been placed on record by one observer who was further intimately conversant with all the circumstances affecting the lives of those under his charge, and solely responsible for the sanitary administration of the prison and the medical treatment of the prisoners. "We have taken the liberty of omitting some portions of the report and condensing others. The condensed portions are included in brackets.] Site.?The jail is situated on the edge of a plain exposed in all directions to the prevailing winds, and not in close proximity to any source of malaria; it shares with Calcutta tne general anti-hygienic conditions of the district. The soil
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
146
which the jail is situated contains a considerable amount clay in the form of thin strata interpolated between the more permeable sandy layers, and varying considerably both in regard to extension and inclination. The level of the wafer varies from [two to three feet from tlie surface at the on
of
close of
the
rains to twelve at the end of the hot weather.
J)rainane.? The natural outfall of the surface wafer is a (Tolly's) which open3 into the Hooghly at a short distance. The area on which the jail is situated slopes from nullah
north-west to south-east, at which latter point the jail drainage unites with that of the maidan to be discharged into the nullah. The
drainage
of the
jail
was
carried
on
by
means
of cutcha
and pucca drains; all surface water
they answered the purpose of carrying off to the garden, where it was utilized in irrigating the crops, any surplus passing off into a large drain on thp maidan to the east of the jail. During the rains the large surface drain the east
of the
jail
becomes tidal.
As
on
the
tlie maidan to drain passes
a very dirty and densely populated bustee before it reaches the jail, the inhabitants of which make a privy of it throughout the whole yeir, a large quantity of animal debris is carried up and deposited close to the jail walls. It haa been observed on these high tides receding that the prisoners
through
whose dormitories are close to the east wall of the jail suffer much from malarious fever. It was suggested that the surface water of the maidan should be carried into the large inuuicipal sower on the south of the
jail garden, and that the tidal drain in the bustee the east of the General Hospital be closed. It was, however, found that the municipal sewer was too small to carry off
to
all the storm water from the maidan during the rains, and that, if the maidan drains were diverted into the sewer, there would be every chance of its bursting after a heavy rainfall.
Climate.?The following Table shows the temperature, the humidity, and rainfall of the 6 years under review, tfiken from the monthly returns of the Surveyor General's Department, Calcutta.
1872.
1871.
Mouth.
Maximum Temperature Minimum
ditto
97-7
March
540
January
Highest mean humidity
88
June and
Lowest ditto ditto
66
January
33-7
March
Highest
extreme variation of
Temperature
Bainfall by lower raiu gauge Ditto
by anemometer rain gauge
26th
1013
5th
516
Augnst.
Month.
Date
May
27th
106-0
January
11th
53-0
88
August
65
March and
31*7
February
April.
35-6
February
4186
41*11
Minimum
ditto
Highest
humidity
86
January August & Sept.
12th
102 5
9th
53-8
J anuary
87
August
12th
July
84 22
April
21st
January February & March
45-27
103-5
May
87
61-05
j
1875.
April
1876.
7th
99-5
April
9th
23rd
544
February
7th
88
July
Lowest ditto ditto
61
March
62
February
60
February
Highest extreme variation of Temperature
33-1
January
34-3
February
35*6
February
Rainfall
61-48
59-89
51-22
52-83
Ditto
by lower rain gauge
by anemometer rain gauge During
June and
July
the anemometer rain gauge
From the above it will be seen that the highest temperature registered (hiring any month of the six years was 106? registered in May 1S73. The lowest was 51-4? during January 1874. The highest mean humidity was 88, which was registered during June and August 1871, August 1872, and July 1876. The lowest mean humidity was 60 registered during February 1876. The highest extreme variation of temperature was SS G5 registered during February 1873 and 1876. The greatest rainfall registered by the lower rain gauge was 93 31 during 1871. The year 1871 was cool and wet; the rains commenced in and continued to October. The rainfall of the year was 28*25 inches in excess of the average rainfall of Calcutta. During February 0'75 fell, and from March to October it fell
March
steadily?the greatest quantity falling during June and July. The year 1872 was hot and dry. The temperature rose as high as 101 3? during May, and never fell below 54'6?in January. Although some rain was registered during each month
Date.
61
93 31
51-4
mean
1873.
Month.
Date.
1874.
Maximum Temperature
[j? 1, 187S.
80-23
was
under
repair.
of the year, still the total rainfall did not exceed 51 05 or 14*01 inches below the average rainfall.
inches,
The climate during 1873 was very hot and dry. The highest temperature registered was 106*0? during May, the lowest 53*0? during January. The rainfall was very small, only 45"27 inches, showing a decrease of 19*89 inches from the average rainfall, and a decrease of 48 04 inches, and of 5*7S when compared with those of 1871 and 1872.
Some rain fell
each month from
February to December, but the greatest quantity during any month did not exceed 13*60 inches. The temperature in 1874 was high during the months of April and May, when it rose to 103*5" and 101*5,? but the re-
maining
ten
months
were
cool aud
pleasant.
Jiain fell during each month from January to November; the
largest amount was 13'71 inches registered during September ; the smallest 0*94 inches during January. The total rainfall was 6148 inches, or 16*21 inches more than the previous year, but still 3*79 inches below the average rainfall.
June 1,
The 59 89
1878.]
of 1875
season
inches,
VITAL STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENCY J AIL.-BY S. C. MACKENZIE.
or
was
?weight of the prisoners employed labor during 1875 and 1876 :?
rather warm, an
VITAL 1876.
By Surgeon-Major [Dr.
Mackenzie lias
S. Coul
Mackenzie,
kindly placed
careful report of the health of the
at
our
M.D.
disposal
a
prisoners?European
very and
Native?during the six years, 1871-76, in which }>e held the office of superintendent and medical officer. The facts recorded thus possess an additional value from having been placed on record by one observer who was further intimately conversant with all the circumstances affecting the lives of those under his charge, and solely responsible for the sanitary administration of the prison and the medical treatment of the prisoners. "We have taken the liberty of omitting some portions of the report and condensing others. The condensed portions are included in brackets.] Site.?The jail is situated on the edge of a plain exposed in all directions to the prevailing winds, and not in close proximity to any source of malaria; it shares with Calcutta tne general anti-hygienic conditions of the district. The soil
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
146
which the jail is situated contains a considerable amount clay in the form of thin strata interpolated between the more permeable sandy layers, and varying considerably both in regard to extension and inclination. The level of the wafer varies from [two to three feet from tlie surface at the on
of
close of
the
rains to twelve at the end of the hot weather.
J)rainane.? The natural outfall of the surface wafer is a (Tolly's) which open3 into the Hooghly at a short distance. The area on which the jail is situated slopes from nullah
north-west to south-east, at which latter point the jail drainage unites with that of the maidan to be discharged into the nullah. The
drainage
of the
jail
was
carried
on
by
means
of cutcha
and pucca drains; all surface water
they answered the purpose of carrying off to the garden, where it was utilized in irrigating the crops, any surplus passing off into a large drain on thp maidan to the east of the jail. During the rains the large surface drain the east
of the
jail
becomes tidal.
As
on
the
tlie maidan to drain passes
a very dirty and densely populated bustee before it reaches the jail, the inhabitants of which make a privy of it throughout the whole yeir, a large quantity of animal debris is carried up and deposited close to the jail walls. It haa been observed on these high tides receding that the prisoners
through
whose dormitories are close to the east wall of the jail suffer much from malarious fever. It was suggested that the surface water of the maidan should be carried into the large inuuicipal sower on the south of the
jail garden, and that the tidal drain in the bustee the east of the General Hospital be closed. It was, however, found that the municipal sewer was too small to carry off
to
all the storm water from the maidan during the rains, and that, if the maidan drains were diverted into the sewer, there would be every chance of its bursting after a heavy rainfall.
Climate.?The following Table shows the temperature, the humidity, and rainfall of the 6 years under review, tfiken from the monthly returns of the Surveyor General's Department, Calcutta.
1872.
1871.
Mouth.
Maximum Temperature Minimum
ditto
97-7
March
540
January
Highest mean humidity
88
June and
Lowest ditto ditto
66
January
33-7
March
Highest
extreme variation of
Temperature
Bainfall by lower raiu gauge Ditto
by anemometer rain gauge
26th
1013
5th
516
Augnst.
Month.
Date
May
27th
106-0
January
11th
53-0
88
August
65
March and
31*7
February
April.
35-6
February
4186
41*11
Minimum
ditto
Highest
humidity
86
January August & Sept.
12th
102 5
9th
53-8
J anuary
87
August
12th
July
84 22
April
21st
January February & March
45-27
103-5
May
87
61-05
j
1875.
April
1876.
7th
99-5
April
9th
23rd
544
February
7th
88
July
Lowest ditto ditto
61
March
62
February
60
February
Highest extreme variation of Temperature
33-1
January
34-3
February
35*6
February
Rainfall
61-48
59-89
51-22
52-83
Ditto
by lower rain gauge
by anemometer rain gauge During
June and
July
the anemometer rain gauge
From the above it will be seen that the highest temperature registered (hiring any month of the six years was 106? registered in May 1S73. The lowest was 51-4? during January 1874. The highest mean humidity was 88, which was registered during June and August 1871, August 1872, and July 1876. The lowest mean humidity was 60 registered during February 1876. The highest extreme variation of temperature was SS G5 registered during February 1873 and 1876. The greatest rainfall registered by the lower rain gauge was 93 31 during 1871. The year 1871 was cool and wet; the rains commenced in and continued to October. The rainfall of the year was 28*25 inches in excess of the average rainfall of Calcutta. During February 0'75 fell, and from March to October it fell
March
steadily?the greatest quantity falling during June and July. The year 1872 was hot and dry. The temperature rose as high as 101 3? during May, and never fell below 54'6?in January. Although some rain was registered during each month
Date.
61
93 31
51-4
mean
1873.
Month.
Date.
1874.
Maximum Temperature
[j? 1, 187S.
80-23
was
under
repair.
of the year, still the total rainfall did not exceed 51 05 or 14*01 inches below the average rainfall.
inches,
The climate during 1873 was very hot and dry. The highest temperature registered was 106*0? during May, the lowest 53*0? during January. The rainfall was very small, only 45"27 inches, showing a decrease of 19*89 inches from the average rainfall, and a decrease of 48 04 inches, and of 5*7S when compared with those of 1871 and 1872.
Some rain fell
each month from
February to December, but the greatest quantity during any month did not exceed 13*60 inches. The temperature in 1874 was high during the months of April and May, when it rose to 103*5" and 101*5,? but the re-
maining
ten
months
were
cool aud
pleasant.
Jiain fell during each month from January to November; the
largest amount was 13'71 inches registered during September ; the smallest 0*94 inches during January. The total rainfall was 6148 inches, or 16*21 inches more than the previous year, but still 3*79 inches below the average rainfall.
June 1,
The 59 89
1878.]
of 1875
season
inches,
VITAL STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENCY J AIL.-BY S. C. MACKENZIE.
or
was
?weight of the prisoners employed labor during 1875 and 1876 :?
rather warm, an
