CEYLON. l' s; > 



which exists ill some of the Large towns, notably Co- 

 lombo, Handy and Galle, lias much influence in increas- 

 ing the number of cases. 



Leprosy. — The total number of cases reported during 

 the year 1902 was 5G0, against 590 in the previous year, 

 being a decrease of 30 cases; 382 cases were treated in 

 the leper asylum, Hendala, and 30 in the Kalmunai 

 wards. The leper ordinance came into operation at the 

 beginning of the year, and 113 cases have been reported. 



Ankylostomiasis. — It seems that this disease, which is 

 so very prevalent, is constantly being introduced from 

 India by Malabar coolies. The disease is increasing. 

 There were 1,609 admissions in all hospitals, with 

 257 deaths. The danger of the disease to life is in the 

 profound anemia, which so lowers the vitality that the 

 victim is carried off by any insignificant intercurrent 

 affection. 



Plague. — The Plague Committee is a standing com- 

 mittee, including besides the principal civil medical of- 

 ficer, the collector of customs of the ports, the govern- 

 ment agent and the mayor of Colombo. Kegular meet- 

 ings are held and precautions instituted to combat an 

 outbreak of the disease. All returns of plague from in- 

 fected ports are received by the committee; telegraph 

 accounts of plague occurring in places adjacent to Cey- 

 lon are received regularly. It is to the eternal watch- 

 fulness of this committee and the prompt action of 

 the staff of port surgeons that is due the freedom of 

 the island from this Asiatic disease. Galle continues 

 to be the plague port; only one case of this disease was 

 reported from the harbor of Colombo during the year. 

 The patient contracted the disease at Hongkong and 

 was landed and isolated at Galle, and the contacts for 

 this port were placed in quarantine. The patient re- 

 covered. Eat destruction was carried out at the cus- 

 toms premises and by the municipalities of Colombo 

 and Galle. 



