234: AROUND THE WORLD VIA INDIA. 



His last official report 1 contains many interesting facts, 

 and from it I have gleaned much valuable information. 



In speaking of the temperature and rainfall he says: 

 "The mean temperature was 77.7 P., or 0.9 F. above the 

 average; the maximum temperature was 115.20 P., on 

 June 3 and 12, and the minimum 35 F. on December 

 27: the amplitude of yearly fluctuation was 80.2 F., 

 and the greatest on any day was 41.4 F., on February 9. 

 The rainfall registered at the Jaipur Observatory was 

 23.39 inches, or 1.07 below the yearly average." 



The vital statistics show that during the year 1903 

 the number of births recorded was 4,436, against 6,641 

 deaths, the death rate being much larger than the birth 

 rate. Infantile mortality is responsible for the large 

 death rate, as the number of deaths among children 

 under one and five years, during the same time reached 

 the astonishing figure of 3,863. The three months most- 

 fatal to child life were: June, 531; October, 461, and 

 September, 459. During the year there were 58 deaths 

 from smallpox, 244 from measles, 7 from cholera and 

 7 from imported plague in Jaipur city. 



In reference to the steps taken to check the cholera 

 epidemic the report states : "The usual necessary pre- 

 cautions were taken in every village and city where the 

 outbreak of cholera took place — wells were disinfected 

 with permanganate of potassium; insanitary conditions 

 in the villages and towns removed, so far as possible, 

 and hospital assistants with proper medicines were dis- 

 patched to treat all cases." 



Malarial fevers were prevalent in many districts in 

 the autumn and 236 packets, containing 100 doses of 

 quinin in each, were supplied to officials of the govern- 

 ment for free distribution to the people; there was also 

 a free distribution of quinin and other cinchona alka- 

 loid? from each of the district dispensaries. 



The mortality from malaria was low, owing undoubt- 



1. Annual Report on the Jaipur Medical and Meteorological In- 

 stitute for 1903. 



