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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol, IX . 



Much attention was devoted in 1852, during the adminis- 

 tration of Sir George Anderson, to the operation of the 

 quarantine laws, and the improvement of the drainage 

 system of the capital. That pestilential ditch in the Pettah, 

 misnamed " St. John's River," was entirely covered in, 

 several new streets were opened, drainage on an extensive 

 scale was planned, both by the opening out of new drains 

 and the widening of old ones ; indeed, at no great cost, much 

 was done to increase the salubrity of the town and the com- 

 fort of its inhabitants. 



Various sums were from time to time voted by the Govern- 

 ment of Sir Henry Ward for the improvements of Civil 

 Hospitals. The state of the Pettah Hospital, then the General 

 Hospital of Colombo, was not creditable to the Colony, and a 

 sum of £3,000 was voted for the purchase of a better site in 

 the suburbs. It was after this that the present General 

 Hospital was built, and opened in 1864. 



In 1857 a Select Committee was appointed by the Legisla- 

 tive Council to report upon the Fixed Establishments of the 

 Colony, and one of the recommendations made was that the 

 Civil Medical Department should be separated from the 

 Military Medical Department, and placed under the control 

 of a Civil Medical Officer, as the existing Civil Department 

 was insufficient for the requirements of the Island, and the 

 military heads of the department were shifted too often for 

 opportunities to acquire local experience. A Civil Medical 

 Establishment was proposed, consisting of a Principal Civil 

 Medical Officer, two Colonial Surgeons, eight Assistant 

 Colonial Surgeons, and twenty-eight Medical Assistants, all 

 with salaries adapted to secure efficiency and ability. Dr. 

 Elliott, eminent in Ceylon as a public man, and well-known 

 for his ability and philanthrophy, was in England when 

 the report was published, and he lost no time in applying 

 to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the new office 

 of Principal Civil Medical Officer. He was appointed, but 

 his tenure of office was unfortunately too short to enable 



