No. 6.— 1853.] DISTRICT OF CHILAW AND PUTTALAM. 37 



That the number of calm days was ... 34 



Do. do. rainy days... ... 112 



Do. do. days with thunder ... 98 



Thunderstorms at Puttalam ... .. e 21 



Health. 



All that part of the District which is freely exposed to the 

 influence of the sea-breeze is on the whole healthy, but towards 

 the interior, where lofty forests check all circulation of air, and 

 where extensive swamps and neglected tanks give rise to 

 noxious miasma, the people are much subject to fever, lingering 

 ulcers, and various cutaneous diseases. During the prevalence 

 of the N.E. Monsoon, the wind traverses the pestilential 

 marshes just mentioned before reaching the maritime parts, 

 and gives rise to sickness there. 



Cholera occasionally visits the District, but seems to occur 

 only in September and October—that is, immediately preceding 

 the commencement of the rain. It is at least possible, that 

 the drinking of water from the small pools loaded with decay- 

 ing vegetable and animal matter may, in some way, be con- 

 nected with the occurrence of this disease. It is a common 

 — and apparently correct — remark, that any decided change of 

 weather causes a cessation of the disease. 



In stating that the maritime pattus are healthy, I ought 

 to have excepted the village of Kalpitiya, in which the num- 

 ber of deaths, especially among the females, is truly lamentable. 

 This state of things has, so far as I can learn, only existed 

 since the town has been surrounded with numerous cocoanut 

 topes, which, in combination with narrow winding lanes, 

 effectually prevent ventilation, and would very probably be in 

 a great measure removed, if one or more straight roads were 

 cut running East and West from the sea to the gulf. 



Regarding the quantity of rain, moisture in the atmosphere, 

 <&c., no observations have, so far as I am aware, been made. 



E 



