THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH MAY, 1873.
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ich is much to be deplored. Seeing that the Institution was endowed with such a large sum of ney by the Colonial Government, I think that the Directors might be asked to set apart one ward their Hospital for the treatment of patients by foreign Doctors, or they might open a Dispensary another part of the City where foreign advice and medicine might be obtained gratis.
The increase in the number of the Vaccinations is noteworthy. In 1871, 500 were vaccinated by native operators, and in 1872 the number had increased to 900.
Tables A. B. C. & D. show the Statistics of the Seamen's Hospital for 1872.
V. THE GAOL.
The number of prisoners in the Gaol in 1872, was 6,268, in 1871 it was 3,017. The greatest amber of prisoners in Gaol was on the 15th May, when there were 86 Europeans, 15 Colored
and 509 Chinese; total 610. The smallest number was on the 29th December, when there were 50 Europeans, 11 Colored, and 310 Chinese; total 371 prisoners. The health of the prisoners during the year was very good. The number of trifling cases, which formerly was made up prin- pally of cases of bruised feet, has considerably decreased since the prisoners were taken off the roads. The admissions into Hospital and Mortality is shewn in Table VII. Six severe cases of Remit- tent Fever were admitted into Hospital of which 2 died. There were 22 cases of Intermittent, some
of these after resisting large doses of Quinine, were eventually cured by the internal administration
Carbolic Acid.
Table VIII. shows the rate of sickness and mortality. number of prisoners was 3.04 per cent, and the mortality 0.22 per cent. In 1872, it was 2.04 per In 1871, the rate of sickness to total cent and 0.15 per cent. In the beginning of September, an order was issued by His Excellency the Governor that no prisoner should be allowed outside the Gaol walls until 3 months of his entence had expired, that he should be put to hard labor, and for 10 days of every month be kept on low diet. The low diet was bread and water for Europeans and Americans, and rice and water for Chinese.
This diet was to be kept up for 10 days in every month for 6 months. After iving this a fair trial it was found that Foreigners could not stand hard labor on low diet, although the Chinese did not seem to suffer. The regimen was therefore changed to 5 days low diet twice a month but no hard labor during those periods. Up to the end of the year, the health of the Europeans was excellent, and I think the Chinese were decidedly in better health under the new regulations. Whether this arrangement can be kept up for 6 months, or during the hot season, remains to be seen.
VI. THE LOCK HOSPITAL.
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Tables A. B. C. D. E. &. F., show the Statistics of the Hospital and the working of the Contagious Disceases Act in Hongkong. In Table C. it will be found that of the 432 men diseased, 129 con- tracted the disease elsewhere than in Hongkong. The average number of men in Port and Garrison per month is 12,010, and the average of men diseased is only 0.29 per month. Last was 0.34.
year the average
Table X. shows the rate of mortality among the Foreign Residents for the last 15 years. Although there was a good deal of sickness in the Colony last year, the mortality was small. Ốf the 65 deaths recorded, 23 were of Portuguese, and of these 15 were children under one year.
ist2.
Table XII. contains the result of the Meterological observations taken at the Civil Hospital in The heat during the summer was comparatively moderate for Hongkong. The month of April was hot, but in May, after the rains began, the weather became again very cool. Easterly and North-easterly winds prevailed, and May, which is usually one of the hottest months in the year, was remarkably cool. Diarrhea and Dyscutery were very prevalent in May, especially among children. The month of August was very hot and at that time there were several cases of Remittent Fever of a very severe type. In this City the cases were few, but at Aberdeen nearly 100 men of H. M. S. Barossa were attacked with fever of a malarious type. 54 cases were sent to the Melville Hospital from Aberdeen, and several severe cases occurred on board of one of the ships of the P. & O. Company which was then in Dock. It is probable that the great heat at the time may have tempted the men to leave their ship for cooler quarters on shore, and that they slept on the ground or within a few feet of it, a proceeding which is almost certain to be followed by an attack of fever.
The rain fall for the year is much below the average being only 62 inches against 994 in 1871. The thermometrical range was only 46°. It is worthy of note that "Hongkong Fever," is most prevalent when the rainfall is below average and the range of the thermometer small.
Six cases
of Small-pox were admitted into the Civil Hospital, and 14 cases into the Seamen's Hospital. Most of these were of a very severe type, 2 cases died in the Government Hospital and 5 cases in the Seamen's. Three of the cases occurred in June.
In the summer and autumn, Measles was very prevalent both amongst children and adults. Some of the cases were of a more severe form than is usual in Hongkong.
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