173
No. 18.
HONGKONG.
Colonial Surgeon's Report for 1884.
Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 30th March, 1885.
SIR, I have the honour to forward my Annual Report for 1884, together with the Tables showing the work done in the different Establishments of the Medical Department. I also forward reports from the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital, the Superintendent of the Lock Hospital, and the Government Analyst.
POLICE.
2. The admissions from the Police Force to Hospital, in 1884, show a decrease of over one hundred as compared with 1883. For the last four years the numbers have been as follows:-1881, 498; 1882, 549; 1883, 599; and 1884, 486, shewing a considerable improvement, especially when the strength of the Force in the different years is taken into consideration. The average strength of the Force in the last four years has been:-1881, 624; 1882, 588; 1883, 658; and 1884, 666.
3. There were seven deaths in the Force: one European, one Indian, and five Chinese; of these deaths only two occurred in Hospital; one European and one Chinese. The Indian died in India while away on leave. One Chinese died in China while on leave, and three others in their own houses.
4.—Table I shews the admissions to Hospital of each class of the Force during each month of the year 1884. The number of admissions of every class is, as usual, largest in the summer months.
5.-Table II gives the average strength of the different sections of the Force, the death rate of sickness and mortality to strength.
6.-Table III shews the number of admissions to Hospital of the different sections of the Force from the different stations and districts.
7.-The Water Police Hulk being burnt, destroyed one great source of sickness amongst the Force, but the new Water Police Station not being ready, the men were located at Crosby's Store which, during their stay there, proved no improvement on the Hulk. Towards the end of the year they were removed into the New Water Police Station on the Kowloon side and this, so far, has been a great improvement. It has yet to be seen how it works in the summer months.
8. Stanley Station, which in 1883 sent in twenty-eight cases, this year only sent in thirteen; the number is still high as, in 1882 only, seven cases were received. This year, while the old Station is being partially rebuilt and repaired, the men have been stationed in the old military quarters there.
9.-No. 2 and No. 3 Stations sent in 18 cases this year, as compared with 39 in 1883. Most of the cases come from No. 3 Station which should be pulled down and entirely rebuilt; there is plenty of room for an excellent Station there.
10. No. 7 Station sent in 29 cases, as compared with 58 in 1883. This Station should also be entirely rebuilt, as there is plenty of room for an excellent Station and no reason for its being so insa- lubrious.
11.--The Central Station furnishes many more cases than it should do. This Station and No. 9 admit of much improvement. The latter, an old Station of the Bungalow description, only used for married quarters, should be rebuilt with two stories. Whitfield Station is now the worst of the out-stations and sends in a very bad class of fever cases, though, as regards the building itself, there is nothing to quarrel with; but a great amount of earth cutting, &c., has being going on of late years in the neighbourhood. However, I think, time will work improvement in this Station.
12. The admissions to Hospital from the various sections of the Force for the last four years are as follows:--
Europeans.
Indians.
Chinese.
Admissions to Hospital, 1881,.....
.. 88
212
198
Do.,
Do.,
Do.,
1882,...... 1883, 1884,.....
92
230
227
..113
246
239
87
224
175