355
3 SMALL-POX.
In a Colony having such close proximity to the mainland of China, we must expect to have small-pox constantly introduced, and yet the chances of its spreading are small, for most of the Chinese inhabitants are already protected by a previous attack, while the Vaccine Institute under the super- intendence of the Colonial Surgeon supplies an abundance of pure lymph which undoubtedly accounts for the remarkable immunity of the Police and other officials from this disease.
Thirty-two cases of the disease were reported during the year, and eight deaths were registered. Five of the cases occurred amongst Europeans, two being taken from steamers in the Harbour, and one from the Sailors' Home, while one was a woman removed from the McGregor Barracks. There was a small outbreak of the disease among the children at the Berlin Foundling Mission during the month of May, when five cases were recorded, and another small outbreak at the village of Hunghom at the latter end of the year, which accounts for other six cases, while one case is debited to each of the villages of Yaumati, Tsat Tsz Mui and Quarry Bay. Twenty of the cases were men, and twelve women, and they were treated in the following institutions:--
Government Civil Hospital..... Kennedy Town Hospital.. Tung Wa Hospital
At home
4 ENTERIC FEVER.
.18
3
6
Fifteen deaths were registered during the year as having occurred from this cause, four of them being among the non-Chinese civil population and one a British soldier; the former comprised one British sailor, one German sailor, one Japanese sailor, (all imported cases) and one Japanese prosti- tute. Of the ten deaths which occurred among the Chinese community, no less than five were clearly "proved to have returned from the mainland in an infected condition, and of the remaining five, one was brought from Tsat Tsz Mui, and one from Hunghom (an employé at the Docks) while two occurred in No. 7 Health District of the city, and no information was obtainable concerning the remaining one.
Provided that the water supply and the milk supplies of the Colony are zealously guarded from pollution, we need have no fear of any extensive outbreak of this disease, since the system of con- servancy in vogue, provided it be efficiently carried out, lends no aid to the local dissemination of such a virus as that of Enteric Fever, but if we would maintain this exemption, the Board must zealously guard its powers of preventing the introduction of water-closets and of the water-carriage system of the disposal of excreta, for there can be no question that sewers, containing such matters, may play a most important part in the dissemination both of Typhoid Fever and of Diphtheria.
5. PUERPERAL FEVER.
Twelve deaths were registered from Puerperal Fever among the Chinese, and no less than ten of them occurred at Kaulung, eight being among a boat population of about 6,000. In speaking of the enormous infant mortality among the Chinese, I have advocated the registration of all Chinese mid- wives, and this is another strong argument in favour of the necessity for some control being exercised over these women, who are at present able to carry about in their persons and their clothing so fatal a malady as Puerperal Fever, and thus produce a death-rate equal to 1.3 per 1,000 in a flourishitg suburb of the city.
Return of articles disinfected at the Government steam disinfecting station during the year 1895.
No. of articles removed from private houses,
.... 3,368
">
""
""
"
55
Tung Wa Hospital, Government Civil Hospital,.
2.200
822
15
39
Military Hospitals,
155
17
""
Victoria Gaol,
8
Total,.
6,553
COMMON LODGING-HOUSES.
A series of admirable Bye-laws, relating to the regulating of common lodging-houses, were drafted by the Board in 1891 and approved by the Legislative Council, but owing to various cireum- stances, these bye-laws did not come into force until January 1st, 1895. They are now in working order, and have already done much to lessen the overcrowding of the coolie-houses, and to ensure their cleanliness and ventilation. In fact, at the present moment, some of the healthiest Chinese dwellings in the city are the more recently licensed common lodging-houses.
I append a copy of the Registrar General's return of deaths for the year 1895,
and have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS W. CLARK.