290
}
“On the outbreak of the disease in Canton many persons, especially the well-to-do,. removed into the country, thus forming fresh foci for its dissemination; and in the same way the out- break in Hongkong no doubt arose from persons having migrated from Canton to Hongkong while actually suffering from the disease or during the short incubation period."
"If it came to Canton by sea, it is rather remarkable that Hongkong, which is nearer to, and in direct communication with, Pakhoi, should have been visited by an outbreak nearly two months later than Canton."
PREVALENCE OF PLAGUE IN HONGKONG, 1895.
After a period of six months since the last case in 1894, a case of Plague was reported on 28th April, 1895, at No. 91, Praya Central.
:
Two more cases were brought into Hospital on the next day, one from No. 27, Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai and the other from No. 79,. Queen's Road West.
These three cases were brought from premises in widely different parts of the city and no con- nection between them could be traced,
In May from the 6th to the 9th two cases, apparently sporadic, were reported in the Central portion of the city, one from No. 2, Pound Lane and the other from No. 4, Wing Lok Street, the latter being that of a Chinaman (male adult) who arrived from Canton evidently suffering from the disease at the time of his arrival,
In June from the 14th to the 30th thirteen cases were reported. Eight being from Heung Lane, three from Holland Street, Kennedy Town, one found on board the Canton steamer on its arrival and one from No. 335, Queen's Road West.
• Two of the above cases from Heung Lane occurred on the isolation boats amongst those persons removed or having been in contact with persons attacked with the disease at Nos. 10 and 12, Heung Lane. These persons were removed three days prior to their developing the disease.
In July from the 19th to the 24th two cases were reported, one being from the district of Tsim Tsa Tsui. British Kowloon, and the other from No. 63, Queen's Road West.
In August from the 8th to the 25th four cases were reported, two from Nos. 3 and 27, Tsung San Lane West, one from the Canton steamer and one from No. 28, Bridges Street.
In September from the 7th to the 16th three cases were reported, one from No. 4, l'ossession Street,
one from No. 55, Aberdeen Street, and one from No. 44, Second Street.
In November from the 6th to the 25th five cases were reported, one from No. 17, Chung Wo Lane, two from No. 43, Centre Street, one from No. 13, Rutter Street, and one from the Alice Memorial Hospital.
In December from the 5th to the 30th twelve cases were reported, four from Nos. 5, 64 and 66, First Street, one from No. 67, Second Street, one from No. 20, Third Street, one from No. 1, Rutter Street, one from No. 20, Burd Street, two from No. 29, Mosque Junction, one from No. 33 Upper Lascar Row, and one from No. 13, Old Bailey,
From the foregoing, it will be seen that:-
(a) The total number of cases reported was 44.
(b) The disease commenced at the end of April and was prevalent during the remain ler of
the year.
(e) In no month did it assume such proportions as to constitute an Epidemic.
(d) During the months of June and December the greatest number of cases occurred.
(e) With the exception of Heung Lane in no portion of the Colony did the disease obtain
any serious hold.
METEOROLOGICAL DATA.
On reference to appendix A it will be seen that:-
(a) The prevalence of exceptionally low rainfall preceded the outbreaks of plague in 1894
and 1895.
(b) The year 1895 in which cases occurred during the months of March to December inclusive was one of exceptionally low rainfall, the total being only 45.835 inches as against an average annual rainfall of about 91 inches.
(c) The months of maximum mean temperature in each of the years 1894 and 1895 were
followed by a material reduction in the number of cases.
(d) The number of hours of Sunshine during the months May to September, 1895, was
considerably greater than in 1894.