448
PREVALENCE OF PLAGUE IN HONGKONG, 1896.
The first case of plague was reported from Yu Lock Lane on the 4th January. In that month there were 45 cases confined principally to the Western portion of the City.
Towards the middle of February cases were reported from other districts than the Western one and the number of cases was distinctly on the increase.
On 19th February the Government was informed that in the opinion of the Sanitary Board the disease was epidemic and the Health Officer of the Port was instructed to cease issuing clean Bills of Health.
The districts of the city in which the greatest number of cases occurred were:-
Health District No. 2, bounded on the North by the Harbour, on the South by the Bowen Road, on the West by Garden Road and on the East by the Wanchai Road, approx- imate built area 95 acres.
Health District No. 4, bounded on the North by the Harbour, on the South by the Caine Road, on the West by Peel Street and on the East by Wyndham, approximate built
area 55 acres.
Health District No. 5, bounded on the North by the Harbour, on the South by the Caine Road, on the West by East Street and on the East by Peel Street, approximate built
area 55 acres.
Health District No. 7, bounded on the North by the Harbour, on the South by Bonham Road, on the West by Shek Tong Tsui Nullah, and on the East by Eastern Street, approx- imate built area 50 acres.
Cases occurred in the outlying districts of Victoria Peak, Shaukiwan, Aberdeen, Stanley, Kow- loon Point, Hunghom and Yaumati.
A considerable number of cases occurred on the native boats in the harbour.
The following table gives the number of cases reported in each month :
...
January, February,.. March, April, May, June,
July,...
August,
September,
October,
49
125
168
316
344
113
52
25
2
J
November,
Total,................1,204
METEOROLOGICAL DATA.
On reference to appendix A it will be seen that,-
(a) The drought of 1895 extended to June, 1896.
(b) The months of maximum mean temperature were followed by a material reduction in
the number of cases.
(c) The number of hours of Sunshine was considerably lower than that of the previous years
1892 to 1895.
(d) During the months of February, March and April, 1896, the humidity of the atmosphere
was exceptionally high.
PROCEEDINGS ADOPTED WITH A VIEW TO PREVENTING THE SPREAD
OF THE DISEASE IN 1896.
The proceedings adopted were similar to those adopted in 1895 already described in pages 3 and 4 with the exception that the isolation of persons in boats moored in the Harbour was abandoned towards end of February.
On the 27th of January the Sanitary Board considered a letter from the Colonial Secretary enquiring if, in view of the latest report from Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Canton to the effect that several cases of plague had occurred in that City, the Board advises the continuance of the "Marriage Boat" Segregation System. It was decided that a reply be sent to the Colonial Secretary stating that the Board advised the continuance of the segregation.
On the 17th February a letter was received informing the Board that His Excellency the Governor bad decided that in future all persons removed from premises infected with plague be allowed the option of leaving the Colony after disinfection of their clothes and that the segregation system be limited to those who elect to remain in Hongkong.