452
From the above table which gives the total number of cases admitted alive to the various Hospi- tals during 1896, it will be seen that the Case Mortality is highest during the years 15 to 20, the numbers over 75 are too small to be of
any account.
The total case mortality is 74 per cent.
The following table gives the admission and deaths in the Government Hospitals during each month of the year arranged according to their nationalities.
EUROPEANS.
COLOURED.
CHINESE.
Total Admissions,
Total Deaths.
Admissions.
Deaths. Admissions. Deaths. Admissions.
Deaths.
MONTHS.
Remaining on the 1st
January, 1896,
January,..
February,
March,
April,
May,
June,
July,
August, .....
September,.
Male.
Female.
1
1
2
1
1
...
Male.
Female.
1
-
28
28
32
8
2
2
78
4
2
2
69
27
1
4
***KONTON ::
10
17
11
32
26
61
2
4
2
1
222362*:**⠀⠀
10
11
54
28
21
5
I ~ ~ -~GIO:
28
10
22
10
29
17
23
11
9
34
13
26
10
82
42
57
31
19 78
26
61
22
2
33
2
24
2
3
1
5
2
1
1
营
October,
November,
•
December,
TOTAL,.....
11
10
5
53 15 9 5 4 283 104 216
PROPHYLAXIS,
.83
309 118 226
90
Towards the end of June, 1896, Dr. YERSIN arrived from Saigon with plague Serum which he had obtained from Professor Roux of Paris and some which he had prepared himself at Saigon.
Unfortunately there were no acute cases in the Hospital at that time and we advised him to proceed to Amoy where the disease was then raging. We told him that we should be very pleased to give the Serum a trial if he would leave some with us but he did not do so.
On his return from Amoy he told me that he had cured some 15 out of 21 or 22 cases but, as he added, "from such a small number of cases no deductions can be drawn."
At the end of the year the Government communicated with Dr. YERSIN and Professor Kitasato in order to ascertain whether any plague Serum was obtainable. I enclose the replies to these letters in appendix E.
Professor HAFFKIEN has elaborated a plague Serum, this with Dr. Y ERSIN'S is now undergoing a trial at Bombay, the results are being watched with much interest here.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS TO BE DRAWN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF 1895 AND 1896.
A. That the occurrence of plague is favoured by
(1) Long prevalence of drought or of abnormally low rainfall.
(2) Atmospheric temperature below 82° F.
(3) Absence of sunshine.
(4) General insanitary conditions such as obstruction to the free access of light and air to
domestic dwellings.
B. That the steps to be taken to retard the progress of the disease are :—
(1) General cleanliness and the free admission of light and air to domestic dwellings.
(2) The immediate isolation of the sick, and those who have been in close contact with the
disease.
(3) The careful and systematic disinfection of all premises in which cases occur, and of
latrines.
30th April, 1896.
1
J. M. ATKINSON.