256
the general rise in the mortality, due to the fact that last year, like most exceptionally dry years, was an unhealthy one, as well for the European as for the native members of the community.
The following is a table of the age-periods at which the several deaths occurred :—
Under
1 month.
1-12 months.
1-5 years.
5-15 years.
15-25 years.
25-45
45-60
years.
years.
60 years and
over.
Ages
unknown.
Totals.
Chinese,
560
452
Non-Chinese,
11
23
552 16
484 597 1,359
731
627
215,383
18
51 120 29
23
291-
Totals,......
Percentage,
571
475 568
502
6481,479
760 650
215,674
10.6
8.3 10.0
8.8 11.3 26.0 13.3 11.4 0.3
DEATHS AMONG THE CHINESE COMMUNITY. CHEST DISEASES.
The total number of deaths among the Chinese from respiratory diseases was 1,221 or 22.6 per cent. of the total deaths. This represents a death-rate from these diseases of 5.1 per 1,000 as compared with 4.7 during the previous year. As observed in former years the death-rate from these causes is much heavier among the boat population than among the land population, being for the former 8.2 per 1,000 and for the latter 4.6 per 1,000. No less than 56 per cent. of these deaths are due to Phthisis, a disease which is always intimately associated with overcrowding, inefficient ventilation and structural insanitary conditions generally.
NERVOUS DISEASES.
The deaths recorded under this heading number 786, and no less than 572 of these or 72 per cent, occurred in infants under one year of age, the causes of death being Tetanus, Trismus and allied dis- orders of a convulsive type. These are well known to be induced by residence in insanitary dwellings, and it is noteworthy that the slow and gradual improvement in the sanitary condition of the Chinese dwellings is being accompanied by a gradual fall in the number of these infant deaths from convulsive diseases, as will be seen from the following table :---
1895,
1896.
1897,
1898,
MALARIAL DISEASES.
.1,107
711
655
572
The total number of deaths among the Chinese from malarial diseases was 506 as compared with 712 during the previous year; this is equal to a death-rate from this cause alone of 2.1 per 1,000. The death-rate from this cause among the boat population was not so heavy as in former years, although it still remains greater among them than among the land population, being 2.6 per 1,000 for the former and 2.0 per 1,000 for the latter.
the
There were 117 deaths recorded as due to Beri-Beri.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The total number of cases of infectious disease reported by registered medical practitioners during year was 1,591 and comprised the following:-
Bubonic Fever, ............. Small-pox,
Enteric Fever',
Diphtheria, Puerperal Fever,.
Scarlet Fever, Cholera.....
•
January.
54
8 February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
67 137 468 534 86 38
92
1
2
13
5
2
1
5
8
12
6 3 1
6
1
1
1
...
1
2
5
Total Cases,..
November.
December.
Total.
1 1,320
: : : ܘ: :
199
6
2
52
1
5
6
45
1,591