The following vaccinations were performed during the year :-
Victoria Gaol,....
Government Civil Hospital,
Alice Memorial Hospital,
Tung Wah Hospital
Victoria, Aberdeen, Stanley, Hunghom, Shaukiwan....
,
Yaumati,.
PRIVATE NURSING INSTITUTE.
...3,378 608
273
.2,009
81
57
22
24
68
6,520
511
During the year the two Private Nursing Sisters along with the three probationers have ben housed at Westward Ho" pending the erection of the Nursing Institute.
The services of the two Private Nurses have been in constant requisition during the year, they undoubtedly supply a long felt public need.
The amount of money received in fees during the year has been $1,465.56.
HEALTH OF THE COLONY,
The estimated population of the Colony for 1899 was 259,310.
There were 1,132 births and 6,181 deaths, of the latter 1,434 were from plague.
The birth rate was 4:3 per 1,000 as against 4·7 per 1,000 in 1898.
The death rate was 23.8 per 1,000 as compared with 22:30 per 1,000 in 1898; excluding the
deaths from plague the death rate would have been 18.3 per 1,000.
The following figures gives the death rate in the different nationalities for the past two years :
Death rate.
1899.
Whites,.. Coloured, Chinese,
1898. 16.2 per 1,000 33.6 .22.54
12
"
12.5 per 1,000 28.3
24.4
1:
The increase amongst the Chinese was due to the greater number of cases of plague. Plague was again prevalent in an epidemic form; this is the first time that the Colony has been attacked by the disease in an epidemic form in two successive years.
Undoubtedly many cases must have been introduced as the disease was prevalent all round us, only in March knowledge of its presence at Pakhoi was obtained,
The disease was also prevalent in Canton and its districts, Wuchow being affected carly in the year. It was also epidemic in Amoy and at Formosa.
From August 1898 to February 1899 inclusive only 9 cases were notified, the marked recurrence of cases, however, in houses previously infected shows that the bacilli are but dormant and in th: ill ventilated, badly lighted and overcrowded Chinese dwellings which exist in this Colony only require certain atmospheric conditions to favour their growth and spread.
Early in April No. IX. Health District was declared infected, the disease became much røre prevalent in May and in June, the remaining Health Districts were declared infected.
The disease did not reach its maximum until June, quite a month later than was the case in the previous year.
Fortunately very few Europeans were attacked this year.
As usual in epidemic years rinderpest was prevalent amongst the cattle in the Colony, practically all the dairies being affected.
The Legislature realising that much more radical measures must be taken to rid the Colon: of this disease introduced and passed the Insanitary Properties Ordinance, 1899; practically this Bill will further the better sanitation of the Colony by doing away with back-to-back houses and by the provision of more light and ventilation to the Chinese dwellings in this Colony.
I attach to this the reports of:·
1. Government Civil Hospital.
2. Medical Officer in charge of Mortuary.
3. Medical Officer to Victoria Gaol.
4. Visiting Surgeon to the Tung Wah Hospital,
5. Medical Officer to the Lunatic Asylums.
6. Government Analyst.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant.
J. M. ATKINSON, M.B. (Lond.), D.P.II. (Camb.) &e.. Principal Civil Medical Officer.
The Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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