525
Gaol Officers.-There were 56 under treatment as compared with 30 in the previous year :--
Principal Warder,..
Warders,
Assistant Warders, Guards,
1
23
24
56
malarial fevers and influenza contributing the greatest number of admissions, viz., 17 and 4 respectively.
Influenza.-There were 32 cases under treatment with no deaths.
—m
Enteric Fever. There were 33 cases under treatinent with eleven deaths. Thirteen originated locally, one being an Indian Constable from the Central Police Station, one was from Canton and the remaining nineteen were from ships, nine of these being from foreign men-of-war, all having contracted the disease away from the Colony,
As Dr. MANSON states in his book on Tropical Diseases this disease is a very virulent one in the tropics with a death rate twice as heavy as the death rate of typhoid in England.'
Our experience also bears out his statement "that constipation is much more common in tropical typhoid than in the disease in Europe."
Diphtheria.-Six patients were admitted suffering from this disease with two deaths both Chinese ; in each case tracheotomy was performed.
Cholera.-There were no cases admitted suffering fro:n this disease; this is the third year in succession that we have been free from this disease.
Dysentery.—Forty-seven cases were under treatment with two deaths.
Malarial Fevers.-I have to report a large increase in the number admitted suffering from this class of disease, the figures being 469 as compared with 334 in 1898.
There were three deaths--one European, one Indian and one Chinese.
This large increase was mainly due to Police admitted from Stations in the New Territory; by reference to Table Ve it will be seen that 118 admissions are thus accounted for.
Knowing how malarious many of the districts in the New Territory were, instructions were drawn up for the guidance of officers stationed there, special prominence being given to the prophylactic use of quinine in small daily doses during the summer months.
The disease although prevalent was not of a severe type, there being only one death, that of the Inspector at Cheang Chan, and it is doubtful whether this was a case of true malarial fever.
He was admitted to the hospital in July last with fever and rapidly developed hyperpyrexia, his temperature rising to F. 109°.
A careful post mortem examination was made and, as this was a most exceptional case, portions of the various organs were preserved and sent to Dr. MANSON. From a report which I have received from the Tropical School of Medicine this would be more correct to consider this as a case of Siriasis or Thermic fever.
Two other cases of hyperpyrexia occurred during the year, blood films of both of these were sent to Dr. MANSON for examination; but no malarial parasites were found, they occurred in patients suffering from delirium tremens.
Beri-beri.—There were 44 cases under treatment with 7 deaths, an increase of 15 as compared
with 1898.
Seventeen were Chinese Constables, seven being admitted from the Central and six from the Water Police Station; most of these cases were recruits, the disease developing during their three months' probation.
Venereal Diseases. The number of admissions from constitutional syphilis continues to show a small but steady increase as the following figures prove :-
Primary Syphilis,. Secondary
1897.
1898.
1899.
66
76
63
82
87
106
148
163
169