526
DEATHS.
The total number of deaths registered during the year was 7,082, as compared with 6,773 during the previous year. The death-rate for 1901 was, therefore, 23.5 per 1,000 as compared with 23.9 in 1900, 23.8 for 1899 and an average of 22.5 per 1,000 during the past five years. These deaths in- clude 1,562 from Bubonic Plague.
The following table gives the death-rates during the past twenty years, inclusive and exclusive of deaths from Bubonic Plague and exclusive in every case of the Naval and Military populations and deaths, as until the last seven years these latter populations were not recorded:
1882... 1883,..
་་་
.26.117 .30.04
1892.....
.20.701
1893,..
.22.70
1884,.
.26.91
1894,
.30.37
1885,
.32.36
1886,
.31.79
1887.
.28.59
Average 27.81
1895, 1896,..
.21.89
.24.25
1897.
..19.13
Average 23.42
,.
....
}
1888,
.31.72
1898,.
.22.71
1889,
.23.64
1899,..
..24.33
1890,.
.23.19
1891,.
.23.80 J
1900,. 1901...
.24.12
...24.03 J
Excluding Plague.
1894,
.19.85
1895,
.21.74
1896,
.19.79
1897,
.19.05
1898,
.17.98
1899,
.18.65
1900, 1901,
.21.10
....19.03
It is satisfactory to find that, in spite of the persistence of Bubonic Plague, the death-rate shows a considerable reduction during the past ten years as compared with the previous decade, but there can be no question that this rate is still exceedingly high, having regard to the fact that the population is so largely composed of young adults. Much yet remains to be done in the matter of the improvement of the sanitary surroundings of the inhabitants, and every substantial step in that direction must result in a reduction in the general death-rate.
The total number of deaths among the Chinese community was 6,670 which is equal to a death- rate of 23.77 per 1,000 as compared with 24.1 per 1,000 during the previous year. It is important to note that the death-rate among Chinese women is very much higher than among Chinese men; the total deaths of Chinese women amounted to 2,693 which gives a death-rate of 35.42 per 1,000, while the deaths among Chinese men totalled 3,969, equal to a rate of 19.40 per 1,000; in eight of the deaths the sex was not recorded-the most probable explanation of this great discrepancy in the death-rates for the two sexes is that the men are more readily able to leave the Colony when sick, and it may
be assumed therefore that were it not for this circumstance the general death-rate among the Chinese would not be less than 35 to 36 per 1,000.
The deaths registered among the non-Chinese numbered 412 of which 302 were from the Civil population, 96 from the Army, and 14 from the Navy; this is equal to a death-rate of 20.5 per 1,000.
The nationalities of the deaths were as follows:-Indian and Malay 160, British 116, Portuguese 86, Japanese 10, German 9, American 8, French 7, Spanish 5, Jews 3, and Italian, Danish, Austrian, Swede, Chilian, American Negro and Eurasian, one each.
The following table gives the causes of the 96 deaths occurring in the Army:-
British Soldiers.
British Wives and Children.
Enteric Fever,.....
2
Malarial Fever,
1
Dysentery,
1
Premature Birth,
Bubonic Plague,
2
Marasmus,
1
Malarial Fever,
4
Convulsions,
1
Heat Apoplexy,..
5
Fracture of Skull,
1
Concussion of Brain, (accident),
1
Multiple Injuries,
1
General Tuberculosis,
1
Dementia,
1
Bronchitis,
1
Total,........... .20
Total,......
4
6