224
(2.) The discovery in May of plague infected fowls, quail, duck, &c., in the markets of the Colony. Knowing as we do that the Chinese eat their poultry very slightly cooked, this may explain the way in which many of the septic cases become infected, viz., through the gastro-intestinal tract.
(3.) The fact that bugs, fleas, &c., including cockroaches, from infected houses have been found by the Government Bacteriologist to be plague infected; thus body-vernin is evidently another means by which the disease is spread.
(4.) The success which has been attained by the internal administration of carbolic acid in large doses-12 grains every 2 hours-in the treatment of this disease.
It is to this and to the fact that cases have come for treatment earlier that the year's death-rate at Kennedy Town Hospital has been the lowest on record since 1894, viz., 60.6 per cent.
Last Summer His Excellency Sir HENRY BLAKE took over a block in the worst district of the city and endeavoured to stamp out plague by securing the cleanliness of the people and of the houses. A report has already been published on this experiment by the Colonial Office.
One practical outcome has been that during the past winter we have secured the hearty co-operation of the people in the general cleansing of the Chinese houses which is now an annual winter measure.
This was done much more thoroughly and expeditiously than before and with a minimum of expense to the Government, the Chinese evidently realising that it was to their interest that this measure should be well done.
Rats.-The number of rats caught during the past three years is as follows:-
1901,
1902,
1903,
77,763
..117,839
...101,056
Those caught in 1903 have all been bacteriologically examined at the Public Mortuary, and 3,744 were found to be plague infected.
By far the greater number of these rats were collected in the first half of the year.
Towards the end of June, from information received it became evident that a large number of rats were being imported into the Colony for the bonus. A fresh system was adopted, and although much fewer rats are now caught the greater number of these are caught in houses.
Haffkine's Prophylactic.-352 of the Plague Staff were inoculated, five after- wards developed plague, and two of these died. The inoculations were discontinued in June, as the Government Bacteriologist found the serum to be contaminated. Dr. HUNTER intends making the serum locally next year.
Enteric Fever.-At no time was this disease epidemic. Only 44 cases occur- red, as compared with 55 on 1902. Half of these occurred during the first four months of the year, when the water supply was intermittent. Fifteen of these cases were imported.
Malarial Fevers.-The return of deaths from this class of diseases continues to show a decline, the number returned as having occurred amongst the Chinese being 283 in 1903, as against 393 in 1902, and 541 in 1901: a sure sign of the efficacy of the active anti-malarial measures which have been carried on.
Beri-beri. There were fewer deaths from Beri-beri last year, the numbers for the past three years being:-
1901. 1902, 1903.
Deaths from Beri-beri.
.377
452
....397
Dengue. This disease was not so prevalent as in 1902, only 123 cases being admitted to hospital, as against 422 in the previous year. The èpidemic commenced much later in the year, viz., in August, and was over in October.
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