360
So far as my bacteriological investigations are concerned, there is no evidence at present of locally contracted Malta fever in Hongkong. Such cases as do occur are always imported. Relapsing fever, although prevalent in North China, is not met with in Hongkong. Diphtheria is rare in the Colony. On the other hand, croupons, non-specific tonsillitis and pharyngitis is far from uncommon.
My experiments on Formaldehyde as a gaseous disinfectant have led me to the con- clusion that this chemical preparation, although fashionable at present, has no special recommendations. It is a meagre bactericidal agent and possesses no penetrating powers.
During the year, a number of chemical disinfectants were tested as regards their carbolic acid co-efficiency. This test would appear to give extremely constant results, and is a valuable addition to our methods of estimating the efficiency of the numerous chemical preparations put upon the market to sell as perfect germicides, and guarantees against infections disease. Considering the results which are obtained after a liberal use of such fluids, it is, at present, a question of doubt, how far one is justified in recommending the general employment of chemical disinfectants. At any rate, their use, apart from expense,
can do no harm.
The vaccine used during the year has been extremely potent and given satisfactory results to all who have employed it for vaccination. With the opening of the Bacteriological Institute the lymph for sale in the Colony will be manufactured in the same way as that used in the Government Laboratories in London.
A brief resumé is given in the Report of the most important publications issued by the Bacteriologist during the past year.
WILLIAM HUNTER.
The Public Mortuary.
1,381 post-mortem examinations were held during the year 1905.
The total number of post-mortem examinations held has diminished by 170, compared with the return of 1904. This decrease is due, in a great measure, to the absence of severe epidemic disease during the year. The number of post-mortem examinations held upon anale cadavers greatly exceeds that of females. This preponderance of males over females examined, is maintained year by year.
The number of male cadavers examined,
Do. female cadavers examined,
Total,...
Stated in percentages these figures mean :—
Males, Females,
858
523
.1.381
62%
38%
Another point of interest in connection with these figures, is the statement, frequently made, that female children are more often "dumped" than male children.
Year by year,
I have gone into this question more or less thoroughly, and from the figures obtained, this belief would not appear to be true. The results which have been obtained for the year 1905, are in perfect accord with those given in my Annual Report for the year 1904. In my opinion, male and female children are found dumped" and examined at the Public Mor- tuary in equal frequency. The following percentages based upon the figures obtained for 1905, are illustrative of this fact:
Males " dumped" under 1 year,
Females "dumped” under 1 year,
+7% 53%
Since I assumed the duties of Medical Officer in charge of the Public Mortuary in the year 1902, over 8,000 cadavers have passed through my hands. This represents an almost unequalled wealth of pathological material, from which one ought to be able to draw many important conclusions. In the present report, it is proposed to deal with the question of the incidence of disease amongst the Chinese, resident in Hongkong. It is of importance, from many points of view, to be able to form some idea of this subject, and help to contribute to that engrossing question, namely, the geographical distribution of disease.