133
Invaliding.-Europeans 2: Chinese 6: Indians 8: for chronic diseases which unfitted them for further service.
Malaria.—Only 74 cases of Malaria occurred distributed as under :-
Europeans,
Indians,
Chinese,
Simple Tertian. Malignant.
7
7
37
16
13
60
Quartan.
Total.
0
10
44
20
1
74
This gives a percentage of incidence among the three nationalities of 7·07 as compared with 125 admissions last year and a percentage of 12.8. Analysing these figures further the percentage incidence among the Europeans was 75, among the Indians 107, and the Chinese nearly 4. Comparing these figures with those for last year we find that the European portion of the Force was affected to the extent of 45 per cent., the Indians 25.9 and the Chinese 55 per cent. There is thus a noteworthy diminution of Malaria among the Indian Police, from 259 to 107 per cent., a rise of 2 per cent. among the Europeans, and of 15 per cent., among the Chinese. On the whole these figures appear to point to a steady decline in the incidence of Malaria, though the fact must not be lost sight of that owing to the prophylactic measures adopted during the malarial season, namely the treat- ment of all members of the Force with quinine daily, Malaria may become masked and the parasite be absent in the peripheral blood. Malaria is diagnosed in this hospital only when the parasite is present in the blood. Consequently should the patient be suffering from a high temperature and no parasites be found, in the absence of other causes, the case is class- ed as Febricula. It may be quite possible, however, that many, if not most, of such cases are cases of genuine Malaria. It is instructive to note the occurrence of such cases of Feb- ricula among the Police in connection with the measures of prophylaxis. There were 92 cases during the year-Europeans 10, Indians 47, Chinese 35-being respectively 75 per cent., 11.5 per cent., and 7 per cent., the total amounting to 8.8 per cent. The distribution -vide Table X-is practically the same as in Malaria.
,
Table IX shews the admissions for Malarial Fever from the most important Police Stations in the New Territories during the year compared with strength. In Sha Ta Kok the reduction has been considerable-from 57·1 to 7.7 per cent., in Au Tau from 714 to 35.7 per cent., in Tai Po from 16'6 to 9 per cent., while in San Tin and in Sheung Shui from where there was no admission last year we have now 10 per cent. and 14.3 per cent., respectively.
Other ailments call for no comment.
SICKNESS IN GAOL STAFF.
There were 96 admissions out of a staff of 122, namely 79 per cent. against 68.9 per cent. for the previous year. The large majority of cases occurred among the Indians. There were two deaths-one European from Typhoid and an Indian from Acute Colitis. Invaliding: three Indians were invalided, two for Tuberculosis, and one for Anæmia, and one European for Chronic Rheumatism.
SANITARY STAFF.
There were 42 admissions compared with 35 for the previous year, and two deaths. Of the admissions there were Inspectors 9, Foremen 11, Interpreters 2, Clerk 1, Coxswain 1, Tallyman 1, Rat Catchers 2, Coolies 14, Artisan 1.
MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
There were 72 cases admitted, with one death. This was in the case of a patient who was taken as an urgency case into a vacant ward. She was not pregnant, was moribuud on admission and there was no room for her in the Government Civil Hospital. The cause of death was Malignant Malaria complicated with Bright's Disease. No other deaths occurred.