108
the reply "I don't know." He asked the coxswain to bring it, but he could not do so, as it was so heavy. Witness fetched it out him- self. The defendant then said, "I do not know anything about it." Witness then took the second defendant into the cabin; and the man opened his locker with a key. Witness found in his locker four locks in a box, which also contained nine packages of brass buttons. He also found in the locker one pair of slippers and one pair of shoes. He also found in the box over $4 in money. The second defendant claimed the shoes. He went to the lamp room. and found stowed away in bilges a water pipe. On the other side in the lamp room in a locker he, found $36-$3 in silver dollars and the rest in 10 and 20 cent pieces. The first defendant was there, but he said he knew nothing about it. He left the lamp room through the fore- cabin to the deck. He then went forward to the locker hatch and found four bundles of brown cloth. In the same place he found 18 rolls of black cloth, one piece of fancy cloth, one pair of leggings, five pairs of trousers, and two jackets. These things were hidden behind the side screen.
or
one
He
up
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Whilst the figures given above show to what extent the European population in China is in- creasing, it must be borne in mind that they relate only to the Treaty ports, and that Port Arthur, Hongkong, Tsingtau, &c,, are neces- sarily omitted.
foreign firms established at the Treaty ports, The following table shows the number of distinguishing nationalities:--
English.. Japanese German French American Russian Portuguese Belgian Italian Dutch Spanish Austrian Danish Scandinavian
In 1898. In 1899. Increase.
398
401
3
114
195
81
107
115
8
37
76
39
43
70
27
16
19
3
20
10
10
9
9
9
9
8
9
පසසස
Total
773
933
1
2
160
THE HEALTH OF THE COLONY. The report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer (Dr. J. M. Atkinson) is published in the Gazette. We make the following ex-
tracts
POLICE.
The admissions to the Hospital were 204 in excess of those of the previous year, the num bers being 692 as compared with 488 in 1898, the average strength of the Force being 716 as compared with 630 in 1898. This large increase was to a great extent caused by admissions from the New Territory. -
malarial fever.
There were sixteen deaths amongst the mem- bers of the Force during the year, three less than in 1898; four of these occurred in the Hospital, viz., three Europeans and one Indian, the latter was a Police recruit and died of phthisis; of the Europeans one died from acute peritonitis, one from delirium tremens and the third from hyperpyrexia occurring in the course of fever.
TROOPS.
The number of admissions to the Hospital was 818 in excess of that in 1898, whilst the average strength of the garrison was only in- creased by 125.
|
[August 11, 1900. these two months were the most unhealthy during the year.
INFECTIOUS HOSPITALS, KENNEDY
TOWN HOSPITAL
There were 263 admissions during the year-----
vation and two in attendance. The mortality 185 deaths. In addition eleven were under obser- Small-pox, 37 cases, 7 death; Plagne, 226 cases,
of plague cases was somewhat higher than usual-81 per cent.
PUBLIC MORTUARY,
1,669 bodies were received during the year-- an increase of 355 as compared with 1898; par- tionlars as to nationality and cause of death are given in the report of the Medical Officer in charge.
VICTORIA GAOL.
The total admission to the Gaol was 4,789, or 793 less than in 1898; the daily average 434 or 77 less than in the previous year.
The total number of admissions to Hospital was 503 as compared with 298 in 1898. Remit- tent fever caused 63 of them as against 24 in contributed more cases and 81 were admitted the previous year; dysentery and diarrhoea
There were five deaths from natural causes, one suffering from debility as against 14 in 1898. prisoner committed suicide by hanging himself and two were executed.
The New Warders' Quarters is in course of Hospital will be available; it is at present oc- erection; when this building is finished the New cupied by the Warders.
TUNG WAH HOSPITAL. hospital during the year, a decrease of 456 as There were 2,542 patients treated in this
compared with 1898. Of this number 419 were ment Civil Hospital, 19, Lunatic Asylums, 2; transferred to other institutions, viz:-Govern-
Plague Hospital, 262; Italian Convent, 1. Kennedytown Hospital, 135; Tung Wah Branch
Total 419.
HEALTH OF THE COLONY.
The estimated population of the Colony for 1899 was 259,310.
There were 1,132 births and 6,181 deaths, of the latter 1,434 were from plague.
The birth rate was 43 per 1,000 as against 4.7
per 1,000 in 1898.
The death rate was 23.8 per 1,000 as compar• . ed with 22:30 per 1,000 in 1898; excluding "the deaths from plague the death rate would have been 18:3 per 1,000.
The following figures gives the birth rate in the different nationalities for the past two years :-
Death rate. 1898.
1899. Whites, 16.2 per 1,000 12-5 per 1,000 Coloured, 33'6
28.3 Chinese, 22:54
24-4 The increase amongst the Chinese was due to the greater number of cases of plague.
"
29
None of the defendants said any- thing about these things. In the tool box in the engine room he found two jackets, one pair of trousers, one pair of shoes, bundle of cash, one small silver bangle, one roll of silver money in 20 cent pieces, worth $40, four locks with keys, and five brass articles. The engineer the fourth defendant-- claimed the lock but denied knowledge of the other things. He then went to the after cabin and found one pair of women's shoes, one pair of men's shoes, and one pair of girl's shoes, one girl's jacket, and one pair of girl's trousers. All these things were found in the seventh de- fendant's bunk under the bed-mat. He also
Malarial fevers have contributed the greatest found in the eighth defendant's box one long number of cases; undoubtedly much of the fever blue coat and one piece of checked cloth. The has been occasioned by the temporary nature of eighth defendant said nothing about them.
the buildings in which the Police have of ne- also found in the after cabin one box containing cessity been housed; when permanent brick one piece of black cloth, one piece of white buildings have taken the place of the temporary cloth, and some blue cloth in one bundle, one buildings, mostly matsheds. I anticipate & con- piece of checked cloth, one piece of white flan-siderable diminution in the number of cases of nel, one cotton sheet, two pairs of trousers, one jacket, two combs, one purse containing pawn tickets. No оде claimed the box its contents. He then went to the after-well or ballast tank. He found two pairs of wo men's trousers and two jackets tied in a wrapper.
He then took the first. fourth, fifth and sixth defendants to the station. After searching them he sent the second, third, seventh, eighth, and ninth defendants to the station. He took the fourth, fifth, and sixth. At the station he searched the ninth defendant's bundle. It contained six pairs of trousers, six jackets, two pairs of leggings, and one pair of new shoes. The man said they did not belong to him, but that the steam-launch people told him to pick them up, as they were going to throw them overboard. Witness then went down to the launch again and found underneath the first defendant's bunk among the ballast a Chinese silk bed curtain, one jacket, three pairs of trousers, and one pair of leggings tied in a
The number of admissions is the greatest yet white wrapper.
recorded in the history of the Hospital. The The case was adjourned until Tuesday after-increasing demand for hospital accommodation is likely to continue, as I have already pointed out the addition to the Colony of the New Ter- ritory has already contributed a large increase in the numbers of sick. Police, there have also been many serious surgical cases admitted and several Chinese from the New Territory have availed themselves of the benefits to be derived from an institution of this sort. I would hors reiterate what I stated in my last report that it will be necessary for the Government to serious ly consider the question of either considerably enlarging the present hospital or better still of erecting an entirely new hospital supplying in- creased accommodation and arranged more in accordance with the best modern practice. Dur ing the year a scheme for training European female nurses has been inaugurated; three pro- bationers one from Shanghai, one from Macáo and another from Manila-have been appointed and there are already several names of ap- plicants for vacancies on the Matron's list.
The rate of mortality, 4.16 per cent., is by fár the smallest recorded for the past six years.
The largest number of admissions occurred during the months of August and September, The death is announced of the Rev. Dr. Pel- a similar fact has been recorded in the case of vat, Roman Catholic Bishop of Nagpur. He the sick Police, so we may conclude that in 1899-' died on the 23rd alt, of cholera at Nagpur, ⠀
noon.
FOREIGNERS IN CHINESE TREATY PORTS.
The Deutscher Reichs-Anzeiger of the 23rd June gives the following statistics showing the number of foreigners of different nationalities resident in the Chinese Treaty ports:
French
German
In 1898. In 1899. Increase
in 1899.
414 742: 279 1,456
341:
English Japanese
5,148 5,562 1,698 2,440
Americans
2,056 2,335
Russians
165 1,621
Portuguese
1,082
1,423
920 1,183
263:
1,043 1,134
91
Spanish
395
448
53
Scandinavians
200
244
44.
Belgians
169
234
65
162
178
16
141
124
17
87
106
155
161
G
Danea Italians Dutch
Other
jos luu
Total...... 13,421 17,193 3,772
The rate of mortality was increased in both the European and Indian Troops, that in the latter being more than double the rate in 1898; the number of deaths was 29 as compared with 21 in the previous year.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
"
Plague was again prevalent in an epidemic form; this is the first time that the Colony has been attacked by the disease in an epide- mic form in two successive years.
Undoubtedly many cases must have been intro- duced, as the disease was prevalent all round us, only in March knowledge of its presence at
Pakhoi was obtained.
The disease was also prevalent in Canton and its districts, Wuchow being affected early in the
year.
It was also epidemic in Amoy and at Formosa. From August 1898 to February 1899 inclusive only nine cases were notified, the marked re- currence of cases, however, in houses previously infected shows that the bacilli are but dormant and in the ill ventilated, badly lighted and over- crowded Chinese dwellings which exist in this Colony only require certain atmospheric condi. tions to favour their growth and spread.
declared infected, the disease became much Early in April No. IX. Health District was
more prevalent in May and in June, the remain- ing Health Districts were declared infected.
June, quite a month later than was the case in -the previous year.
The disease did not reach its maximum until
Fortunately very few Europeans were attack- ed this year.
1