F
822
9,560; Chinese, 280,564; Army, 5,462; Navy, 5,074; Total, 300.660.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
{April 26, 1902.
■ The total number of deaths among the Chinese ; the obvious remedy is a very much greater community was 6,670 which is equal to a death- amount of supervis en over the actual work The total strength of Troops in Garrison on rate of 23.77 per 1600 as compared with 24,1 | both ‹f building ecnstinetin and of the rejsir June 30th, 1901, was 87 British officers and per 1,000 during the previous year. The deaths of buildings, combined with a greater degree of 2,035 British warrant officers, N.C.O.'s andiegistered among the non Chinese number 412. | legal responsibility imposed upon those who de- men, with 51 Indian officers and 2,6 3 Indian of which 302 we from the civil population, 96 | sign and carry cut such alterations or additions. warrant office18, N.C.O.'s and men. There wero From the Aimy, and 14 from the Navy; this is also 169 British women and children, 202 Indian cqual to a death rate of 20,5 per 1, 00. women and children and 315 camp followers. make a total of 5,462. At the census taken in January, 1901, the total was 7,640,
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INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The total number of cases of infectious dis- ease reportedly registered medical practi tioners during the year was 1847, of which no less than 1,651 weie lubonic fiver (plague).
GE DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS. The number of deaths of infants under one year of age was 1,315. or 18.6 per cent. of the The total strength of the British Fleet on the ictal deaths, a rate which is far too high even Of the remaining 186 cares no less than 49 f'hina Station on June 30th, 1901, was 11,598, for a tropical climate. The infant death-jate are known to bave been imported, while in as compared with 7,110 in the previous year and among the ren-Chinese community during the many other cases the tource of infection could 7,738 in 1899. At the census taken in January, year has been 129.2 per 1,000 as compared with not be isced, as the bodies were found in the 1901, the actual number of officers and men of 122 6 per 1,000 in the previous year, but am ng stress or in deserted houses. Twenty-fire of His Majesty's Navy present in the Colony was the Chine, e population le Lumber of deaths file imported cases were enteric fever, seventeen 5,597, and the estimated average number infants under one year of age (xceeds the total
Ware cholers and smallpox. Dr. Clark states resident here (ashore and afloat) throughout thenler of births, even when all deaths under that he has no doubt that the question of the year 1901 is put at 5,074.
one month are assumed to have been unregis- medical inspection of vessels, immediately n The Chinese boat population of the Colony teed; this means either that a very large num- their entering the Harbour, which has been (including 1,180 Chinese on the merchant shipsler of births remain unregistered or else that a urged by him year after year, will acceive the in the Harbour, numbered 41,280 at the census lage number of infants are brought into the most careful attention of the sanitary experts, taken in January, 1901, and has been estimated Colony from the mainland and die bere.
as there can be no doubt that such a provision at 42,408 to the middle of the year 1901. The
would protect the Colony from the importation number of registered boats belonging to the
of many cases of infections disease which are Port is 12 399.
now unrecognised until after landing, or even escape detection altogether,
With regard to surface crowdin which ex- ists in the more central districts of the city, District No. 5 shows more than 80 persons to the acre while Districts 6, 9, 4, 8 and 7 are also far too densely packed with human beings, and it is essential to the welfare of this (olony that a remedy should be speedily found and put into operation for this insanitary condition. So far, says 1 r. Clark, as he has been able to ascertain, there is no other city in the world which has 129 persons to the acre and yet this is the density of population of the City of Victoria as a whole, that is to say, including all the outlying vacant lands. Glasgow, which is the most densely crowded of the large cities of the United Kingdom, has lat 61 persons to the acre. Health Districts 2 and 9, in which dis- tricts the outbreaks of bubonic plague almost invariably commence and are the most severe, show the greatest number of ccupants per floor, namely 9.1 as compared with an average for the city of 7.6.
BIRTHS,
The births registered during the year were as follows:---Chinese males, 552; females, 296; total, 848. Non-Chinese, males, 124; females, 116; total, 240. Grand totals; males, 676; females, 412-1,088. This is equal to a general birth-iate of 3.6 per 1.400 as compared with 3.3 in 1900, 4.3 in 1899 and 4,7 in 1898. The birth- rate among the non-Chinese community alone. was 11.9 per 1,000) as compared with 15.1 per 1,000 in 1900. The preponderance of male births over female births is still very marked among the Chinese community, being in the proportion of 186 male births to every 100 female births. The proportion among the non-Chin- ese community was 107 to 100 as compared with 137 to 100 in the previous year. The number of the Chinese births registered does not give an accurate record of the total number of births of Chinese that have occurred in the Colony, for many of the infants that die during the first month or so of life remain unregistered, although their deaths must be registered to obtain the necessary burial orders The dead bodies of infants found in the streets or left at the doors of the convents show 66 males to every 100 females, the explanation being that the Chinese have very little regard for the value of the lives of female children.
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 include 1,562 from bubonic plague. 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 adulte. 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.'
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CHEET DISEASES AMONG THE CHINESE.
The total number of deaths i mong the (hincse fim respiratory diseases was 1,187, or 19.3 per cent. of ile total Chinese deaths. This pie- rents a death-rate from these discases of 4.6 per As in 1,000 is compared with 5.1 in 1900. former years the death-ate from these cHTIBES was heavier imong the Lent population than mong the land population, having been 5.2 per 1,000 among the former as i gainst 4.5 per 1,000 among the latter.
The Lumber of deaths of Chinese from
phthis's thene was 695, or 54 per cent. of the iotal deaths from the piratory diseases. Phthisis is intimately nesciated with over- crowded and insanitary dwellings, and it is a significant foet that while the phthisis death. rate in the City of Victoria is 2.5 per 1,000, in Kowloon, where the evils of urface crowding have fortunately not yet arisen to any great extent this rate is only 13 per 1000, or voy little more than half the city death-rate.
NERVOUS 11SEASES.
The deaths of Chinese recorded puder this Leading aimler 843, and no less than 583 of these or 69.1 per cent, ccemred in infants under ne year of age, the alleged inu:cs of death leing tetanus, trismus and allied disorders of a convulsive type. No less than 674 of these deaths cr 90.7 per cent. are refund from one or other of the two contents, the infants having Leon left there in a meril und condition.
MALARIAL FEVERS.
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ENTERIC FEVER. The total number of cares of enteric fever
reported during the year was 75 as compared with 85 during the previous year; there bas ben, however, a large increase in the number of European cases, which totalled 47 during
last
year as compared with 34 in 1900. It is important to record, however, that no less than 22 of these Europeen esses were imported from neighbouring perts, while one Chinese case and one "other Asiatic" cose are also known to Lave been imported,
BMALLPOX.
There was an outbreak of smallpox in the early part of the year, 42 cases being reported in
arch and 28 in April; the total number of cases reported during the year being 91. Eleven of these offis cecured in Europeans, of whom ene died; there were eight im- fortid cases, two of whom were Europeans, five were Chinese and one other Asiatic. The total number of deaths from this disease, during the year was 59, while in 1900 it was 17. and in 1899 it was 35. The total number of vaccinations recorded last year was 5,937 as compared with 4,406 in 1900, 6.529 in 1899, and 7, 51 in 1898. In view of the rapid increase in the population the returns for last year cannot Lo regarded as satisfactory.
CHOLERA.
Sevention cases of cholera were imparted from Singapore on board the s,s. Cheung Chow in the month of February, but the disease spread no further. Twelve of the patients died.
DIPHTHERIA.
Eix cases of diphtheria were reported during the patients all being Asiatic the year
Fire of them occurred during Portuguese. the last six weeks of the year and the most probable cause of this was the drought, with the consequat lack of water, and the foul condition of the seweis and storm drains result ing therefrom. Two of the patients died.
PUERPERAL FEVER
The total number of deaths among the Chinese from the malarial fevers was 541, es compared with 887 during the previous year. 552 during 1899, and 106 during 1898; this is equal to a death-rate of 1.9 per 1,000. The death rate among the leat population alone, from this cause, was also 1.9 per 1,000. The fitining, ef the ullahs on the Cutskirts of the city is the only practicable meins of reducing the death rate from this canre, while no time should be lest in securing an extensive Fupean restiva tion in New Kowloon, within which the native population, other than a small armber of per- onal sex vints, should not le permitted to secide, for it bas been alrndantly proved that the native population, and especially native children, constitute the main scuice of infection of this Leven cases of puerperal fever were notified discaɛe, the poisen leing conveyed by the during the year, but fifteen deaths were recorded Fifteen deaths from from this disease— all of them among the Chinese no heles miqnito. malarial fevers sie recorded as having occurred community- while no less than 47 deaths were mong the ticops, and it would appear, the re-registered as ue to child-birth, and to morbid
to parturition. fore, to be especially necessary that all Barracks conditions incident should be well isolated from the native popula- represents a very serious loss of young adult 1 on and that the sites should le most criefully lives and is undoubtedly due to want of proper to uncleanly surroundings. selected and maintained free from mesquito attention, and breeding pools.
There is great want in this Colony for me maternity charity, and some attempt will Dr. Clark bejes, be made to meet this want when the new extension to the Tung Wah Hospital is complete. It is possible also that the scheme for the provision of dispensaries for the Chinese will do a mething to reduce this very congder- able item in our bills of mortality.
BFRI-BERI.
There were 877.deaths from beri-beri among the Chinese during last year, as compared with 261 in 1900 and 197 only in 1899. Dr. Clark inclires to the pinion that this d:care is attri- Lutable to infected feed, and most prolably to damaged vice or other grain which Las Leen attacked by some fungoid growth.
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ACCIDENTS.
Among the accidental deaths of C hincze were 47 as the result of the collspre of Luilding-a matter to which Dr. Clark drew attention in bis 1eport for 1900, during which year 20 deaths were to cared. The can be very little doubt that this is a preventible cause of death, and
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INTER MENTS.
This
The following number of interments in the varicus cemeteries of the Colony has been recorded during the year :-Non-Chineze, 1585; Chinese, 6,171. Fifteen cremations of the bodies of Hindocs also occurred during the year.
PI OSECUTIONS. The number of rosecutions that were
1