DEATHS AMONG CHINESE.
POLICE.
9
I-TABLE shewing the ADMISSIONS into and DEATHS in the GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL
during each Month of the Year 1887.
FEVERS.
VOMITING
YEARS,
Enteric.
Simple Continued.
DIARRHEA CHOLERA. AND
PURGING.
TOTAL,
EUROPEANS.
INDIANS.
CHINESE.
Typhus.
MONTHS.
Admissions.
Deaths. Admissions. Deaths. Admissions.
Deaths.
TOTAL. TOTAL. Admissions. Deaths.
1878,
12
96
16
195
319
1874,
125
46
231
402
Remaining on the 1st Jan.,
1887,
6
12
1875,
81
291
2
288
612
January,
11
1876,
94
343
259
696
February,.
11
14
1877,
145
370
8
311
834
March,
7
1878,
89
481
33
701
1,304
12
20
April,
1879,
116
733
21
608
1,478
11
May,
1880,
309
373
348
1,030
June,
1881,
438
168
38
435
1,079
July,
19 15
1882,
679
71
465
1,215
August,
6
30
1883,
262
571
660
1,496
September,
18
40
1884,
132
600
301
1,035
October,
6
36
1885,
105
755
561
176
1,604
November,
24
1886, 1887,
9 9
772
326
19
1,136
December,
12
441
25
276
13
764
Total,.....
139
1
293
ONNONO882a==8
2===88=889882 | 3
6
20
11
17
23
1
187
3
619
388882RR#2399 | 2
73
44
78
53
46
49
5
J. M. ATKINSON, M.D., Superintendent.
In respect, therefore of those diseases which may owe their origin to insanitary conditions we see that the European Table of deaths keeps about the same average, while the Chinese Table shows a very marked reduction, in fact the latter has never been so low for the previous ten years. The improved methods of surface scavenging and the thorough cleansing of tenements at certain periods, insisted on by the Sanitary Board for the last three years, appear to be doing a great amount of practical good. In 1886 there was a decrease in this Table of nearly 400 deaths as compared with 1885, this year there is another decrease of nearly 400 deaths as compared with 1886. With these facts before us the Sanitary Board must bave every reason to be satisfied with the result of their work in the practical sanitation of the town although their best efforts will be I fear but of little comparative avail until their hands are strengthe- ned by the new Public Health Ordinance which it is very deeply to be regretted should not have been confirmed and brought into operation last
year.
During 1887-8 fever has prevailed extensively in the extreme Western District, along the upper levels of Victoria and a Medical Commission has been appointed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire into the nature and cause of the disease and to suggest preventive measures. This Commission
has not yet submitted its Report.
In November, a very serious outbreak of small-pox occurred, there were 15 deaths among Europeans and 233 deaths among Chinese from this cause up to the end of the year. There was for a time a very large demand for vaccine and the latter was telegraphed for to Japan, Australia and England. The calf-lymph procured from Japan was found admirably put up for travelling, it arrived in excellent condition and was effective and satisfactory.
The small-pox epidemic was severe while it lasted, and necessitated the building, of a tempo- rary mat Hospital with 100 beds in the Government Civil Hospital grounds. So large was the number of admissions that it reached 50 cases in Hospital at one time. Thanks to the precautions and the energetic measures taken by the Sanitary Board this epidemic was not of long duration. An Ordinance for the compulsory vaccination of infants has since been passed and it will be interesting to see whether it can be successfully enforced among the Chinese population.
As the Government Medical Staff of the Colony at present stands, each member of it has his full complement of work, and there is no relief possible in case of emergency, except from outside sources which cannot always be depended upon. If any member of the Medical Staff falls sick there is no one to take his place. None of us can take vacation leave without great personal loss as according to the Rules of the Service every officer absent on furlough has to find a substitute. The finding of a substitute is feasible in almost every other Department without detriment to the individual who takes his leave for there is always some brother officer in the service who can take his place, or his limited hours of duty render it possible for him to find outside assistance. With the Medical Department however such is not the case. The duties require the incumbent of the office to be on duty at all times night and day, and there is no one in the Service that can relieve him. The Army Medical Department have hitherto come to our relief but this cooperation cannot always be depended on as from press of work, sickness, or other cause, the Army Medical Staff may be short of hands themselves. If therefore the recent recommendation of the Sanitary Board in favour of an Epidemic Hospital outside of the town be carried out, it would be absolutely necessary to obtain the permanent services of an additional Surgeon.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your obedient Servant,
The Hon. F. STEWART,
Colonial Secretary.
II.-TABLE skewing the RATE of SICKNESS and MORTALITY in the POLICE FORCE during the Year 1887.
TOTAL SICKNESS. TOTAL DEATHS. RATE OF SICKNESS. RATE OF MORTALITY.
AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Ruropean. Jadian.
110 201
Kemaining on,
1st Jan, 1897,
January,...
February,
March,
April,
May,
Jane,
July
August,
September,
October,....
November,
December,
Calness.
Total.
Eutresz.
Indian.
Chinese.
Europesa.
Intiax
Chinese.
| Europeat.
Indin.
Chinese.
Kuzoan.
Indiao.
CURME
810 036 139 293 187 4
1
+ 119.82 145.77) 69.02 3.46 0.49
1.25
J. M. ATKINSON, M.D.,
Superintendent.
III.-POLICE RETURN of ADMISSIONS to HOSPITAL from each District during the Year 1887.
WATER POLICE
STATIONS, TOIMSHATSUI,
WHITFIELD.
YAUWATT,
SHACEAWAN.
POKPULAM. ÅBERGEEN STANCET.
No. 7
HUNG HOM.
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
No. 1
No.
HOUSE
STONA
2
No. 2
CCTTERS'
No. 6
*
B3
ISLAND.
GBKCANAPE European.
BHA European.
si mi meminati
Chinose.
European.
indian.
Chinese.
"unadvans
Indian.
CAMIL-SP,
*Radioing
indiau.
*
:༥ལ:ས::ས
Total,.... 76
10 27 10
2
13
Chinese.
European.
Indian.
{Chinesu.
European.
82
1 19
Indian.
Chinese.
som miski European.
Indian.
Chinese.
filmi ex European.
tomindian.
Chinese.
༩༥;།---:-:::
European.
7
Chinese.
just with maturopean.
- wi ww--:::Indian.
Chinese.
TOTAL.
គ៖ ជ
11
a3111 5
10 7613
J. M. ATKINSON, M.B., Superintendent.
IV.-TABLE shewing the RATE of SICKNESS and MORTALITY of the Troor & serving in HONGKONG during the Year 1887.
AVERAGE STRENGTH.
ADMISSIONS INTO HOSPITAL.
DEATHS.
AVERAGE DAILY RATE OF SICKNESS.
White.
Black.
Total. White.
Total. Black.
White.
Black.
Total.
White. Black.
RATE OF MORTA- LITY PER 1,000 OF THE STRENGTH.
White. Black.
1,217
177
1,394
326 1,429
1,740
10*
4
14
67.54 6.53
8.21*
22.69
*This includes 4 deaths out of Hospital, viz.: 2 Suicides and 2 from an explosion of fireworks, deducting these the deaths will be 6, and
the rates per 1,000, 4.93.
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
RY. LEWER,
Deputy Surgeon General,
PM.O. China Station.
345