If the disease present in Hongkong was true Asiatic Influenza it certainly did not appear to spread by infection. One member of a family would have an influenza cold all others except.
Similarly in offices one of the clerks would be affected, but not the others in close contact with them.
The disease whatever it was, was in mild type not answering to the description of the Malady in England; as I said practically no one being incapacitated from business; nor did I in any case find Pulmonary Complications - nothing more serious than ordinary Bronchial Catarrh. Of course the mildness may have been due to climate.
On looking over my Hygrometric reports to Judge we had an amount of humidity in Jan & Feb. Much Mouth being generally foggy & dry-When Hartigan.
Mr. bist state med.
Enclosure 5.
State of the Colony Hongkong
Nature
Has
any epidemic Influenza particularly
C. O.
87
17717
REC?
[Ref 10 SEP 90]
A mild type of influenza has been met here, but nothing of the kind which has appeared over Europe. The disease characterized by much nervous depression, severe frontal headache, the various muscular pains, has not shown itself in this Colony.
Severe headache being not sufficient to characterize Influenza. It wants something more to give it another name. This in mild conditions has been found.
The date of the first occurrence (as far as I know) of Influenza was about the end of January 190.
The date of its commencement to assume epidemic proportions was about the end of February 190. It disappeared about April 190.
The rise and decline of the epidemic prevalence of Influenza.
Any evidence as to the mode of origin.
One of the P. & O. Steamers (Clyde) from Bombay landed 8 cases then came on to Hongkong via the Straits with no cases on board, so that the disease, whatever it is, was probably brought by a large number of Chinese emigrants from Singapore to this Colony.
Following on her arrival in Hongkong in December/89, Influenza has been reported as prevailing in Singapore in December. At the time of her arrival in Hongkong there were some cases in Singapore.
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