ROYAL NAVAL HOSPITAL.
Hongkong, 16th May, 1897.
HONGKONG GARRISON.
Statistics of Venereal Disease in the three years 1884-6 (before the abolition of the Contagious Diseases Acts), as compared with three years 1894-6 (after their abolition).
1. RATIO PER 1,000-ADMISSIONS INTO HOSPITAL.
SIR,
In forwarding the accompanying statistical table of Venereal Diseases occurring in the men of the Squadron employed on the China Station in the year 1895, in accordance with your memo. of 12th inst., I have the honour to remark that the information therein tabulated is derived from the "Statistical Report of the Health of the Navy" for that year, the Report for 1896 not having yet been published.
I would further observe that the mean force, corrected for time, employed on the Station in 1895 was 5,000.
Disease 1884 1894 1885 1895 1886 1896 Primary Syphilis 31.2 67.8 34.3 44.2 31.7 65.31 Secondary Syphilis 23.2 67.8 24.7 63.4 38.3 106.12 Gonorrhoea 90.6 190.1 79.10 192.7 86.8 188.44 Totals 145.0 325.7 138.1 300.3 156.8 359.872. RATIO PER 1,000 CONSTANTLY INEFFICIENT.
Disease 1884 1894 1885 1895 1886 1896 ... ... ... ... ... ... ...To Commodore Swinton C. Holland, A.D.G., R.N.
Statistics of Venereal Diseases occurring in the Squadron on the China Station in the year 1895.
(Signed)
G. Maclean,
Dep. Insp. General.
Disease No. of Cases Days Sickness On Board. In Hospital. Total. Ratio per 1,000 of Strength. Syphilis ... ... ... ... ... Primary Syphilis ... ... ... ... 2.92, 6.39, 2.63, 3.91, 2.82, 5.51 Secondary Syphilis ... ... ... ... 1.68, 5.84, 1.85, 4.32, 2.18, 8.32 Gonorrhoea & Sequelae 350, 155, 642 6.604, 2.462, 9.944 2.569, 3.540, 3.852 9.173, 6.002, 13.796 70.0, 31.0, 128.4 Gonorrhoea ... ... ... ... 6.19, 12.19, 4.43, 14.85, 6.13, 12.18 Totals 1,147 19.010 9.961 28.971 229.4 Totals ... ... ... ... 10.79, 24.42, 8.91, 23.18, 11.13, 26.01Average increase in ratio per 1,000 admissions for all forms of Venereal Disease 181.9
Average increase in ratio per 1,000 constantly sick for all forms of Venereal Disease 14.26
Hongkong, 6th July, 1897.
SIR,
The statistics for the first four months of the present year (1897) show a further increase, the admissions and constantly sick being at the following ratio per 1,000.
ADMISSIONS.
Primary Syphilis 99.03
Secondary Syphilis 101.10
Gonorrhoea 299.16
Totals 499.29
CONSTANTLY SICK.
9.92
8.18.
20.94
39.04
The statistics for 1884-5 and 6 include those of the Straits Settlements, but the figures are probably only slightly affected by this, the rates at Hongkong in those years being rather higher than at Singapore.
May, 1897.
SIR,
China Association, Hongkong, to General Committee, London.
Hongkong, 29th May, 1897.
In continuance of statistics having reference to the control of Contagious Diseases, I beg to hand you returns received from the Naval Authorities here. These figures you will notice extend to 1895 only, but I am given to understand that you will have no difficulty in procuring at home similar figures for 1896, which have not yet reached Hongkong. I further enclose transcript of telegram despatched yesterday.
"Enforcement contagious ordinance imperative. Condition garrison deplorable.”
Further statistics are being prepared, and the working of the Contagious Diseases Act will be again referred to at an early date.
(Signed)
F. HENDERSON,
Hon. Secretary.
R. S. Gundry, Esq., Hon Secretary,
China Association, London.
Hongkong Committee to General Committee.
China Association,
In accordance with the request contained in your favour of 29th April I have now the pleasure to hand you, in addition to those formerly sent, the accompanying documents having reference to the control of certain contagious diseases.
In calling these to your attention I desire to point out that the Local Medical Reports, though not consecutive, deal with a period of thirty-one years, and express the unanimous opinions of successive Colonial Surgeons (two of whom, Dr. Murray and Dr. Ayres had each long and intimate acquaintance with the Colony and a wide experience of the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances) as to the beneficial effects of medical supervision.
These reports speak emphatically, and are not less convincing of the terrible consequences brought about by abandonment of precautionary measures, than they are of the benefits which followed the enforcement of systematic control.
Previous to 1858, the year in which the Contagious Diseases Ordinances first came into operation, Hongkong had an evil repute as being a hot-bed of venereal disease, and of having developed syphilis of a particularly virulent type which became known as **"Hongkong disease"** and, following the ordinary course of contagious diseases when left uncontrolled, was widely disseminated.
With the introduction of the above Ordinances matters gradually improved, and year after year there followed a steady decrease in the number of cases and in the virulence of the disease until 1888 when it had almost disappeared, and Hongkong had become, in the opinion of both Army and Naval medical men, one of the healthiest stations, in respect to venereal diseases, in Her Majesty's dominions. Decadence followed the withdrawal of the Ordinances in 1888; and the records brought up to the present date afford the clearest evidence that as regards the prevalence of disease Hongkong has, in the absence of controlling influences, deteriorated to such an extent...
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