8
base this assertion on the fact that about 50 per cent. of those who for the first time submit voluntarily to examination are found to be diseased.
7. I am frequently assured by Surgeons well qualified to give an opinion on the subject, that there is no place so free from this disease as Hongkong; and I am sure that when once the good that emanates from this ordinance is properly understood at home, it will receive as much support as it now does opposition.
REPORT OF THE ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON FOR THE YEAR 1872.
Tables A, B, C, D, E, and F show the Statistics of the Hospital and the working of the Contagious Diseases Act in Hongkong. In Table C it will be found that of the 432 men diseased, 129 contracted the disease elsewhere than in Hongkong. The average number of men in Fort and Garrison per month is 12,010, and the average of men diseased is only 0·29 per month. Last year the average was 0.34.
9
3
LOCK HOSPITAL.
Showing the admissions into the Government Lock Hospital, during the number of Diets issued and the Average Length of Treatment :
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COLONIAL SURGEON FOR THE YEAR 1888. Last year I reported the abolishment of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance, and the unexpected wishes of the women of all classes to continue the Medical Examination. This voluntary attendance has been, contrary to my expectations, wonderfully good and regular; but notwithstanding this, the cases admitted to Hospital are of a much graver type.
The extent of the severity is well indicated by the average number of days under treatment, which has risen from 13·9 to 24·4, a larger average than has occurred since 1869.
At any rate I think it is well shown by these tables that the voluntary examination of the women is doing a great deal of good. We have much to be thankful for that they have shown so much sense, and it speaks well for the way the examinations are conducted in this Colony that they have caused no offence to the women.
years of its existence, with ADMISSIONS. NUMBER OF DIETS ISSUED. AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS TREATED. 1858 124 4,797 38·8 1859 162 5,389 30·8 1860 361 9,107 23·7 1861 442 10,778 23·4 1862 485 12,193 22·0 1863 420 11,707 23·7 1864 422 11,940 1865 390 13,303 27·0 1866 406 13,060 28·6 1867 434 13,120 25·6 1868 579 16,462 23·6 1869 546 16,799 24·8 1870 720 18,382 23·1 1871 593 12,308 18·5 1872 656 15,103 20·9 Total 6,762 182,448 1873 500 11,219 19·5 1874 345 6,814 18·6 1875 134 2,916 18·7 1876 168 2,730 14·3 1877 177 3,069 16·6 1878 105 2,342 19·0 1879 129 2,149 13·6 1880 57 1,300 14·7 1881 44 1,330 21·7 1882 99 1,830 15·5 1883 273 3,451 12·0 1884 325 5,174 13·1 1885 411 6,161 15·6 1886 401 4,837 12·2 1887 144 2,017 13·9 1888 66 1,616 24·4 1889 84 1,540 18·31 1890 82 1,660 20·01 1891 80 2,041 25·5 1892 65 2,392 36·8 1893 63 1,568 24·8 1894 27 884 29·2 1895EXTRACTS FROM THE STATISTICAL REPORT ON THE HEALTH OF THE NAVY FOR 1891 Foremost among the localities at which these diseases were contracted stand Hongkong and Singapore, at which places a severe form of disease, frequently followed by constitutional symptoms, obtains. The medical officer of the Egeria makes the following remarks, "Concerning venereal diseases the amount of injury done by them is simply lamentable, more especially by syphilis, which, since the 'Contagious Diseases Acts' were abolished at Hongkong and Singapore, has become very prevalent and of a bad type, and which, if something be not done to minimise the evil, will seriously impair the efficiency of the service on this station and do incalculable injury to innocent wives and children. At the present time, when the crew is mustered, it is deplorable to see so many fine young men whose constitutions are ruined and their usefulness in the service pretty well destroyed by this preventible disease; the number I know to be so diseased is quite alarming; half the cases discharged to hospital were sent for this complaint." The medical officer of the Victor Emanuel makes the following observations with reference to the disease at Hongkong: "On visiting the hospitals where Chinese women present themselves for treatment, the terrible ravages of syphilis are painfully impressive. Up to the time of their application for relief they have not been subjected to any kind of treatment, and the disease has played havoc quite unchecked. Our men are exposed to such risks, and out of a crew of barely 200 men over 50 have been about 700 days unfit to do active duty."
* Daily average detention 5 days. Longest detention 102 days. **Daily average 4·41. Longest stay 86 days.
ditto 4·21.
ditto 4·33.
During 5 months.
60
11
123
17
(SURGEON SPRY, R.N., IN) STATISTICAL REPORT ON THE HEALTH OF THE NAVY FOR 1895.
With reference to Hongkong, "some of the most severe cases were contracted at this place. Venereal diseases are undoubtedly on the increase in this Colony, and the cases which come under treatment certainly show a larger proportion of the severe form of the malady than was formerly the case."
Disease. Days Sickness. Ratio per 1,000 of Average Strength. VENEREAL DISEASE ON THE CHINA STATION. years, 1887-1894. (AVERAGE STRENGTH, 5,000). Syphilis Primary 360 2569 9173 25·13 70 Syphilis Secondary 155 11 5·02 74·04 Gonorrhoea 642 2462 3540 16·44 31 2·2 3·28 38·73 2·57·1 1 9944 3852 13796 37·79 128·4 1·6 2 7·55 123·51·67- 3·64 7·45 Total 1147 19 1 19010 9961 28971 79·37 229·4 3·8 215·87 236·3 3·25 16·49159