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p. 9.
HONG KONG.
Report of the Medical Department 1923.
Memorandum by the Medical Secretary.
Vital Statistica.
The General Birth rate was 7.39 per Mille compared
with 6.69 per Mille in 1922.
The General Civil death rate was 25.98 per Mille against 25.16 in 1922.
Hospitals.
There was a very considerable increase over 20.00 per cent in the number of patients treated over 1922.
Beriberi.
This showed a marked increase, 2091 in 1923 against 1229 cases in 1922.
This is attributed to the increased cost in the prices of provisions and the poorer classes having to live extensively on white polished rice.
Malaria.
There is a considerable increase in this disease attending Hospitals 1640 against 921 in 1922. Attributed to the recruiting of Chinese Police from Wei-hai-Wei.
Venereal Disease. Also p. 27.
There is a large increase in the number of cases of this disease coming for treatment (42%), 1264 were treated at the hospitals in 1923. It is suggested that this apparent large increase is probably due to the keenness of patients and better diagnostic methods.
p.10.