Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
With regard to the beneficial effects of treatment in these cases much cannot be said. The practice which was adopted by the late Colonial Surgeon, and which in several cases appeared to have a most marked and decided beneficial effect, was the early application of the solid nitrate of silver, so as to make a circular blister about four inches in diameter over the pit of the stomach.
In the cases which came under my observation, this plan, even when adopted at a too advanced period of the disease, never failed to check the vomiting and to prolong life, though it did not always succeed in saving it. I consider the treatment well worthy of a more extended trial.
Hydrophobia, another disease heretofore unknown in the colony, also made its appearance during the past year. In one case the attack came on six weeks to a day after the infliction of the bite, and proved fatal in a few hours. Another man, who was bitten by the same dog, fell a victim to the disease in the commencement of the present year, the first symptom showing itself ten months after the bite. In this instance an attempt at suicide was made, which shortened the patient's sufferings by a few hours.
The climatic diseases usually prevalent in the colony were of their ordinary character, with the exception of fever, which was somewhat more prevalent than usual, and manifested a tendency in many cases to put on a typhoid form, with imperfect intermissions.
In the autumn of the year a number of cases of phagedaenic ulcers of the leg and foot, of a most obstinate and formidable character, occurred amongst the Chinese prisoners in the gaol, and in two or three instances also attacked the Europeans.
An extensive trial of the prophylactic virtue of quinine wine (a dose being given the first thing every morning), was made in the garrison at Canton, and the reports of the different medical officers bore evidence to its very great utility and benefit.
I would strongly recommend that a similar plan be adopted with those constables who are sent to the out-lying stations on the island, such as Aberdeen, Stanley, Sow-ke-wan, and Siwan, for I have noted, not only since I have been Acting Colonial Surgeon, but also in former years, that the worst and most obstinate cases of fever and dysentery arise among the men placed at these out stations; and I believe it to be a fact that, if their stay be at all prolonged at either of these stations, scarcely one escapes altogether the ill effects of the malaria.
These cases of disease might, I believe, be almost entirely avoided if the Superintendent of Police were to insist that the constables stationed at these places should take every morning a dose, either of quinine mixture or of quinine wine.
The experiment of establishing a sanatorium on Victoria Peak, recommended some years ago by the late Dr. Morrison, then Colonial Surgeon, has again been agitated during the past year, and, I believe, stands a fair chance of being put to the proof, both by the military authorities and by private enterprise. I believe that the difference of temperature would tell very favourably in many of the diseases which occur here.
I shall conclude this report with the following Statistical Tables having reference to the Gaol, the Civil Hospital, the Seamen's Hospital, the Police Force, and the state of the weather during the year.
VICTORIA GAOL
The following Table shows the Number of Cases and Mortality under each Disease during the Year 1858:-
Disease Cases Deaths Disease Cases Deaths Abscess Brought over 91 19 Amentia 1 Icterus 1 Berri Berri 16 9 Hernia 1 Bronchitis 3 Ophthalmia 2 Cholera Ouchitis Colica Phthisis 15 1 Constipatio Phagedænic Ulcers Contusio Pneumonia Diarrhoea Rheumatism Dysentery Syphilis, primary Epilepsy 1 Syphilis, secondary Febris Intermittens Scabies Febris Remittens 6 Wounds, gunshot Hæmatemesis 1 Wounds, incised Hæmorrhoids Carried over 91 18 Dyspepsia 1 Total 163 23 Hæmoptysis * Mortality 13.69Table showing Rate of Sickness and Mortality in the Victoria Gaol, during the Year 1868 :-
Average Strength Total Sick Total Deaths Rate of Sickness Rate of Mortality 266 163 23 61.27 per cent. 8.64