1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1918.
423
19
There were 3,169 deaths from respiratory diseases, as compared with 2,248 in 1917, and 51 of these were among the non-Chinese community. Pulmonary tuberculosis claimed 118 Chinese and 6 non-Chinese victims whilst other forms of tuberculosis represent an additional 616 deaths making a total of 740, or 5.4 per cent. of the total deaths among the community.
Beri-beri was responsible for 804 deaths, as compared with 654 during 1917 and 517 in 1916. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of coolie labour calling their attention to the fact that beri-beri is produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet without a sufficiency of other foods, and advising that beans should be supplied with the rice, when fresh meat or fresh fish cannot be afforded.
A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is appended.
(c)—CLIMATE.
The principal features of the weather in 1918 were :-
(a) The continuance until the end of February of the fine dry weather which commenced at the beginning of November 1917.
(b) The heavy rains of June (24.795 ins.), August (29.230 ins.), and September (18.450 ins.).
(c) A typhoon which passed about 40 miles to the south-west of Hong Kong, on the morning of August 15th. A squall at the rate of 94 miles an hour was recorded by the Dines Baxendell Anemograph at 6 hours 10 minutes a.m. Very little damage occurred at Hong Kong.
January was a record month as regards most elements. Barometric pressure and sunshine were the greatest on record, and the temperature, humidity and cloudiness the least on record. The wind direction (N.E. by E.) was with 1890, 1898 and 1899 the most northerly on record, and the wind velocity was only 0.2 m.p.h. greater than the least on record (1916).
Barometric pressure was considerably above normal in January and considerably below in July. Departures from normal in other months were small. The mean pressure for the year at station level was 29.847 ins. as against 29.845 ins. in 1917, and 29.844 ins. for the past 35 years. The highest pressure was 30.391 ins. on January 8th as against 30.494 ins. in 1917 and 30.509 ins. for the past 35 years. The lowest pressure was 29.108 ins. on August 15th as against 29.078 ins. in 1917 and 28.735 ins. for the past 35 years.
The monthly departures of temperature from normal were small, except in January when the mean temperature was no less than 5°.8 below normal The mean temperature for the year was 71°.2 as against 71°.0 in 1917 and 71°.8 for the past 35 years. The highest temperature was 91°.2 on July 14th as against 90°.8 in 1917 and 97°.0 for the past 35 years. The lowest temperature was 42°.1 on January 9th as against 38°.8 in 1917 and 32°.0 for the past 35 years.
The rainfall was considerably below the average from January to May and considerably above the average in June, August and September. The total for the year was 101.605 ins, the greatest on record since 1894, when it was 104.25 inches. The greatest fall in one civil day was 73.95 inches on August 3rd and the greatest in one hour was 2.420 ins, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on September 21st.
Page 430
Page 431