L 19
In most of the cases of Typhoid Fever that occur in this Colony the infection is probably contracted by eating salads of raw vegetables, which have been grown in Chinese market-gardens, where it is customary to water and manure the plants with diluted human excreta—both urine and nightsoil. Residents in the Far East should carefully avoid such articles of food as water-cress, lettuce, etc., in view of this danger of contracting Typhoid Fever, Cholera or Intestinal Parasites, all of which diseases may be conveyed in this manner. Oysters from neighbouring Chinese ports are also occasionally the source of infection.
It will be seen from the above figures that this disease is much less prevalent among the Chinese than among Europeans in this Colony, the ratio of cases to population being in the case of Europeans 2.2 per 1,000 and in the case of Chinese 0.1 per 1,000.
Small-pox.
During the year 31 cases of Small-pox were certified, (38 in 1909), of which 9 were Europeans, and 22 were Chinese; 6 of the cases were imported. One European case and 14 of the Chinese cases died.
The number of vaccinations for the year was 7,584 as compared with 6,721 in 1909.
Efforts were made during the year 1909 to secure the re-vaccination of school children, and a memorandum was issued to all school teachers in the Colony setting forth its advantages, while arrangements were made for re-vaccination free of cost at the schools on application.
Diphtheria.
Thirty-two cases of Diphtheria were notified throughout the year, (22 in 1909), four of them being imported cases. Twenty of the cases were Europeans and two were other Non-Chinese, leaving ten Chinese cases. The cases were more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.
There was one group of five connected cases, three of which occurred in a boarding-school, while the Inspector in charge of the Disinfecting Station contracted the disease, presumably by handling infected clothing.
Two of the Chinese cases died, and also two of the European cases.
Puerperal Fever.
Twelve cases of this disease were certified throughout the year, (19 in 1909). Ten of these were Chinese while the other two were Europeans; seven of the Chinese cases died.
The Government employs nine Chinese midwives, trained in Western methods, to attend the poor in their confinements, and during the year 1,799 cases were attended by these women as against