M 105
Statistics for 1931 obtained from the M.O.H. show that 452 deaths were ascribed to malaria in the Colony and New Territory, these being 2.4% of the total deaths. The death rate per thousand from malaria is given as 0.6.
In Table I, figures are given regarding hospital admissions to the Government Civil, Kowloon, Victoria, Peak, Victoria Gaol, Lai Chi Kok Gaol, Tung Wah, Tung Wah Eastern, Kwong Wah, Matilda, and Alice Memorial Hospitals; and their relations to admissions for malaria. The malarial admissions are also arranged according to quarters of year and to species of infection.
As malaria is not a notifiable disease, rates cannot be given for the general population. The "clinical" diagnosis of malaria is not a satisfactory one.
In order to ascertain the place where the infection was contracted, information is required on the lines of the malaria notification cards in use in the Federated Malay States, as to whether the attack was a relapse or infection, and the place or places of residence occupied during the usual incubation period of the disease.
In Table II, statistics of cases treated at the following Dispensaries are shown: Tai Po, Un Long, Western Public, Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po, Shaukiwan, Aberdeen, Central, Eastern, Yaumati, and Hung Hom.
Table III deals with hospital admissions due to malaria of Government servants excluding coolies.
Table IV is a similar table for the police, including water police. Some stations appear to have had no admissions for malaria during the year: Pokfulam, Bay View, Wong Nei Chong Gap, Shaukiwan, Ping Shan, Sai Kung, Ta Ku Ling, Lin Ma Hong. Certain stations are situated in areas where malaria is not likely to be contracted, others in rural areas where night patrol work adds to the risk of infection.
Table VII gives the results of examinations of blood films made from prisoners admitted to Victoria Gaol, and arranged in districts according to addresses supplied. The parasites are not classified as, in the great majority of positive findings, the diagnosis could only be made from the thick films supplied, and could not be established from the thin films owing to the scantiness of the infection. The films were obtained through the co-operation of the M.O. Gaol and his staff and were stained in the Laboratory of the Bureau.
318 children were examined on the Island during the year. 73 had enlarged spleens. Spleen rate = 22.95%. In the New Territory, 82 children were examined, 23 had enlarged spleens; spleen rate 28.05%. Table IX gives details and localities.
Records obtained from the R.A.M.C. authorities regarding incidence of malarial infection amongst the troops, British and Indian, are as follows: (relapses not being taken into account) British troops, number of cases of malaria contracted during the year forty-eight, of which four were in 1st Quarter, six in 2nd Quarter, twenty in 3rd Quarter, and eighteen in 4th Quarter,