3. The overcrowded houses, the expectorating habits of the people, and poverty furnish sufficient explanation for the prevalence of respiratory troubles.
4. Pulmonary Tuberculosis.-This disease continues to rank second to broncho-pneumonia as the principal cause of death. It is probable that some of the cases of the latter were of tubercular origin.
5. The total number of deaths was 2,042; that for 1931 was 1,988. The death rate per mille was 2.54 as compared with 2.60 for the previous year.
6. There is need for more hospital or infirmary accommodation for tuberculosis patients, especially for those of the poorer classes.
7. Malaria. Owing to efficient drainage methods this disease has disappeared from the greater part of the urban districts. It still persists, however, in the suburbs and in the rural areas. There are parts of the New Territories where the spleen rate exceeds 75 per cent.
8. Malaria not being a notifiable disease the incidence figures are unknown. The cases admitted to the Government Hospitals numbered 334 as compared to 586 in the previous year. The percentage of deaths to cases admitted was 3.29. Among the Chinese Hospitals there were 942 admissions with a case mortality rate of 19.42 per cent.
9. The total number of deaths attributed to this disease was 455, giving a death rate of 0.56 per mille over the whole population. The low death rate is, of course, due to the fact that the great bulk of the population residing in the drained urban area is not subject to risks of infection. If figures for local districts were available it would be found that in some areas the incidence and death rates were very considerable.
10. The Medical Officer in charge of the Kowloon Mortuary reports that among the 288 bodies of 7 years of age and over which were examined 111 or 40 per cent of the whole had spleens which were equal to or exceeded twice the normal size.
11. During the year the Malaria Bureau continued its investigations into the life history, habits and carrying powers of the local anophelines. The results obtained were both interesting and instructive. As in previous years there was no obstruction from the local Chinese; on the contrary they took an interest in the proceedings and showed their eagerness to be of assistance. The Chinese Inspectors have shown both ability and zeal.