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bolonial Surgeon's Report for 105.
1861.
A reference to the Meteorological Table, whcih accompanies this paper, will shew that my third Report on the Sanitary Condition of Hongkong, must relate to a year so exceptional as regards the absence of violent extremes of temperature na to justify the expectation that the inhabitants of this crowded Colony have experienced even a greater share of health thas in the two immediately preceding years, which were themselves so remarkable for their salubrity; and this expectation will be found in soms measure justified by the Tables which I shall be able to append.
The Colony has passed through another year without being visited by Cholers or any very violent epidemie of Fever. Small Por has however been much more prevalent than usual, both in the Spring of 1881, and again at the end of the year; and I am sorry to report much more fatal in its character.
The mortality from Dysentery, Diarrhea and Intermittent Fever will be seen to have maintained an average very nearly the same as in the previous year.
I.-The Police.
This body continues remarkable for its great healthiness; much of this fortunate result is doubtless owing to the care with which the officers attend to the men, and also in no small degree to the wise provision afforded by the Government for their care in sickness.
Table I. shews the admissions and deaths in the Hospital of Members of the Police Force during every month of 1861. Table II. shews the rate per cent of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year.
It will be noted that the mortality is absolutely greater but relatively less than in former years.
II.-The Government Civil Hospital.
Tables III. and IV. give the classification and result of treatment of the various patients admitted into this Hospital,
with the per centage of mortality.
Table V., kindly furnished to me by the Resident Surgeon, Mr. Enscoe, gives similar information in regard to the Seaman's Hospital,
III.-The Gaol.
Table VI., which shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the establishment during the past year, is the least satis- factory table I have framed up to this time. It will be seen that the rate of mortality has been 4.03 per cent to the average number of prisoners, in comparison to a rate of only 1.07 in 1859. It must not be forgotten, however, that that average has increased to 4401 against an average of only 230 in 1859, and that crowding has been a necessary consequence, which the completion of the new works will to some extent remore.
IV.-The Lock Hospital.
- Table VII, affords a complete answer to those who think, that the Ordinance under which this institution was establish- ed, has effected no good. It will be seen that during the four years it has been in force 1,089 infected women have been segregated from the localities in which they could convey infection, and that during a total of 30,072 days; or in other words supposing that every infected woman could only convey the disease to one man during each day she was diseased, wa have at least 30,072 cases of disease prevented,--or at all events 30,072 opportunities of conveying disease have been pre- vented. The table shews further that the average number of days in which these diseased women have been under treat- ment has steadily decreased until it has almost reached the minimum we can look for. This proves the disease to be milder in type and to have been arrested in its earlier stages.
Table VIII. gives the usual information as to the work done by the Inspector of Nuisances attached to this Department. Table IX. shows the annual mean state of the Atmosphere during the year 1881, as recorded at the Government Civil Hospital
J. I. MURRAY, M.D.,
Colonial Surgeon.
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