1871 — Page 194

for the peculiarly virulent character of the fever which was prevalent that year, and which is com mmonly called "Hongkong Fever." It has been likened to Jungle Fever, a fever which prevails in the damp forests of the tropics and the neighbourhood of rivers whose course is through level lands covered with tropical vegetation. No doubt swamps and mud with a luxuriant vegetation are often found co-existant with a highly malarious climate but that they are not essential to the production of fever is proved by its prevalence in places almost destitute of trees. The Island of De Los on the West African Const, although lying 60 miles from land and almost destitute of trees, is one of the most fever stricken places on the Const. Ever since Hongkong became a resort of Europeans it has maintained an unenviable notoriety for its fevers. It was especially unhealthy during the first years of occupation when the grouid was being cut and levelled for building pur poses. In twelve months the 59th Regiment lost 24 per cent of its strength, and the European residents lost over 10 per cent of their number. The barracks at Sai-wan, the bungalow in Happy Valley and latterly Morrison Hill have all been pronounced unhealthy. No doubt they were un healthy for a year or two, but the same may be said of every new site in Hongkong. Twelve years ago the whole line of houses from the Military Stores to Spring Gardens were declared to be inhealthy, because every one who attempted to reside there got Tever, but the cliff behind had heen newly searped and the ground cut away to afford a site for the honses. In 1865 the Troops in Kowloong suffered severely from fever, but during the preceding winter, extensive cuttings had been made close to the ennip and a large aren of soil uncovered by any vegetation was left exposed to the summer sun. In 1870 a certain cliff on Boulam Road was extensively cut away to furnish soil for the repair of the roads in the neighbourhood. Every house within 500 yards of the clif had one or more enses of fever, some of them, unfortunately, terminating fatally. Whatever the poison may be, the fact remains, thint the soil of Hongkong when disturbed for the first time and denuded of vegetation, more especially in the hot senson, evolves a fever poison,

Que is so apt to connect Tropical fevers with malaria from marshes, mangrove swamps, and the like. that it takes some time to disabuse the mind of the inherent idea. But as it is true that fevers may exist without such surroundings, it is equally true that marshes and the like do not al- ways cause fever. Europeans may live for years on the edge of the Chinese padtly-fields and yet never suffer from fever. Singapore with its tidal mnd and mangrove-covered swamps is wonder. fully free from malarious fevers. The jungles of Assuum and the forests of Borneo, are known to be comparatively healthy until the vegetation is destroyed and the new soil turned up. During the summer of 1871 no earth-cutting was allowed and this, I believe, must have contributed in some degree to the rarity of severe enses of fever.

Table XI. gives the usual information furnished by the Inspector of Nuisances,

The Honorable Crem. C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Srevetury.

&c.,

&c.,

Xc.,

Hongkong.

L-POLICE.

G. DODS, M.D., Acting Colonial Surgeon,

TADLE shewing the AuMissions into HOSPITAL and Dratus, during the Year 1971.

EUROPEANS.

COLORED.

CHINESE.

TOTAL TOTAL

MONTIS.

+

Admissions. Deaths. Admissions. Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.

Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.

January,

14

February,

10

March,

April,

4007

20

May,

16

June,

15

July,

12

Angust

1.1

September,

90

October,

19

November,

11

December,

18

GPREBESUEPRE

1

4+

23

1

34

24

41

10

26

23

31

27

21

17

Total,

160

296

B

·CONDAHO 2

ก

48

13

59

7

49

13

49

05

1

47

3+

82

02

1

518

0