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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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"had been on the sick list during the last quarter, 77 of these were for venereal discases, being at the rate of 25.60 per cent. of the total sick, or 14.72 per cent. of the "total strength; and that, be it observed, in one quarter. In the Government Civil Hospital the proportion of venereal cases was 138 out of 591 admissions, being in the proportion of 23.18 per cent." Now if the Returns accompanying this Report be con- trasted with that former state of matters, it is seen, during the year 1869, as the result of the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance, that disease was greatly decreased. In the Government Civil Hospital, even in spite of the great number of cases sent by the Marbour Master, the percentage of syphilitic cases was reduced to 15.82. In the garrison, the percentage of primary disease to the total strength was only 6.83, according to a Return compiled from data furnished to me by Dr. H. Heffernan, the Deputy Inspector-General. In the Police, it was 16.66 against 31.00 per cent. in 1862, as shown in Table XV.; and in a most interesting letter* addressed to me by Fleet Surgeon Dr. Maccoun, of the United States ship" Delaware," on the eve of his departure from the Colony, he says:- "Since my arrival on this Station in the Spring of 1868, I have been "struck with the benefit derived from the system of Registration and Inspection of public women, so ably carried out in this Colony. During our visits to Hongkong but "few have been infected, and the type of the disease is very mild."

But the whole letter deserves to be carefully perused, and I think, coming from a perfectly inde- pendent source, it is one of the most valuable testimonies that could be adduced in support of the good results of the system. And if we turn to Table X., we find that the type of the disease must have equally improved; at least, the average duration of treat- ment, which may be considered to be a fair test of the severity of a case, has diminished from 43.8 days in 1858 to 24.8 in 1869. I admit that the working of the Ordinance is by no means perfect, and I am still of opinion that all prostitutes, whether in so-called purely Chinese houses or others, should be examined. In this opinion I am not sup- ported by some of those who are supposed to be peculiarly conversant with the habits of the natives, and in deference to their opinion those houses are exempted from the action of the Ordinance. But I am confident that until all prostitutes are subject to the requirements of the Ordinance these results will be limited, for I am aware that the inmates of the so-called purely Chinese brothels will visit the houses of Europeans, although they may not admit them into the brothels under the dread of losing their

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license.

The only question that remains to be referred to, and that very cursorily, is whether the Ordinance under discussion has had any effect in withdrawing the fear of syphilitic infection from those upon whom it has had a deterrent effect. Such an idea will not bear investigation. The frequenters of brothels are either under the influence of drink at the time, or have lost all dread of the consequences. In no case, I believe, will young men he led into temptation for the first time because they can fall with impunity. As long as men are men, vice will continue, and it is clearly the duty of the legislature to protect, if not the actual transgressor, at all events the innocent, from the fearful consequences of disease.

REPORT OF THE COLONIAL SURGEON FOR THE YEAR 1870.

In my last Annual Report, I entered so fully into the question of the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance that I can do little more, on the present occasion, than refer to the statistics contained in Tables A, B, C, and D of the Appendix. It will be

United States Flag Ship “ Delaware."

• MY DEAR DR. MURRAY,

Hongkong, 12th March, 1870, SINCE my arrival on this Station in the Spring of 1868, I have been struck with the benefit derived from the system of Registration and Inspection of publie women, so ably curried out in this Colony.

In most of the porta visited by our ships the men have suffered from syphilis, and especially in Japan where the disease exists in its most virulent form. But during our visits to Hongkong but few have been infected, and the type of the disease is very mild. In proof of this, I would mention that the crew of this ship, numbering four hundred and swiventy men, have lately been granted liberty and only five cases of chanero (chancroid) have been noticed.

Such a rosult as this proves the great benefit derived from the system; and on the eve of my departure from Vietoria 1 drein it a duty, as well as a pleasure, to express to you my high appreciation of your labours in the cause of humanity, as well as to congratulate you upon the success with which they have been crowned.

(Signed) ROBERT L. MACCOUN,

Dr. Murray, Colonial Surgeon,

Hongkong.

Fivet Surgeon, U. S. X.

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seen that a great improvement has taken place during the past year. In the two Hos- pitals, the percentage of contagious disease contracted in Hongkong to all admissions, was 8.96, against nearly double that amount in 1869. In the Garrison the percentage of primary disease to the total strength was reduced to 5.51, against 6.83 in 1869; and among the British ships of war which have visited this port during the past year, only 116 cases of contagious disease were contracted in Hongkong. In the Police, a similar improvement has taken place, and the percentage of infection has been reduced from 16.66 in 1869 to 13.75 in 1870. Again, in turning to Table X, we find that the type of the disease is undergoing a steady improvement, under the strict surveillance to which the women are subjected; the average number of days of treatment having further diminished from 24.8 in 1869 to 23.1 in 1870. The whole of these Tables, as well as Table XIV., convey a large amount of information, and will well repay a careful study. I have added, in Appendices E† and F*, a letter addressed to me by Deputy In- spector-General Pottinger, of H.M.'s Naval Hospital, and statistics from Surgeon Ramsay, of H.M.'s 71st Regiment, in reference to the freedom of men of his regiment extremely valuable, and from contagious disease. The evidence of these gentlemen gratifying to myself, under whose care the medical examinations have been carried on for the past twelve years. Both gentlemen have had experience of Hongkong, and was before the introduction of the Contagious known what "Hongkong Disease

Dr. Disenses Ordinance into the Colony-and both agree as to the great contrast. Pottinger says: "Judging from my own experience, I should say that syphilis has all but disappeared from the Colony," Dr. Ramsay writes: "I may add that during an experience of 16 years as an Army Medical Officer, in all climates, I have not seen a similar immunity."

MY DEAR SIR,

II.M.'s Hospital Ship “Melville,"

Hongkong, December 28th, 1870.

As yon are about to leave this C'olony for a time, I would beg to address a few words to you on the subject of the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance carried out under your inspection. During the years 1849-50 and 1851 I was Surgeon of the Reynard, Sloop of War, on the Chinese Station, and though unfortunately 1 am not in possession of my Journal for that vessel, I have a vivid remembrance of the sufferings of the crew from syphilitic disease in Hongkong. On every occasion when the men had leave on shore, a large proportion of them became affected with the disease. [allusion made to the severity of the typo). Secondary symptoms were also of frequent occurrence, often requiring the patients to be invalided and went home. The altered state of things at the present time is very striking. During the year and nine months that I have had charge of this Hospital. fallusion made to decreased severity of type]. Judging from my own experience, I should say that syphilis has all but disappeared from the Colony, and I have no hesitation moreover in attributing this success to your particular method of examination, which I have repeatedly witnessed Could a similar system of examination ba established in the Treaty Ports of China and Japan, a great boon would indeed he conferred on the Naval squadron serving in these waters.

(Signed) ROBERT POTTINGER.

Dr. Murray, Colonial Surgeon,

Hongkong.

*Statistics of Disene in H.M,'s 75th Regiment from 21st December, 1818, till 21st December, 1870.

1. Average Strength during the above-named period, 428-5.

2. Different forms of Venereal and the number of cases of each between the above-nuned dates :-

Primary Syphille.

Becondary Syphilis.

Gonorrhea.

Total.

17

10

89

66

The forms of Secondaries were very mild, amenable to treatment, and left no sign of permanent injury.

The above figures speak for themselves, and show the great gain which the enforcement of the Contagious Diseases Act has been to the Government in preserving the health of the men of the Regiment. I may add that during an experience of 16 years as an Army Medical Officer in all climates, I have not seen a similar immunity. To me it is the more striking as I can look back on the prevalence and terrible severity of the disease which existed in this Colony in 1857, when "Hongkong Disease" was a well-known bye-word. At times for an entire month there has not been a man reported as suffering from any form of Venereal, thus attesting the thorough manner in which the duties in connection with the Contagious Diseases Act have been carried out, and the efficacy of legislation against this “Scourge of humanity" seen in a Colony like Hongkong whose ever shifting population, native and foreign, must render success unusually difficult.

(Signed) W. RAMSAY, F.R.C.S.L.,

Surgeon, 75th Regiment.