L 17
Among the Chinese population the deaths of infants numbered 2,419 while only 1,406 Chinese births were registered. Taking the corrected birth figure to be 2,239 (as explained on page 12) it would even then appear that more Chinese infants die in the Colony than are born here. The Census return for 1911 showed 1,180 Chinese infants under one year of age, and 24,738 Chinese children between the ages of one year and five years; it is very evident therefore that the majority of these children are not born in the Colony but are brought here from the mainland of China.
## DISEASES
### Respiratory Diseases
The total number of deaths from these diseases for the year was 2,542 (2,641 in 1910) of which 55 were among the Non-Chinese community leaving 2,487 among the Chinese population; 801 out of this total occurred in infants under one year of age (892 in 1910).
Phthisis alone accounts for 775 deaths (780 in 1910), of which 753 were Chinese. Pneumonia caused 1,322 deaths (1,165 in 1910) of which 1,295 were Chinese; many of these bodies were examined in the Public Mortuaries, and in no case was death attributable to Pneumonic Plague. 647 of these deaths from Pneumonia occurred in infants under one year of age (573 in 1910).
The death rate among the Chinese from Respiratory Diseases was 7.01 per 1,000 as compared with 7.9 per 1,000 in 1910 and 7.8 per 1,000 in 1909; that for Phthisis alone was 2.12 per 1,000 as compared with 2.3 in the two previous years.
The deaths from Phthisis amongst the Chinese were 10.0 per cent. of the total deaths amongst that community, as compared with 10.3 in 1910 and 10.7 in 1909; if other deaths from Tuberculosis are included the total amounts to 1,179, or 15.7 per cent. of the total deaths among the Chinese.
Considerable efforts have been made during the past few years to put a stop to the inveterate habit of the lower class Chinese of spitting in public buildings and offices and on staircases, footpaths, wharves, etc. Notices have been posted in many public buildings, as well as in tramcars, ferry boats and other public vehicles, while lectures have been given and leaflets distributed, calling attention to the dangers incident to this habit. It is hoped in this way, coupled with the improved sanitary condition of the native dwellings, to gradually reduce the death rate from Phthisis. The fact that the soil in the lower levels (which are the most densely populated) is water-logged during the greater part of the year, has no doubt much to do with the heavy mortality from this disease, but it is to be hoped that the influences of education will gradually effect a further reduction in our Phthisis mortality which at pre-
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L 17
Among the Chinese population the deaths of infants numbered 2,419 while only 1,406 Chinese births were registered. Taking the corrected birth figure to be 2,239 (as explained on page 12) it would even then appear that more Chinese infants die in the Colony than are born here. The Census return for 1911 showed 1,180 Chinese infants under one year of age, and 24,738 Chinese children between the ages of one year and five years; it is very evident therefore that the majority of these children are not born in the Colony but are brought here from the mainland of China.
DISEASES.
Respiratory Diseases.
The total number of deaths from these diseases for the year was 2,542 (2,641 in 1910) of which 55 were among the Non- Chinese community leaving 2,487 among the Chinese population; 801 out of this total occurred in infants under one year of age (892 in 1910.)
Phthisis alone accounts for 775 deaths (780 in 1910), of which 753 were Chinese. Pneumonia caused 1,322 deaths (1,165 in 1910) of which 1,295 were Chinese; many of these bodies were examined in the Public Mortuaries, and in no case was death attributable to Pneumonic Plague. 647 of these deaths from Pneumonia occurred in infants under one year of age (573 in 1910).
The death rate among the Chinese from Respiratory Diseases was 7:01 per 1,000 as compared with 7.9 per 1,000 in 1910 and 7.8 per 1,000 in 1909; that for Phthisis alone was 2:12 per 1,000 as compared with 2-3 in the two previous years.
The deaths from Phthisis amongst the Chinese were 100 per cent. of the total deaths amongst that community, as compared with 10.3 in 1910 and 107 in 1909; if other deaths from Tuberculosis are included the total amounts to 1,179, or 15.7 per cent. of the total deaths among the Chinese.
Considerable efforts have been made during the past few years to put a stop to the inveterate habit of the lower class Chinese of spitting in public buildings and offices and on staircases, footpaths, wharves, etc. Notices have been posted in many public buildings, as well as in tramcars, ferry boats and other public vehicles, while lectures have been given and leaflets distributed, calling attention to the dangers incident to this habit. It is hoped in this way, coupled with the improved sanitary condition of the native dwell- ings, to gradually reduce the death rate from Phthisis. The fact that the soil in the lower levels (which are the most densely populated) is water-logged during the greater part of the year, has no doubt much to do with the heavy mortality from this disease, but it is to be hoped that the influences of education will gradually effect a further reduction in our Phthisis mortality which at pre-
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