The mortality rate in Hong Kong is a pressing concern, standing at nearly double that of England and Wales, which had a rate of 13 per 1,000 in the decade 1891-1900.
NERVOUS DISEASES.
The number of deaths attributed to nervous diseases in 1914 was 606, compared to 655 in 1913 and 501 in 1912. Of these, 471 were Chinese children under 5 years old, with 335 being infants less than one year old. The deaths among Chinese infants included 237 due to Tetanus, Trismus, and Convulsions, and 93 due to Meningitis. The influence of Public Dispensaries and Public Midwives is gradually being felt, and these figures are expected to show a steady reduction.
MALARIAL FEVER.
The total number of deaths from Malarial Fever during the year was 241, compared to 290 in 1913 and 432 in 1912, with 5 being Non-Chinese. Of the 236 Chinese deaths, 73 occurred in the City of Victoria (down from 110 in 1913), 58 in Kowloon (up from 47 in 1913), 86 in the villages of Hong Kong (down from 95 in 1913), and 19 in the Harbour (down from 30 in 1913). Some deaths in the City were cases brought from Kowloon or the Harbour for treatment in City Hospitals. Sai Ying Poon (No. 9 Health District) remained the most infected district in the City with 19 deaths, while Wanchai (No. 2 Health District) showed significant improvement. Military figures also indicate a steady decrease in Malaria infection in the Colony.
Among village deaths, 19 occurred at Shaukiwan (11 from land population and 8 from boat population), down from 33 in 1913; 47 at Aberdeen (20 from land and 27 from boat population), down from 53 in 1913; and 20 at Stanley (up from 9 in 1913). The increase at Stanley is attributed to the large number of workmen employed in constructing the Tai Tam reservoir extension.
Anti-malarial measures, first introduced in the City in 1899, continued with vigor. Sanitary Inspectors made special visits to identify mosquito breeding sites, dense brushwood near houses was cleared, quinine was administered to school children in selected districts, trained nullahs were regularly swept to prevent waterweed and algae, and standing water was treated with kerosine or carbolated creosote at weekly intervals. Cases of malaria reported to the Sanitary Department were investigated, and steps were taken to prevent mosquito breeding in the vicinity. Weekly returns of Malaria cases admitted to Hospitals were sent to the Medical Officer of Health to facilitate these efforts.
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mortality which at present stands at nearly double that of England and Wales, which, in the decennium 1891-1900 was only 13 per 1,000.
NERVOUS DISEASES.
The number of deaths from this heading for the year 1914 was 606 as compared with 655 in 1913 and 501 in 1912. Of these 471 were of Chinese children under 5 years of age. 335 being infants less than one year old. These deaths of Chinese infants comprise 237 deaths from Tetanus, Trismus, and Convulsions, and 93 deaths from Meningitis; the influence of the Public Dispensaries and of the Public Midwives is, however, being gradually felt, and these figures will, we hope, show a steady reduction.
MALARIAL FEVER.
The total number of deaths from Malarial Fever during the year was 241 (as compared with 290 in 1913 and 432 in 1912) of which 5 were Non-Chinese. Of these 236 Chinese deaths, 73 occurred in the City of Victoria (110 in 1913), while there were 58 deaths in Kowloon (47 in 1913), 86 in the villages of Hongkong (95 in 1913), and 19 in the Harbour (30 in 1913). Some of the deaths, however, which occurred in the City were cases brought over from Kowloon or from the Harbour, for treatment in the various City Hospitals; Sai Ying Poon (No. 9 Health District) with 19 deaths was again the most infected district of the City, while Wanchai (No. 2 Health District) showed a marked improvement. The Military figures also show that there has been a steady decrease in the amount of Malaria infection in the Colony. Of the deaths which occurred in the villages 19 were at Shaukiwan (11 from the land population and 8 from the boat population (as compared with 33 in 1913; 47 at Aber- deen (20 from the land population and 27 from the boat population) as compared with 53 in 1913; and 20 at Stanley (9 in 1913). The Stanley registration district includes the village of Tai Tam Tuk where a large number of workmen have been employed throughout the year in the construction of the extension to the Tai Tam reservoir. This explains the marked incrase in the figures for this district.
Anti-malarial measures were first inaugurated in the City in 1899 and during the past year considerable attention has been paid to this work-special visits have been made by the Sanitary Inspec- tors in search of breeding places for mosquitoes, dense tangles of brushwood in the neighbourhood of houses have been cut down, quinine has been administered to school-children in certain selected districts, the trained nullahs have been regularly swept to prevent the formation of waterweed and algae and standing water has in places been treated with kerosine or with carbolated creosote at regular weekly intervals (including several acres of pools in Kow- loon), while such cases of malaria as have come to the knowledge of the Sanitary Department have been investigated and steps taken to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in the neighbourhood where they occurred. For this purpose weekly returns of all cases of Malaria admitted to the Hospitals are sent to the Medical Officer of
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