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bins for all houses, to reduce as far as possible the amount of food available for rats; (7) the disinfection of Plague-infected premises by stripping them and washing them out thoroughly with the kerosine emulsion coupled with the disinfection of all bedding, clothing, carpets, rugs, etc., by superheated steam. No objection is raised to the treatment of Bubonic Plague cases in native Hospitals, and no restrictions are imposed in regard to the burial of those dead of Bubonic Plague, except the provision of a substantial coffin, while every effort is made by means of lectures, addresses and explanations to induce the native population to participate in these preventive measures.
There were 72 Non-Chinese cases—twenty-five Indians, eighteen Malays and Filipinos, thirteen Japanese, ten British, four Asiatic Portuguese, one Eurasian and one African. The deaths were twenty Indians, sixteen Malays and Filipinos, seven Japanese, four Portuguese, two British, one Eurasian and one African. Three of the Portuguese cases occurred in one family (a mother and two children). The Non-Chinese death rate was therefore 70.8 per cent.
The Chinese cases numbered 2,074 and the deaths 1,969 giving a death rate of 95 per cent.
It is probable that some undiscovered cases recover and that therefore the case mortality may not be quite so high as would appear from these figures.
During the year 82,715 rats were caught or found dead in the City of Victoria and the adjoining villages and 18,943 in Kowloon, a total of 101,658 as against 108,507 in 1913. Those from the City and villages were examined by the Government Bacteriologist, Dr. Macfarlane, at the Public Mortuary, and those in Kowloon by Dr. Pearse, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Smalley, with the result that 471 of those from the City or 5.7 per 1,000 and 181 of those from Kowloon or 9.5 per 1,000 were found to be infected with Plague.
It is interesting to contrast the Plague incidence among rats with its effects upon the human population. In 1912 the total number of infected rats found in the City was 390 (of which 56 were Mus Rattus), representing a ratio of 5.5 per 1,000 of the total rats obtained, and the number of human cases was 1,333: in 1913 the total of infected rats was 249 (22 being Mus Rattus) or a ratio of 2.9 per 1,000 and the number of human cases was 299; in 1914 the total of infected rats was 471 (32 being Mus Rattus) or a ratio of 5.7 per 1,000 and the number of human cases was 1,183.
Table III shows the monthly distribution of the Plague-infected rats during the year.
Typhoid Fever.
The number of cases of this disease during the year was 140 compared with 201 during 1913 and 138 in 1912; 24 of the cases were imported. The cases of European or American nationality
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bins for all houses, to reduce as far as possible the amount of food available for rats; (7) the disinfection of Plague-infected premises by stripping them and washing them out thoroughly with the kerosine emulsion coupled with the disinfection of all bedding, clothing, carpets, rugs, etc., by superheated steam. No objection is raised to the treatment of Bubonic Plague cases in native Hospitals, and no restrictions are imposed in regard to the burial of those dead of Bubonic Plague, except the provision of a substantial coffin, while every effort is made by means of lectures, addresses and explanations to induce the native population to participate in these preventive measures.
There were 72 Non-Chinese cases-twenty-five Indians, eighteen Malays and Filipinos, thirteen Japanese, ten British, four Asiatic Portuguese, one Eurasian and one African. The deaths were twenty Indians, sixteen Malays and Filipinos, seven Japanese, four Portuguese, two British, one Eurasian and one African. Three of the Portuguese cases occurred in one family (a mother and two children). The Non-Chinese death rate was therefore 708 per cent.
The Chinese cases numbered 2,074 and the deaths 1,969 giving a death rate of 95 per cent.
It is probable that some undiscovered cases recover and that therefore the case mortality may not be quite so high as would appear from these figures.
During the year 82,715 rats were caught or found dead in the City of Victoria and the adjoining villages and 18,943 in Kowloon, a total of 101,658 as against 108,507 in 1913. Those from the City and villages were examined by the Government Bacteriologist, Dr. Macfarlane, at the Public Mortuary, and those in Kowloon by Dr. Pearse, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Smalley, with the result that 471 of those from the City or 57 per 1,000 and 181 of those from Kowloon or 95 per 1,000 were found to be infected with Plague.
It is interesting to contrast the Plague incidence among rats with its effects upon the human population. In 1912 the total number of infected rats found in the City was 390 (of which 56 were Mus Rattus), representing a ratio of 55 per 1,000 of the total rats obtained, and the number of human cases was 1,333: in 1913 the total of infected rats was 249 (22 being Mus Rattus) or a ratio of 2-9 per 1,000 and the number of human cases was 299; in 1914 the total of infected rats was 471 (32 being Mus Rattus) or a ratio of 5.7 per 1,000 and the number of human cases was 1,183.
Table III shows the monthly distribution of the Plague-infected rats during the year.
Typhoid Fever.
The number of cases of this disease during the year was 140 compared with 201 during 1913 and 138 in 1912; 24 of the cases were imported. The cases of European or American nationality
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