22
(1) Further antimalarial work is needed in the Colony but many of the cases are likely to have been imported from China.
(2) There is considerable doubt as to the accuracy of these figures as the disease is by no means easy to diagnose or differentiate.
(3) The total figure for Respiratory Diseases and Pulmonary Tuberculosis is 8,546; that is an average of twenty deaths a day from lung diseases. This figure far exceeds those from all other causes of death in the Colony. Over half the deaths are due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis which is due to bad housing conditions and overcrowding among the poorer section of the Chinese community. The climate and conditions of the Colony are most inimical to cure.
(4) These and other nutritional diseases are worldwide causes of infantile mortality. In death returns, they are not always clearly defined. Malnutrition, non-breast feeding, neglect, and dust-borne bacteria are the chief factors.
The deaths reported in the Coroners' Returns (Chinese only) are as follows classified according to age and sex:-
Age Periods Males Females 1. Under 2 years 2,103 2,350 2. Over 2 years 942 434 Totals 3,045 2,784Suicides and Deaths from Accidents or Violence amounted to
(i) Chinese (ii) Non-Chinese 358 21These figures include a very large proportion of dumped bodies, especially heavy among infants. This dangerous and revolting practice is hard to eradicate among an ignorant population.
There were four cases of human plague reported in 1928; two on 4th May, one on 23rd June, and one on 23rd July, the last two being fatal. The Colony had been free of plague for over four years and it is likely that the infection was brought from China by persons who had gone to their native district to worship at the tombs of their ancestors. A thorough house cleansing was instituted at once in the areas from which the cases came and it is possible that these measures prevented the spreading of the disease.
22
(1) Further antimalarial work is needed in the Colony but many of the cases are likely to have been imported from China.
(2) There is considerable doubt as to the accuracy of these figures as the disease is by no means easy to diagnose or differentiate.
(3) The total figure for Respiratory Diseases and Pulmonary Tuberculosis is 8,546; that is an average of twenty deaths a day from lung diseases. This figure far exceeds those from all other causes of death in the Colony. Over half the deaths are due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis which is due to bad housing conditions and overcrowding among the poorer section of the Chinese community. The climate and conditions of the Colony are most inimicable to cure.
(4) These and other nutritional diseases are world wide causes of infantile mortality. In death returns they are not always clearly defined. Malnutrition, non-breast feeding, neglect and dust-borne bacteria are the chief factors.
The deaths reported in the Coroners' Returns (Chinese only) are as follows classified according to age and sex:-
Age Periods
Males
Females
1.
Under 2 years
2,103
2,350
2
Over 2 years
942
434
378:
Totals
3,045
2,784
Suicides and Deaths from Accidents or Violence amounted to
(i) Chinese
(ii) Non-Chinese
358
21
These figures include a very large proportion of dumped bodies, especially heavy among infants. This dangerous and revolting prac- tice is hard to eradicate among an ignorant population.
+
There were four cases of human plague reported in 1928; two on 4th May, one on 23rd June and one on 23rd July, the last two being fatal. The Colony had been free of plague for over four years and it is likely that the infection was brought from China by persons who had gone to their native district to worship at the tombs of their ancestors. A thorough house cleansing was instituted at once in the areas from which the cases came and it is possible that these measures prevented the spreading of the disease.
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