# M 19
## SECTION II
## PUBLIC HEALTH
### GENERAL REMARKS
It is usual to gauge the health of a community by the death rate for a high death rate means a high sickness rate and vice versa. The number of deaths recorded in Hong Kong indicates very correctly the deaths which have taken place in the Colony, but because of the desire of the Chinese to expire in their native towns or villages in the midst of their relations and the consequent exodus of many who feel death approaching, the number of deaths recorded is considerably lower than would be the case had all who contracted disease here remained until the end.
Even if the death figures were correct the absence of accurate figures for population makes it impossible to obtain rates which would form useful bases for comparisons.
The state of the public health of the Colony as reflected in the statistics and compared with those of former years was good.
The crude death rate of the Colony as calculated was 15.14 per mille population a decrease of 1.63 per mille on the figures for the previous year and less by 4 per mille than the mean for the last 10 years.
Respiratory diseases accounted for 38.95% of the total deaths, 12.25% of the whole being due to pulmonary tuberculosis, 12.33% to broncho-pneumonia, 9.31% to bronchitis and 5.06% to pneumonia. The overcrowded, ill-ventilated and badly lighted houses combined with the expectorating habits of the Chinese lower classes furnish sufficient explanation for the prevalence of respiratory troubles.
The following Table gives the principal diseases causing deaths and their death rates:
Non-notifiable diseases. Death rates per mille population. 1930 1929 Pulmonary tuberculosis 1.85 2.06 Broncho-pneumonia 1.86 2.07 Bronchitis 1.41 1.32 Pneumonia 0.76 0.90 Diarrhoea (infantile) 1.36 1.19 Diarrhoea 0.60 0.37 Dysentery 0.19 0.18 Beri Beri 0.59 0.54 Malaria 0.47 0.40 Heart disease and Heart failure... 0.40 0.42- M 19
SECTION II
PUBLIC HEALTH.
GENERAL REMARKS.
It is usual to gauge the health of a community by the death rate for a high death rate means a high sickness rate and vice versa. The number of deaths recorded in Hong Kong indicates very correctly the deaths which have taken place in the Colony, but because of the desire of the Chinese to expire in their native towns or villages in the midst of their relations and the con- sequent exodus of many who feel death approaching, the number of deaths recorded is considerably lower than would be the case had all who contracted disease here remained until the end.
Even if the death figures were correct the absence of accurate figures for population makes it impossible to obtain rates which would form useful bases for comparisons.
The state of the public health of the Colony as reflected in the statistics and compared with those of former years was good.
The crude death rate of the Colony as calculated was 15.14 per mille population a decrease of 1.63 per mille on the figures for the previous year and less by 4 per mille than the mean for the last 10 years.
Respiratory diseases accounted for 38.95% of the total deaths, 12.25% of the whole being due to pulmonary tuber- culosis, 12.33% to broncho-pneumonia, 9.31% to bronchitis and 5.06% to pneumonia. The overcrowded, ill-ventilated and badly lighted houses combined with the expectorating habits of the Chinese lower classes furnish sufficient explanation for the prevalence of respiratory troubles.
The following Table gives the principal diseases causing deaths and their death rates:
Non-notifiable diseases.
Death rates per mille
population.
1930
1929
Pulmonary tuberculosis
1.85
2.06
Broncho-pneumonia
1.86
2.07
Bronchitis
1.41
1.32
Pneumonia
0.76
0.90
Diarrhoea (infantile)
1.36
1.19
Diarrhoea
0.60
0.37
Dysentery
0.19
0.18
Beri Beri
0.59
0.54
Malaria
0.47
0.40
Heart disease and Heart failure... 0.40
0.42
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