M 139-
(2) ENTERITIS.
Next in order of importance in killing diseases came enteritis, including gastro-enteritis, which caused 2,365 deaths in children under one year of age and a further 2,120 deaths in persons at other ages, a total of 4,485. This figure gives a ratio of 130 per thousand deaths from all causes and 4.5 deaths from enteritis per thousand living persons.
(3) TUBERCULOSIS.
Tuberculosis was third on the list of the diseases contributing 4,028 to the mortality figures for 1937. By far the greater number of these deaths were due to pulmonary tuberculosis. This is no doubt due to the bad housing conditions and malnutrition from which the poorer classes suffer combined with the extremely common habit of spitting everywhere and at all times.
The proportion of deaths from tuberculosis per thousand from all causes amounted to 116, whilst the ratio per thousand living persons was four. By far the greater number of deaths were accounted for by tuberculosis of the respiratory system, presumably due very largely to the human strain, the relatively small number of intestinal, bony and lymphatic cases in which the bovine bacillus may have been concerned, suggesting a close correlation with the existing small consumption of fresh cow's milk.
(4) INFECTIOUS DISEASES (Non-tuberculous).
Infectious and contagious diseases came high up on the list of causes of death, 176 deaths being attributed to typhoid fever, ninety-four to smallpox, nineteen to measles, two to whooping cough, 148 to diphtheria, 377 to influenza, 1,082 to cholera, 316 to dysentery, thirteen to leprosy, five each to erysipelas and acute poliomyelitis, eight to encephalitis lethargica, eighty-eight to cerebro-spinal meningitis, nine* to tetanus and 296 to syphilis. The total of 2,638 gives a ratio of seventy-six per thousand deaths from all ages and 2.6 per thousand living persons. This high proportion of deaths from infectious diseases provides yet another index of the unsatisfactory health conditions prevailing in Hong Kong.
(5) NUTRITIONAL DISEASES.
Although scurvy and rickets were certified to be the cause of death in only one case each, 1,661 deaths were stated to be due to beri-beri. Where not only the cause but the means of prevention are known and the latter easily obtainable by the poorest inhabitant, it is unfortunate that such a heavy toll of life takes place from this disease.
Excluding forty-nine deaths from tetanus neonatorum.
M 139-
(2) ENTERITIS.
Next in order of importance in killing diseases came enteritis, including gastro-enteritis, which caused 2,365 deaths in children under one year of age and a further 2,120 deaths in persons at other ages, a total of 4,485. This figure gives a ratio of 130 per thousand deaths from all causes and 4.5 deaths from enteritis per thousand living persons.
(3) TUBERCULOSIS.
Tuberculosis was third on the list of the diseases contributing 4,028 to the mortality figures for 1937. By far the greater number of these deaths were due to pulmonary tuberculosis. This is no doubt due to the bad housing conditions and malnutri- tion from which the poorer classes suffer combined with the extremely common habit of spitting everywhere and at all times.
The proportion of deaths from tuberculosis per thousand from all causes amounted to 116, whilst the ratio per thousand living persons was four. By far the greater number of deaths were accounted for by tuberculosis of the respiratory system, presumably due very largely to the human strain, the relatively small number of intestinal, bony and lymphatic cases in which the bovine bacillus may have been concerned, suggesting a close correlation with the existing small consumption of fresh cow's mik.
(4) INFECTIOUS DISEASES (Non-tuberculous).
Infectious and contagious diseases carne high up on the list of causes of death 176 deaths being attributed to typhoid fever, ninety-four to smallpox, nineteen to measles, two to whooping cough, 148 to diphtheria, 377 to influenza, 1,082 to cholera, 316 to dysentery, thirteen to leprosy, five each to erysipelas and acute poliomyelitis, eight to encephalitis lethargica, eighty-eight to cerebro-spinal meningitis, nine* to tetanus and 296 to syphilis. The total of 2,638 gives a ratio of seventy-six per thousand deaths from all ages and 2.6 per thousand living persons. This high proportion of deaths from infectious diseases provides yet another index of the unsatisfactory health conditions prevailing in Hong Kong.
(5) NUTRITIONAL DISEASES.
Although scurvy and rickets were certified to be the cause of death in only one case each, 1,661 deaths were stated to be due to beri beri. Where not only the cause but the means of prevention are known and the latter easily obtainable by the poorest inhabitant, it is unfortunate that such a heavy toll of life takes place from this disease.
Excluding forty-nine deaths from detanus neonatorum.
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