1841-1886
109
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 511
amongst the police force, was not only inefficient and unsatisfactory, but it was one by which it was impossible to impart faithfulness to the records of disease.
All averages in the police force will be referred to fixed numbers; dismissals and changes in the force, however, during the year, will bring into the computation of the averages nearly twice the number of individuals that compose the fixed standard to which the averages are referred.
Popular ideas are very apt to attribute to some apparent physical cause the epidemics which prevail; but those who are so ready with ex tempore explanations of the most recondite of all morbific phenomena, are little aware of the diversity, the complexity, and subtlety of the subject which they handle with so much facility. "An insight into the varying influences of the atmosphere, the relation of such influences to vital tissues, and into the thousand changes which one familiar atmospherical phenomenon may, at a moment, work on the composition and constituents of the surrounding air, would demonstrate the presumption in endeavouring to trace causes with so little knowledge. The practical mischief of such rashness is every day apparent.
In pointing out the remedies for general evils, it is often discouraging to feel that we are frequently called upon to suggest measures which cannot be taken.
TABLE No. 1.—A Monthly Numerical ABSTRACT of SICKNESS in the POLICE FORCE of Hong Kong, during the year 1848.
Average Average Total Total Total Duration Number Number Number Number of Number Number Number of of of of of Sick of of of Disease Sick. Deaths. Days. Sick. Indians and Chinese. Europeans. in Days. diem. January. 21 108 1 11 110 1 32 2 218 64 February 7 40 152 77 34 1 47 1 March 46 193 46 55 239 74 April 34 160 8 94 42 254 8+ May 39 188 17 113 56 301 91 June 48 260 15 129 63 389 124 July. 57 389 21 117 18 5 506 6) 161 August. 51 430 10 26 288 77 19 718 261 September 62 525 2 9 103 771 3 628 201 October. 47 326 1 10 39 57 365 11+ November 27 249 1 9 103 36 352 9% 11# December + 28 175 2 8 34 36 2 209 51 61 17 17 34Total Number of Deaths amongst Indians, &c.
Total Number of Deaths amongst Europeans
Total Number of Deaths
In explanation of the foregoing table, it is necessary to distinguish the actual amount of mortality from endemic causes from that resulting from other causes.
In January there were two deaths. The European, who had been suffering from dysentery during the preceding year, should be regarded as a case pertaining to causes existing in the year 1847. The Indian died of apoplexy.
In February one European died. This was a case of accidental gun-shot wound at Aberdeen, in which the femoral artery was wounded.
In March, April, May, and June, there were no deaths.
In July five Europeans died. The first case was of six days' duration. It commenced with dysentery; then it was complicated with symptoms of remittent fever; lastly, the periods of exacerbation became indistinct, and the disease assumed the form of continued typhus fever, with gastro-enteritic irritation: death was not preceded by delirium, convulsions, or loss of mental perception. This man was brought into Victoria from Stanley. He had suffered previously from repeated attacks of fever. His early habits were very intemperate, and he was feeble and emaciated. The second case was of a strong healthy young man, of temperate habits. He was brought from Aberdeen to the same station with the former case. His disease ran through precisely the same stages, all of longer duration, and his death was preceded by the same exemption from cerebral disease. The third case was of a young man of the most robust frame, active intellect, and temperate habits. His illness com-
1841-1886
109
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 511
amongst the police force, was not only inefficient and unsatisfactory, but it was one by which it was impossible to impart faithfulness to the records of disease.
All averages in the police force will be referred to fixed numbers; dis- missals and changes in the force, however, during the year, will bring into the computation of the averages nearly twice the number of individuals that compose the fixed standard to which the averages are referred.
Popular ideas are very apt to attribute to some apparent physical cause the epidemics which prevail; but those who are so ready with ex tempore explanations of the most recondite of all morbific phenomena, are little aware of the diversity, the complexity, and subtlety of the subject which they handle with so much facility. "An insight into the varying influences of the atmo- sphere, the relation of such influences to vital tissues, and into the thousand changes which one familiar atmospherical phenomenon may, at a moment, work on the composition and constituents of the surrounding air, would demonstrate the presumption in endeavouring to trace causes with so little knowledge. The practical mischief of such rashness is every day apparent.
In pointing out the remedies for general evils, it is often discouraging to feel that we are frequently called upon to suggest measures which cannot be taken.
TABLE No. 1.—A Monthly Numerical ABSTRACT of SICKNESS in the POLICE FORCE of
Hong Kong, during the year 1848.
[Average | Average Total Total Total }duration | Number [NumberNumber} Number)
of
of
of
of of Sick Disease per
Sick. Deaths. Days. in Days.] diem.
Indians and Chinese.
Europeans.
Number
of Sick.
[Number] Days
of Deaths. Sick.
Sick.
Days Sick.
Deaths.
January. February March
21
108
I
11
110 1
32
2 218 64
7
·
40
152
77
34
1
47
1
186
64
46
193
46
55
239
74.
+
April
34
160
8
94
42
254
8+
+
May
39
188
17
113
56
301
91
June
48
260
15
129
63
389
124
July.
57
389
21
117
18
5
506
6)
161
August.
51
430
10
26
288
77
19
718
261
September
62
525
2
9
103
771
3
628
201
October.
47
326
1
10
39
57
365
11+
November
27
249
1
9
103
36
352
9%
11#
December
+
28 175 2
8
34
36
2
209
51
61
17
17
34
Total Number of Deaths amongst Indians, &c.
Total Number of Deaths amongst Europeans
Total Number of Deaths
In explanation of the foregoing table, it is necessary to distinguish the actual amount of mortality from endemic causes from that resulting from other
causes.
In January there were two deaths. The European, who had been suffering from dysentery during the preceding year, should be regarded as a case per- taining to causes existing in the year 1847. The Indian died of apoplexy.
In February one European died. This was a case of accidental gun-shot wound at Aberdeen, in which the femoral artery was wounded.
In March, April, May, and June, there were no deaths.
In July five Europeans died. The first case was of six days' duration. It commenced with dysentery; then it was complicated with symptoms of remittent fever; lastly, the periods of exacerbation became indistinct, and the disease assumed the form of continued typhus fever, with gastro-enteritic irrita- tion: death was not preceded by delirium, convulsions, or loss of mental per- ception. This man was brought into Victoria from Stanley. He had suffered previously from repeated attacks of fever. His early habits were very intem- perate, and he was feeble and emaciated. The second case was of a strong healthy young man, of temperate habits. He was brought from Aberdeen to the same station with the former case. His disease ran through precisely the same stages, all of longer duration, and his death was preceded by the same exemption from cerebral disease. The third case was of a young man of the most robust frame, active intellect, and temperate habits. His illness com-
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