1841-1886
COLONY OF HONG KONG, &c.
5
west of Hong Kong, Europeans may walk about the whole day in the month of July, when to do so at Hong Kong would be attended with almost certain death. Neither sepoys nor Chinese can endure the climate even so well as Europeans, whose stamina they do not possess. The Chinese deem it a dangerous experiment to prolong their abode in the island beyond a certain time; they have ever viewed the climate as injurious to health and fatal to life. The Europeans who survive two or three years' residence in this climate, get a lassitude of frame and an irritability of fibre which destroys the spring of existence. A malign influence operates on the system in a most distressing manner, which is not removed by a return to Europe; on the contrary, the sufferers frequently die in England soon after their arrival.
DISEASES AND MORTALITY.
The prevailing disease of Hong Kong is a fever combining the character of the African and West India fevers. It was at first supposed to be epidemic, but it has now become endemic, and may be assumed to be the fixed malady of the island. Diarrhoea and dysentery form the next most fatal class of diseases. Last year the strength per annum of the European and Native troops was 1,526, and the number who passed through hospital in the year, amounted to 7,893; thus, on an average, every man went through the hospital more than five times in the year! Of the diseases with which they were afflicted, 4,069 were fevers; 762, diarrhoea; 497, dysentery; and 180 were pulmonic complaints. The total number of deaths out of 1,526 men, was 440, or 1 in 3½. The fatal fever cases were 155; ditto, diarrhoea, 80; the fatal dysentery cases were 137. The destruction of life since our occupation of Hong Kong has been enormous. Last year the deaths among the troops in the island amounted to 1 in 34; at Chusan, to 1 in 29½; and at Koolungsoo, to 1 in 124. Her Majesty's 98th Regiment lost at Hong Kong in 21 months, 257 men by death. But in this and other regiments, it is not merely the deaths which indicate disease and a pernicious climate, it is the number of men invalided, and constantly unfit for duty. One-half the men of a company are frequently unable to attend the parade; out of 100 men, there are sometimes not more than five or six men fit for duty.
The Royal Artillery, the finest military corps in the world, out of 135 men and officers, lost in two years, 51 by death (of whom 35 died at Hong Kong during the last six months of 1843), and 45 by invaliding. That Hong Kong was the cause of their death will be seen from the fact that Colonel Knowles's detachment of the Royal Artillery, went through the whole of the war at Canton, and at the Yang-tse-Kiang River; the detachment was out here three years; it never landed at Hong Kong; one man was killed, and another died of dropsy, but the whole of the remainder of the detachment returned to England except the commanding officer, Lieutenant-colonel Knowles, who landed at Hong Kong, and died of fever.
The officers of the Royal Artillery died in the same proportion as the men; out of nine officers who came out with the original detachment, but one escaped disease or death.
Last year there were severe losses in the ships of war. Her Majesty's ship "Agincourt" lost during the sickly season of 1843, 60 men, of whom 20 were marines; 40 men were invalided home, of whom few would recover. Since leaving England in May 1842, the 'Agincourt" has been obliged to enter 160 seamen from merchant ships. The cause assigned for the severe illness of the marines and seamen of last year, was the being obliged to land guards to protect stores at West Point. This year the "Agincourt" sends no men on shore, or on night duty, and out of 600 men there are only 23, including slight hurts, in the sick list. This tests the insalubrity of the shore.
The deaths in the naval force at Hong Kong and Whampoa, for the six sickly months ending October 1843, were 4 per cent.; while for the same period on shore, the deaths among the troops averaged 24 per cent.; and even among the European civilians, the estimate was 10 per cent. In May 1843, the left wing of Her Majesty's 55th Regiment had 16 officers and 491 men in Hong Kong; from thence to November, two officers and 218 men died, and the lives of the remainder were only saved by the prompt, judicious, and humane conduct of General D'Aguilar, in immediately embarking the men for England.
The mortality as yet (July), during the present year, has not been so great, but the sickness is equally destructive of the efficiency of the troops. Chuck-chew, on the south side of Hong Kong, it was hoped would be a healthy station; on 30th June 1844, out of 400 men of Her Majesty's 98th Regiment at Chuck-chew, there were 109 in hospital. Out of 80 lascars at the same station, there were 30 in hospital.
It was supposed that Saiwan, on the south side of Hong Kong, would afford a healthy station for the troops. Government expended about 30,000 dollars in building and preparing a fine set of barracks, of two stories, with every view to comfort and health. The officer of the Royal Engineers having reported the barracks habitable, the general commanding sent a medical Board to examine the building and station. The Board reported, that the station at Saiwan appeared healthy; that there was no apparent cause for disease, and that it was eligible for troops. The general resolved to begin with a small detachment, and 20 Europeans were sent to Saiwan. No sentry was to be mounted during the day, and but one at night.
In five weeks five of the soldiers were dead, three more were in a dangerous state, and four were convalescent. One European woman and child were also dangerously ill.
The remaining men were withdrawn, and a small detachment of native troops are now (17th July 1844) being sent thither, in order to ascertain whether the climate will suit them.
148.
A 3
7
1841-1886
COLONY OF HONG KONG, &c.
5
west of Hong Kong, Europeans may walk about the whole day in the month of July, when to do so at Hong Kong would be attended with almost certain death. Neither sepoys nor Chinese can endure the climate even so well as Europeans, whose stamina they do not possess. The Chinese deem it a dangerous experiment to prolong their abode in the island beyond a certain time; they have ever viewed the climate as injurious to health and fatal to life. The Europeans who survive two or three years' residence in this climate, get a lassitude of frame and an irritability of fibre which destroys the spring of existence. A malign influenco operates on the system in a most distressing inanner, which is not removed by a return to Europe; on the contrary, the sufferers frequently die in England soon after their arrival.
DISEASES AND MORTALITY.
The prevailing discase of Hong Kong is a fever combining the character of the African and West India fevers. It was at first supposed to be epidemic, but it has now become endemic, and may be assumed to be the fixed malady of the island. Diarrhoea and dysentery form the next most fatal class of diseases. Last year the strength per annum of the European and Native troops was 1,526, and the number who passed through hospital in the year, amounted to 7,893; thus, on an average, every man went through the hospital more than five times in the year! Of the diseases with which they were afflicted, 4,069 were fevers; 762, diarrhea; 497, dysentery; and 180 were pulmonic complaints. The total number of deaths out of 1,526 men, was 440, or 1 in 3 4. The fatal fever cases were 155; ditto, diarrhea, 80; the fatal dysentery cases were 137. The destruction of life since our occupation of Hong Kong has been enormous. Last year the deaths among the troops in the island amounted to 1 in 34; at Chusan, to 1 in 29}; and at Koolungsoo, to 1 in 124. Her Majesty's 98th Regiment lost at Hong Kong in 21 months, 257 men by death. But in this and other regiments, it is not merely the deaths which indicate disease and a pernicious climate, it is the number of men invalided, and constantly unfit for duty. One-half the men of a company are frequently unable to attend the parade; out of 100 mcu, there are sometimes not more than five or six men fit for duty.
The Royal Artillery, the finest military corps in the world, out of 135 men and officers, lost in two years, 51 by death (of whom 35 died at Hong Kong during the last six months of 1843), and 45 by invaliding. That Hong Kong was the cause of their death will be seen from the fact that Colonel Knowles's detachment of the Royal Artillery, went through the whole of the war at Canton, and at the Yang-tse-Kiang River; the detachment was out here three years; it never landed at Hong Kong; one man was killed, and another died of dropsy, but the whole of the remainder of the detachment returned to England except the commanding officer, Lieutenant-colonel Knowles, who landed at Hong Kong, and died of fever.
**
The officers of the Royal Artillery died in the same proportion as the men ; out of niue officers who came out with the original detachment, but one escaped disease or death.
Last there were severe losses in the ships of war.
year
Her Majesty's ship Agincourt" lost during the sickly season of 1843, 60 men, of whom 20 were marines; 40 men were invalided home, of whom few would recover. Since leaving England in May 1842, the 'Agincourt" has been obliged to enter 160 seamen from merchant ships. The cause assigned for the severe illness of the marines and seamon of last year, was the being obliged to land guards to protect stores at West Point. This year the Agincourt" sends no men on shore, or on night duty, and out of 600 men there are only 23, including slight hurts, in the sick list. This tests the insalubrity of the shore.
**
The deaths in the naval force at Hong Kong and Whampoa, for the six sickly months, -ending October 1843, were 4 per cent.; while for the same period on shore, the deaths among the troops averaged 24 per cent.; and even among the European civilians, the -estimate was 10 per cent.. In May 1843, the loft wing of Her Majesty's 55th Regiment had 16 officers and 491 men in Hong Kong; from thence to November, two officers and 218 men died, and the lives of the remainder were only saved by the prompt, judicious, and humane conduct of General D'Aigular, in immediately embarking the men for England.
The mortality as yet (July), during the present year, has not been so great, but the sickness is equally destructive of the efficiency of the troops. Chuck-chew, on the south side of Hong Kong, it was hoped would be a healthy station; on 30th June 1844, out of 400 men of Her Majesty's 98th Regiment at Chuck-chew, there were 109 in hospital. Out of 80 lascars at the same station, there were 30 in hospital.
It was supposed that Saiwan, on the south side of Hong Kong, would afford a healthy station for the troops. Government expended about 30,000 dollars in building and pre- paring a fine set of barracks, of two stories, with every view to comfort and health. The officer of the Royal Engineers having reported the barracks habitable, the general com- ananding sent a medical Board to examine the building and station. The Board reported, that the station at Saiwan appeared healthy; that there was no apparent cause for disense, and that it was eligible for troops. The general resolved to begin with a small detachment, and 20 Europeans were sent to Saiwan. No sentry was to be mounted during the day, and but one at night.
In five weeks five of the soldiers were dead, three more were in a dangerous state, and four were convalescent. One European woman and child were also dangerously ill.
The remaining men were withdrawn, and a small detachment of native troops are now (17th July 1844) being sent thither, in order to ascertain whether the climate will suit
148.
A 3
them.
7
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.