1841-1886
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
Victoria, Hong Kong, January 17, 1871. In my Sanitary Report for 1870, being the twelfth I have had the honour of submitting to the Government, I rejoice to be able to continue to record the improvement which has taken place in the health of the Colony since 1858. When the sudden and startling death of several members of our community is recalled to our recollection, we are prepared to find that 1870 has been eminently unhealthy. But the vital statistics of the past year, as shown in the following Tables, point out, that in the gaol, the improvement has been so marked that the mortality has been lower than in any year previously recorded; and if among the general community it appears somewhat larger, it must not be forgotten that the Tables are calculated upon the Census of 1869, and that the additional five deaths recorded would probably not increase the percentage of mortality above the average, if the Tables were compiled from more correct data, which will never be obtained until a proper system of registration of deaths is enforced by law. There can, however, be no doubt that in the early part of the summer, and up to the 3rd of August, there was a great and unusual increase of fever among the residents. For the most part it was not of a dangerous type, although by its tendency to relapse it caused great prostration; but in one or two cases it assumed something of the character of typhus, and proved rapidly fatal. Opinions varied among practitioners as to the cause of this disease, and I am aware that it was generally attributed to some cuttings in the hill side, and the spreading of the cut soil over the roads undergoing repair. I have never, however, concurred in this view, and believe that the sole cause of the malady must be traced to the remarkably small fall of rain which had taken place previous to the 3rd of August. I was led to form this opinion from the fact, that although cases of fever really did occur in the immediate neighbourhood of, and to leeward of these cuttings, and in certain localities in considerable number, this was not always the case; and not only was fever absent in certain other localities, equally exposed to the supposed exhalations, but it occurred both to windward of them, and in places where there had been no such cuttings. I think it much more reasonable to cast the onus on the absence of rain, and the state of our drains; for this reason, that no sooner did rain fall, on the 3rd of August, in sufficient quantity to wash out the sewers, than a marked amelioration took place in the health of the community.
Months 1867 1868 1869 1870 January 1.07 0.79 0.78 0.30 February 0.40 0.40 3.21 0.40 March 6.57 2.00 4.15 3.30 April 2.23 6.55 4.17 0.31 May 10.62 10.07 10.01 16.26 June 8.22 30.79 9.12 5.04 July 17.11 5.53 6.83 4.74 Total 46.22 57.12 38.27 30.35RAINFALL from 1ST JANUARY to 31ST JULY for the last FOUR YEARS, registered at the GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
375
1841-1886
REPORTS EXHIBITING' THE PRESENT STATE
Victoria, Hong Kong, January 17, 1871. In my Sanitary Report for 1870, being the twelfth I have had the honour of submitting to the Government, I rejoice to be able to continue to record the improvement which has taken place in the health of the Colony since 1858. When the sudden and startling death of several members of our community is recalled to our recollection, we are prepared to find that 1870 has been eminently unhealthy. But the vital statistics of the past year, as shown in the following Tables, point out, that in the gaol, the improvement has been so marked that the mortality has been lower than in any year previously recorded; and if among the general community it appears somewhat larger, it must not be forgotten that the Tables are calculated upon the Census of 1869, and that the additional five deaths recorded would probably not increase the percentage of mor- tality above the average, if the Tables were compiled from more correct data, which will never be obtained until a proper system of registration of deaths is enforced by law. There can, however, be no doubt that in the early part of the summer, and up to the 3rd of August, there was a great and unusual increase of fever among the residents. For the most part it was not of a dangerous type, although by its tendency to relapse it caused great prostration; "but in one or two cases it assumed something of the character of typhus, and proved rapidly fatal. Opinions varied among practitioners as to the cause of this disease, and I am aware that it was generally attributed to some cuttings in the hill side, and the spreading of the cut soil over the roads undergoing repair. I have never, however, concurred in this view, and believe that the sole cause of the malady must be traced to the remarkably small fall of rain which had taken place previous to the 3rd of August. I was led to form this opinion from the fact, that although cases of fever really did occur in the immediate neighbourhood of, and to leeward of these cuttings, and in certain localities in considerable number, this was not always the case; and not only was fever absent in certain other localities, equally exposed to the supposed exhalations, but it occurred both to windward of them, and in places where there had been no such cuttings. I think it much more reasonable to cast the onus on the absence of rain, and the state of our drains; for this reason, that no sooner did rain fall, on the 3rd of August, in sufficient quantity to wash out the sewers, than a marked amelioration took place in the health of the community.
RAINFALL from 1ST JANUARY to 31ST JULY for the last FOUR YEARS, registered at tho GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
*
Months.
1867.
1868.
1860.
1870.
January February
1.07
0.79
0.78
0.30
0.40
0.40
3.21
0.40
March
6.57
2:00
4.15
3.30
April -
2.23
6.55
4.17
0.31
May
10.62
10.07
10.01
16.26
June.
8.22
30-79
9.12
5.04
July
17.11
5.53
6.83
4.74
Total
46.22
57.12
38*27
30.35
375
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