1841-1886
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
103
I have to thank the officers of the different departments for the information requisite for making up the enclosed returns,
Police.
439
The health of the force has not been so good as last year, there having been nearly a hundred more admissions to hospital than in 1874. The principal causes of sickness were intermittent fever and diarrhoea, and most of the cases came from the out-stations, principally Aberdeen. Reports have been made concerning the sanitary condition of this station by Dr. Wharry and the Registrar-General. The mortality also has been greater, but this admits of some explanation; there were nine deaths in hospital, of these, two occurred on the 1st and 2nd of January, and had been some time in hospital in 1874. Of the other seven deaths, four took place during absence on leave, and one was a case of sudden death on parade from disease of the heart; so that the increase of deaths cannot be attributed to the unhealthiness of the Colony.
The amount of sickness entails loss of service and extra expense to Government, and might be reduced by better sanitary arrangements in some of the out-stations, especially Aberdeen. In some of the cases admitted last year, there is no doubt the men have become more or less permanently debilitated, and the mortality of one year must be reckoned as partly owing to disease contracted in previous years. The Indians, as usual, suffer most, and next to them the Europeans in proportion to their numbers, the mortality being greatest among the Indians.
A reference to Tables I. and II. will show the rate of mortality and sickness among the Europeans, Indians, and Chinese composing the force in each month of the year.
Table E. shows the number of the police admitted into hospital for venereal disease, which is 18, as compared with 21 in 1874, and 59 in 1873. Of these 18, eight were cases of syphilis, chiefly of a mild type.
Troops.
Table III. gives the strength, sickness, and mortality of the troops stationed in Hong Kong in 1875. The admissions to hospital in 1875 was 716, as compared with 1,067 in 1874, and 1,446 in 1873. That is to say, that the number admitted to hospital was less in 1875 by 351 than in 1874, and less 730 than in 1873, which year was a considerable improvement on former years. Probably this great decrease in sickness is due to the great improvements in the drainage of the barracks that have been made in the last year or so, and to better sanitary arrangements.
The mortality is 9, as compared with 10 in 1874, and 12 in 1873, so that the great and steady increase in the general health of the troops must be considered very satisfactory indeed.
1841-1886
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
103
I have to thank the officers of the different departments for the information requisite for making up the enclosed returns,
Police.
439
The health of the force has not been so good as last year, there having been nearly a hundred more admissions to hospital than in 1874. The principal causes of sickness were intermittent fever and diarrhoea, and most of the cases came from the out-stations, principally Aberdeen. Reports have been made concerning the sanitary condition of this station by Dr. Wharry and the Regis- trar-General. The mortality also has been greater, but this admits of some explanation; there were nine deaths in hospital, of these, two occurred on the 1st and 2nd of January, and had been some time in hospital in 1874. Of the other five deaths, four took place during absence on leave, and one was a case of sudden death on parade from disease of the heart; so that the increase of deaths cannot be attributed to the unhealthiness of the Colony.
The amount of sickness entails loss of service and extra expense to Government, and might be reduced by better sanitary arrange- ments in some of the out-stations, especially Aberdeen. In some of the cases admitted last year, there is no doubt the men have become more or less permanently debilitated, and the mortality of one year must be reckoned as partly owing to disease contracted in previous years. The Indians, as usual, suffer most, and next to them the Europeans in proportion to their numbers, the mortality being greatest among the Indians.
A reference to Tables I. and II. will show the rate of mortality and sickness among the Europeans, Indians, and Chinese com- posing the force in each month of the year.
Table E. shows the number of the police admitted into hospital for venereal disease, which is 18, as compared with 21 in 1874, and 59 in 1873. Of these 18, eight were cases of syphilis, chiefly of a mild type.
Troops.
Table III. gives the strength, sickness, and mortality of the troops stationed in Hong Kong in 1875. The admissions to hospital in 1875 was 716, as compared with 1,067 in 1874, and 1,446 in 1873. That is to say, that the number admitted to hospital was less in 1875 by 351 than in 1874, and less 730 than in 1873, which year was a considerable improvement on former years. Probably this great decrease in sickness is due to the great improvements in the drainage of the barracks that have been made in the last year or so, and to better sanitary arrange-
ments.
The mortality is 9, as compared with 10 in 1874, and 12 in 1873, so that the great and steady increase in the general health of the troops must be considered very satisfactory indeed.
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