1853 — Page 76

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O./ 133

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

10 ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

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THE OFFICERS OF GOVERNMENT GENERALLY.

Table No. 6.

The extent and proportion of Sickness and Death, amongst all persons employed by Government in 1833.

DEATHS.

Designation.

STRENGTH.

TOTAL OF S:CK.

TOTAL

OF DEATHS.

TO STRENGTH.

Civil Officers. Police.

38

149

182

8

Total.

187

10

THE SEAMENS, HOSPITAL. ·

The following table shows the number of cases and mortality under each disease, during the year 1859.

Abscess,

Arthritis, Ascites,

DISEASES.

I have no record of the number of cases of Sickness occurring amongst the Civil Officers of Government during the past year, but have reason to believe that it was not greater than usual, The 2 deaths were, Mr. Morgan, late of the Auditor General's Department, and William Mor-

5.34 per cent.

rison;, Esq. late Colonial Surgeon the former died at Point de Galle from Chronic Dysentery on his way home on sick leave;-the latter at his honse in Victoria, from Abscess of the Liver, apparently originating in excessive Congestion of that organ during the cold stage of Fever.

THE GENERAL POPULATION.

Table No. 7.

The Strength and Proportion of Deaths amongst the various sections of the entire Population, in 1853. (exclusive of Military.)

Bronchitis,

Caries of Ulna, Colica Pictonum, Contusions Coup de Soleil, Delirium tremens, Diarrhoea,. Dislocations, Dysentery, Eczema Epilepes.

•

Fever Intermittent,

Remittent, Continued, Fistula in Perineo, Fractures, Frostbite, Furunculus, Gastritis,. Gastro-enteritis,

CASES. DEATHS.

22

2

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20

DISEASES.

Brought forward . Gonorrbas,. Hepatitis, Haemoptysis, Hernis, Inguinal Hydrocele, Heart disease,. Laryngitis, Mesenteric disease, Morbus Cozarius, . Neuralgia of Face, Ophthalmia,. Orchitis, . Phthisis, Pneumonia, Rheumatism,

CASES. DXATER

118

7

21

10

1

Rupture of Urethra,.

Scabies,

**

J

Spinal disease,.

Stricture of Urethra,

Syphilis Primary,

P

Secondary

DESIGNATION.

STRINGTH.

DRATHI.

RATE OF MORTALITY.

Europeans and Americans, in-

cluding Temporary Resi- dents,

573

54

9.42

Christians of mixed blood, and

Indians, including Tempo-

908

32

3.52

rary Residents,

Chincee,

Total,

37,536

39,017

1,049*

1,135

1.79

2.09

per cent.

ï Ulcers,

Carried forward.

118 21

Total

201

28

Mortality 13.93 per cent.

THE MILITARY. Table No. 8.

number of Deaths.

DESIGNATION,

STRENGTH.

Showing the average strength of the Military force in the Hongkong Garrison in 1853 and the

PROPORTION OF DEATHS TO

DEATES.

STRENGTH.

Europeans.

6:29

36

5.7 per cent.

Indians.

326

18

3.3 per cent.

Total.

955

54

5.6 per cent.

• Of this number, 229 died within the Colony, and the remaining 820 are estimated to have died out of it.

tion with the difference of season.

Of the 54 deaths given in the above table as occuring amongst the European and American inhabitants, 46 were strangers only temporarily residing bert, thus leaving only 8 as the mortali ty amongst the permanent residents.

Of the diseases occuring during the past year none appeared in any unusual excess either as re- garde frequency or severity, nor did any assume in Epidemic character beyond the ordinary varia-

Fevers and Dysentery were less severe in char- acter and much more amenable to treatment than has generally been the case here. One exception however of importance must be noticed, viz; the unusual occurrence of several fatal cases of abscess of the Liver, a form of disease comparatively rare for some years previously.

This statement exhibits a considerable increase mortality amongst the natives, so that the propor- over the previous year in the deaths amongst the tion of Deaths to the total strength remains exact- Europeans, but a corresponding decrease in the ly the same as in 1852.

CLIMATE.-METEOROLOGY. &c.

had the means of registering night observations, without which the description of the Climate in incomplete.

The annexed Abstract of the Results of Obser- as also the degree of Humidity,—1000, indicating vations made at the Seamen's Hospital during the complete saturation. I much regret not having past year gives all the most desirable information regarding the Pressure, Temperature, and Moisture of the atmosphere during each month. The ob- servations were made five times daily, at the hours named in the table, and the number here given are the average throughout the month at each of those periods. The Dew-point is calculated by Dr. Apjohn's formula, and from it is deduced the weight of aqueous vapour per cubic foot of air;

It will be seen from the table that February and March were the two driest months of the year, especially March, though the air during January and December actually contained a less quantity of aqueous vapour :-the lower temperature in these months not allowing it to dissolve more.

W. A. HARLAND. M. D,

Acting Colonial Surgeon,

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