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224.

No. 63.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The Colonial Surgeon's Report, with Returns on the Sanitary Condition of the Colony for the past Year, is published for general information.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th April, 1864.

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary,

VICTORIA, HONGxoxo, March, 1864.

In drawing up this my Fifth Annual Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Colony, I regret that it must exhibit in several important respects an increased rate of mortality and an apparently less healthy condition of the population. On looking more carefully however, at details it will be seen that there are explanations sufficiently well founded to remove to some extent this first impression. But even if this modified position were untenable it must not be forgotten that the year 1803 was one of exceptional severity, and I believe that the majority of old residents in China felt, in common with myself,

■ degree of oppressiveness in the summer atmosphere quite unusual and altogether disproportionate to the admittedly high range of the thermometer. In spite of this it will be seen that the ratio of mortality among Foreign Residents was not quite so high as in 1801-nor as in 1859-the Table (No. IX.) shewing the manner in which an unhealthy year is generally fil- lowed by one remarkable for its salubrity.

Hongkong from its peculiar position in relation to the mainland of China and the other ports of the East must at all times be liable to epidemic diseases, and notwithstanding the energetic efforts of the health officer cases of infectious disease are undoubtedly imported. The past year has nevertheless exhibited a remarkable exemption from that fearful scourge: Small-por; only three cases having been admitted into the Civil Hospital against 29 cases in 1862.

Cholera proved a much more fatal malady and to its invasion must be traced, to a great extent, the unsatisfactory statis- tical returns hereto appended. From July to October cases continued to occur, but the greatest number of persons were attacked during the heat of August, when the atmosphere conveyed the sensation of being saturated with miasm. 14 cases were admitted into the Civil Hospital, of which 10 died; 8 into the Seaman's Hospital, of which 6 died; and 1 into the Gaol Hospital, which proved fatal; besides a few in the Town, which were not admitted into any Hospital, and of which I possess no official record. It was however at Stone Cutters' Island, where the men being in an unusual condition, and more prone to

be attacked by epidemics, that it shewed its greatest virulence; for there out of 27 seizures there were 20 deaths. Thus out of 50 recorded cases there occurred 37 deaths or 73 per cent-a very high rate, shewing the severe character of the epidermio z for in this disease it is customary to consider 50 per cent a fair average mortality; nine-tenths of all attacked dying at the commencement of an epidemic and very few towards its termination.

Dysentery and Diarrhea have been, as might well have been expected, considering the cholerais infection, much more prevalent as well as more intractable and fatal than in former years; în both Hospitals the number of admissions has been doubled, and the rate of mortality much increased beyond the average.

Some few cases of fever shewed themselves of a more dangerous type than has been met with for some years past. One in particular approached very closely in several important symptoms to yellow fever.

Altogether the past year has been remarkable for its depressing effect on the European constitution. It has not been rare that patients recovering from one disease have been attacked by another which proved fatal. And where no such second infection has followed the convalescence from the first disease, relapses have been frequent and ultimate recovery and restoration

to perfect health the exception.

Leprosy comparatively unseen in the Colony hitherto has become common during the past year. The subjects of this loathsome and contagious disease have all come here in their infected condition, and the Police have most properly transported them several times even as far as Canton, but the same individuals return again and again. Having in view the health of the Town it will be necessary to devise some means of putting a stop to their visits, which at present are encouraged by the liberality of several charitable people.

It only remains for me, prior to recording the statistics of the various institutions which come Officially under my oog- nizance, to refer to the Committee for Sanitary purposes, the appointment of which was mentioned in my last report." This Committee has terminated its labore, and already one of the good results emanating from its appointment by the Government, may be seen in the trapping of the openings of several of the drains throughout the Town.

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