1870 — Page 145

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either with ordinary soil, obtained from the hill side, or with muddy shingle, taken from the beach :" "eight of the ships so ballasted had typhus fever on board." "It is significant that (although cases of typhus had occurred on shore at Yokohama where the crews might have been infected) no typhus fever was reported while the vessels had cargo on board, general, or otherwise.” mud is unquestionably "tidal” and the ballast obtained at Yokohama was not strictly of this character, Now as Shanghai there does not appear to be any strong evidence afforded in the cases recorded, in favor of the theory that it is a frequent source of typhus.

In the winter of 1869-70 there were very few cases of Small Pox reported, but in December last, they commenced to appear, and by the end of the year there had been 14 cases admitted into the Government Civil Hospital, and 46 into the Seamen's Hospital, besides 7 in the Gaol. Since the beginning of the year the disease has been rapidly approaching an epidemic form, in spite of every precaution taken by the Police to prevent its spreading.

No other epidemic visited the Colony during the past year.

I. THE POLICE.

Although both the rate of sickness and the rate of mortality of this Force have been higher than in the previous year, it is not much above what it was in 1868, nor greatly in excess of the average

rate.

Table L shows the number of adınissions into, and ‹leaths in, the Hospital, of members of the Police Force, during every month of 1870. The greatest number of admissions took place in August, but the greatest number of Europeans were admitted in June.

Table II. shows the rate per cent of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year. Table III. shows the state of the health of the Troops serving in Hongkong during the year 1870 not to have been so good as in 1869, nor to compare as favorably with that of the Police, as it did in the previous year.

II. THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

There is no Institution in this Colony with which I am connected, that I have less satisfaction in referring to. I do not complain of the management, or the staff of the Hospital, for under Dr. Young's vigilant superintendence, the results are most satisfactory, but the building is quite unfit for the pur- pose to which it is applied, both in regard to size and construction. During the past year no less than 1,296 cases have been treated in the present structure, which is neither large enough for, nor adapted to, the treatment of one third of that number. There is, therefore, great reason for thankful- ness that the rate of mortality has been less than in the previous year, although it exceeded that of 1868.

Table V., which gives the rate of mortality during the last twelve years, distinguishing that of Europeans from colored persons and Chinese, shows at a glance that the general mortality has not reached the average, except in the case of colored persons; that the rate of mortality is still much higher than it was in 1868 among Europeans, somewhat lower among colored persons, and about the saine as it was that year among Chinese.

By examining Table IV., which gives the number of admissions into, and the mortality in this Hospital during the year 1870, it will be seen that the admissions have increased under the heading of Sinall Pox, Diurrhen and Dysentery, Fevers, Gonorrhea, Vertigo, Paeumonia, Pleuro Pneumonia and Pleuritis, Hepatitis and Splinitis, Drunkenness, and lastly Impostors. The increased mortality resulted from Small Pox, Remittent and Typhoid Fever, Dropsy, Pneumonia, Hepatitis and Abscess of the Liver, Anœmia, Frictures and Gun-shɔt Wounds. There have been fewer admissions from Phthisis, Paralysis and Delirium Tremens, Bronchitis, Colic, and notably both fewer admissions and deaths from Jaundice and from all forins of Wounds, except Gun-shot Wounds. There have also been fewer moribund persons sent to Hospital, many, doubtless, having been taken to the "I-tze.”

Table IX. shows the number of admissions into, and deaths in, the Government Civil Hospital during every month of 1870.

During the year, fi invalids were sent home by the Harbor Master and the United States' Consul, and I understand they all arrived in safety at their destination.

Table VI., A, B and C, kindly sent to me by the Resident Surgeon, Dr. ADAMS, gives similar information in reference to the Seamen's Hospital, as the preceding tables give for the Civil Hospital. The result of treatment has been eminently successful during the year, and the tables are exceedingly -ntiafactory is consequence.

111. THE GAOL.

Table VII. shows the number of admissions iuto the Gaol Hospital, and the deaths there, during the year 1870.

Table VIII, shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the Gaol Hospital, as compared with the total number of prisoners, and with the number treated during the year 1870. By this table it will be seen that the total number of prisoners is greater than in 1869, that the rate of sickness was also greater, but the rate of mortality 25 per cant less than in the previous year--less in absolute number Than I have recorded since 1839, when there was a total of 3,484. Prisonera, a daily average of 239, and 4 deaths

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The numbers imprisoned in Victoria Gaol, during the past year, were :→→→

Europeans,

Chinese,

Total,

134

1,009 155 3,052

4,305

The daily average was 482, of which number only 4 died. In 1869 the daily average was 465, the total number during the year 4,122, and the deaths 5.

It will be seen that the increase in the number of Prisoners is entirely among Europeans, for refusal of duty and similar cases, and that the number of Chinese and colored Prisoners is even less than in 1869.

In 1869 the greatest number any one day in Gaol, was on the 10th February, when there were :-

Europeans,

Indians, Chinese,

Total.

85 18

.. 481

564

The smallest number in prison was on the 3rd December, when there were:-

European,

Indians, Chinese,

Total,.

70

18

... 304

392

During the past year, both the maximum and minimum number of Prisoners have been in excess of the previous year. Thus the greatest number confined on any one day in 1870 was on the. 31st August, when there were:-

Europeans, Indians, Chinese,

Toul,...

113 13

409

675

The smallest number in Gaol during the same year was on the 17th March, when there were:-

· Europeant, Incliane, Chinese,

Total,.

78 14 338

40

The greatest amount of sickness occurred on the 31st August, when there were:-

Hospital cases,

Trifling cases,

Total,..

8 20

The smallest arnount of sickness was recorded on the 11th November, when there were :—

Hospital enses,

Trifling cases, ..

Total,..

0 8

There is very little to record in reference to the sickness of the past year in this Institution. Three of the four deaths which occurred arose from fever, the fourth being a case of sun-stroke in an European. The building is neatness itself, and as long as its management continues in the able hands of Mr. DocGLAs it must remain a model of good order, and perfect discipline, combined with as much kindness and consideration, as the control of such a number of criminals will admit of

IV. THE LOCK HOSPITAL

In my last Annual Report, I entered so fully into the question of the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance, and this establishment, that I need do little more, on the present occasion, than refer to the statistics contained in Tables A, B, C and D of the Appendix. It will be seen that a great improvement has taken place during the past year. contagious diseases contracted in Hongkong to all admissions, was 8.96 against nearly double that Is the two Hospitals, the percentage of amount in 1869. In the Garrison, the percentage of primary disease to the total strength was reduced to 3.51 against 6.83 in 1869, and among the British ships of war which have visited this Port during the past year, only 116 cases of contagious disease were contracted in Hongkong. In the Police, a similar improvement has taken place and the percentage of infection has been reduced from 16.66 in 1869 to 13.75 in 1870. Again, in tuming to Table X, we find that the type of the disease is undergoing a steady improverment, under the strict surveillance to which the women are subjectod; the average number of days of treatinent having further diminished from 14.8 in 1889 to 23.1 k 1870. The whole of these Tables, as well as Table XIV., convey a lege amount of information, and will well repay a careful study.

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