1870 — Page 150

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TIT

276.

Appendix G.

Sin, --In accordance with your request, conveyed to me in your communication intel January 11th, 1870, desiring specific

The Curis, Hoxʊkoxa, January 9th, 1871. information regarding the sanitary condition of vessels calling at this place, ballasted with mud, during the year endisg December 1st, 1870, I have the honor to submit to you, for transmission to His Excellency The Governor, the following

as the result of my observations,

In the period under review, I have visited 235 vessels in ballast; of the above autober, 29 only were ballasted with med proper; in none of these did disease of any kind occur, or more correctly, the crews were healthy on their arrival in this Po as in each case they were mustered for inspection. In all, the mud was taken from the river near Shanghai.

124 of the total number came from Yokohama, Japan, hullasted either with ordinary soil, obtained from a hill side, or with muddy shingle, taken from the bench. Although sach ballast is not (strictly speaking) mud, I mention it here, seeing that, of the ships so ballasted, eight had Typhus Fever on board. The first infected vessel arrived on the 10th February, the Just on the 11th May, being confined to the season of the year when Epidemic Contagious Diseases generally occur. All the euses, as soon as discovervil, were removed to Stone Cutiers' Island, and the ships placed in quarantine till thoroughly disia- fected; no fresh cases presented themselves ninong the reminder of the crews, after the removal of the Fever-stricken patients. Regarding the Fever, I may state that it was unmistakeable Typhus, running the recognized course, only endine fatally in one of the 13 cases treated.

It is difficult from such data, to conclude positively that the Ballast used, was the primary, or even the exciting cause, of the Fever, as Typhus was prevalent at the same season in 1869; in both years, cases occured in the foreign settlement at Yokohamos, where other influences must have been at work.

It is, however, significant that no Typhins Fever was reported while the vessels had cargo on board, general or otherwise. The subject is deserving of further investigation.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Signed)

W. S. ADAMS, M. D., G. M,

J. 1. MURRAY Esq., M. D., F. R. 8. Eu,

Colonini Surgeon, Hongkong.

Health Officer of the Purt,

I

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