1871 — Page 191

No. GO.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report of the Acting Colonial Surgeon, with Returns annexed, for the Year 1871. is published for general information.

By Command,

CECIL C. SMITII, Acting Colonial Secretary,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 23rd March, 1872.

VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 26th February, 1872.

Having performed the duties of Colonial Surgeon during the absence of Dr. MURRAY from Hongkong, since 19th January, 1871, I shall endeavour to give a short Report on the Sanitary condition of the Colony for the your 1871.

I. THE POLICE.

The health of this Force during the past year has been very good. The rate of sickness is much below the average and the rate of mortality lower than it has ever been. The mumber of Chinese in the Force has been incrensed from an average of 204 to 296,

IL

Table I. shows the admissions into Hospital and the deaths for the twelve months of 1871. The greatest number of admissions was during the summer months. Ten cases of Small Pox occurred in the Force and two of these were fatal. There was one death from Hydrophobia, after a bite from a dog. The increase in the number of Chinese admitted to Hospital, is compared with the previous year, is owing partly to a umber of admissions under the Contagious Discuses Act. The Chinese Constables do not undergo a monthly examination as is the case with Europeans and Colored men in the Forer, hit when examined for re-enlistment a number of Lokongs were found to be suffering from disease and were detained in Hospital. Another reason for the increase is the fact of the Chinese resorting to the Hospital for treatment, more than to their native doctors, us they used to do formerly. The number of European and Colored men adnitted to Hospital is comparatively small, and the rate of sickness for the whole Force is more than 16 per cent less than in 1870.

Table 11. shows the rate of sickness and mortality for 1871. The sune evidence of improved health in the Public Services is shown in the Military returns.

Table 1. gives the rate of sickness and mortality in the Troops serving in Hongkong in 1871. Their health has evidently been excellent, and the rate of mortality is lower than it has ever been on this station. The superior barrack accommodation and the exemption of Europeans from night duty las, no doubt, contributed to this gratifying result. In 1870, the sickness was at the rate of 157 per cent and the mortality 2 per cent. In 1850 out of an average strength of 1,155 Europeans and Colored Troops, the rate of sickness was 515 per cent and the mortality nearly 16

per cent.

IL-GÓVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

Table IV. shows the number of admissions and mortality in this institution. The number of There were 6 deaths admissions is less than in the previous year and the mortality is slightly in excess. from Small Pox and 21 from Diarrhea, the latter, in most instances, being cases of "destitutes" brought to Hospital by the Police. The 2 cases of death from Leprosy were likewise cases of des- titute Chinese.It will also be observed in Table 1V., that 16 cases were brought to Hospital in a moribund condition and help to swell the death rate of the institution, although they were really too far gone for treatment of any kind. Now that the new Chinese Hospital is opened, it is to he hoped that the Government Hospital will be relieved of a number of Chinese cases, for which there is really no accommodation, and which are, in many instances, dangerous to the health of the other patients in Hospital, besides materially interfering with their confort. A detached building, formerly the Fever Hospital, was at one time used for the reception of destitute males. This has been absorbed in the new Lock Hospital, and the upper story of a Chinese house is hired for

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