744
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 11, 1906.
Appendix.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE
PUBLIC MORTUARY, KOWLOON,
During the year 802 post-mortems were made.
These were divided as follows:-
January,
50
May,
106
September,
47
February,
30
June,
106
October,
62
March,
56
July,
119
November, 46
April,
57
August,
46
December,
47
It will be noticed that the totals are almost doubled during May, June and July, and as 78-17% of the total plague cases diagnosed in the mortuary, occurred, evenly distributed through these months, it seems probable that this disease is mainly responsible for the increase, and that many of the cases escape recognition owing to decomposition being advanced. During these months 80 cases were returned as too decomposed for diagnosis It is, of course, practically impossible to find the Bacillus Pestis, once deco:nposition sets in.
A similar increase took place in May, 1904.
The following figures may be of interest :---
Autopsies on Males, Autopsies on Females,
Sex unknown,
-489- -61%. 288=36%. 25- 3%.
It has been stated that female children are more frequently found "dumped" than males. The figures obtained during the past year do not show any marked preponderance of females, the difference being probably due to natural causes only.
Males under 1 year, 85-43.36%.
Females under 1 year; 111 =56·64%.
The following Table shows the number and percentage of bodies found "dumped' during the past two years :—
Year.
Number of Bodies Examined.
Found on Street, Hill Side or Vacant Ground.
In Harbour or on the Foreshore.
Total per cent. Dumped.
1904,
675
1905,
802
252
267
155
60.29
182
55.71
Of the 82 cases of Plague returned, 27 or 33-75 per cent. were found dumped.
The following is the return of the causes of death :-
1. Total General Diseases,
2. Total Local Diseases,
(a.) of the Nervous
.304
.281
System,
1
(b)
Circulatory
39
(e.)
7:
Respiratory
205
11
(d.)
Digestive
11
(e.)
,
Urinary
16
(f)
Generative
8
(9.)
3. Total Injuries,
Ductless Glands,
1
30
4. Decomposed bodies,
.187
Total,.......
802
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