539751-1905-Report-of-the-Principal-Civil-Medical-Officer-for-1904 — Page 3

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 28TH APRIL, 1905.

From the Superintendent's report, which contains much of interest, it will be seen that the admissions were 209 less than in 1903.

The mortality rate was slightly lower, viz., 4.99 per cent. as against 50.8 per cent. in 1903.

The following table gives the mortality rate for the past ten years:

Year. 1895..... 1896..

1897

1898,

1899,

1900,

1901,

1902,

1903, 1904,

Rate of Mortality per cent.

4.99

..5.50

.4.86

.5.36

.4.16

..5.16

5.18

.4.50

.5.08

..4.99

Malarial Ferers.-The diminution in the number of admissions from this class of diseases still continues, the number admitted being 221 as compared with 346 in 1903, a result undoubtedly due to the active anti-malarial measures which have been carried out in recent years in the Colony, and to the more general prophylactic use of quinine, at any rate, amongst the Police Force. As usual the ionthis from July to November are those in which malarial fever is most prevalent.

Influenza.-There were no admissions during the year as compared with 53

in 1903.

Dengue. There were only 43 admissions as against 123 in 1903.

Typhoid Fever-There were 42 admissions as compared with 28 in the previous year, 21 of these were imported cases.

Dysentery. -There was a decided increase in the number of admissions, the figures being 106 as against 50 in 1903, the disense, however, appears to have been of a milder type, as there were only 6 deaths as compared with 11 in the previous

year.

The number admitted to Hospital from this disease appears to fluctuate considerably, as the following figures show :-

Fear.

Admissions to Hospital from Dysentery.

1901,.

1902.

1903, 1904..

93

74

50

106

Plaque. Only five cases were admitted as against 53 in the previous year, this diminution was due to the mildness of the epidemic, there being fewer cases than in any year since 1897.

With regard to the treatment of this disease by large doses of carbolic acid given internally, I include in an Appendix a report from Mr. Ho Kam Tong concerning the use of this remedy amongst the Chinese living in Canton and the surrounding districts. Having heard how successful the medicine was at Kennedy Town Hospital in 1903 he generously had a quantity of it made up and distri- buted free of cost with full directions as to how it should be taken. From the report it appears to have been very successful, the percentages of recovery being given as 70, 60 and 33.3 in different series of cases.

Beri-beri.--There were 70 admissions as compared with 36 in 1903, un- doubtedly this disease has been much more prevalent during the last year. It is unfortunate that notwithstanding the number of investigations which have been made there is nothing definitely known as to its etiology.

Injuries-Amongst these there were admitted in February and March one Russian Officer, two Petty Officers and four sailors who were wounded on board H.I.M.S.Varyag" off Chemulpo. They were suffering from shell wounds and all ultimately recovered, although one of the Sailors caused us considerable