The disease afterwards visited the East Coast, reached Shanghae, and, it is also reported, raged with great virulence over a gre of the Japanese Empire.
What percentage of the Chinese population of Hongkong was attacked by the disease, and what proportion of those attacked d. has been impossible to ascertain. It is well known, however, that a very considerable number were carried off by it. For instance, i: reported that as many as Fourteen flundred were destroyed by the disease at Aberdeen.
The late Colonial Surgeon attempted to procure information about the disease from the Chinese Medical Practitioners of the and many reports were sent in to him; but these, except that they prove that the disease was wide spread, are comparatively val Some boast of having saved two-thirds and others three-fourths of their patients; but in these numbers most probably many cases simple Diarrhea which accompanies Cholera, and is supposed to be its first stage, was doubtless included.
The Remedies they advise for it are numerous, but they are all derived from the vegetable kingdom, and not likely to prove bene Their disquisitions as to the nature and cause of the disease are as vague and unsatisfactory as those of their European brethren. The following is an approximate estimate of the number of cases of Cholera which occurred among the White population afluat ashore :---
CASES OF CHOLERA ASIATICA, OCCURRING IN VICTORIA, IN 1858.
Military Hospital,
Naval Hospital,
Civil Hospital,...
Gao).
LOCALITIES.
Seamen's Hospital, St Francis Hospital, and Private Patients,
Total,
***
***
Mortality, 43.33.
CASES. DEATUS
29
25
14
7-
3
13
3
23
10
75
3.1
With regard to the beneficial effects of treatmert in these cases much cannot be said. One practice which was adopted by the i Colonial Surgeon, and which in several cases appeared to have a most marked and decided beneficial effect, was the early application of solid Nitrate of Silver, so as to make a circular blister about four inches in diameter over the pit of the stomach.
In the cases which came under my observation, this plan, even when adopted at a 100 rdvanced period of the disease, never fail check the vomiting and to prolong life, though it did not always succeed in saving it. I consider the treatment well worthy of a more exte trial.
Hydrophobia, another disease heretofore unknown in the Colony, also made its appearance during the past year. In one case the att came on six weeks to a day, after the infliction of the bite, and proved fatal in a few hours. Another man, who was bitten by the sa dog, fell a victim to the disease in the commencement of the present year, the first sympton showing itself ten months after the bite, this instance an attempt at suicide was made, which shortened the patient's sufferings by a few hours.
The Climatic diseases usually prevalent in the Colony were of their ordinary character, with the exception of Fever, which was somen!.. more prevalent than usual, and manifested a tendency in many cases to put on a typhoid form, with imperfect intermissions.
In the Autumn of the year a number of cases of Phagedenic ulcers of the leg and foot, of a most obstinate and formidable charac occured amongst the Chinese prisoners in the Goal, and in two or three instances also attacked the Europeans.
An extensive trial of the prophylactic virtue of quinine wine (a dose being given the first thing every morning) was made in Garrison at Canton, and the Reports of the different Medical Officers bore evidence to its very great utility and benefit.
I would strongly recommend that a similar plan be adopted with those Constables who are sent to the out-lying Stations on! Island, such as Aberdeen, Stanley, Sow-ke-wan, and Siwan, for I have noted, not only since I have been Acting Colonial Surgeon, but informer years, that the worst and most obstinate cases of Fever and Dysentery arise among the men placed at these Out-stations; a believe it to be a fact that, if their stay be at all prolonged at either of these Stations, scarcely one escapes altogether the ill-effects of
Malaria.
These cases of disease might I believe he almost entirely avoided, if the Superintendent of Police were to insist that the Consta!" stationed at these places should take every morning a dose, either of quinine mixture, or of quinine wine.
The experiment of establishing a Sanatariuin on Victoria Peak, recommended some years ago by the late Dr Morrison, then Colon Surgeon, has again been agitated during the past year, and I believe stands a fair chance of being put to the proof, both by the milit authorities and by private enterprise. I believe that the difference of temperature would tell very favourably in many of the diseases w occur here.
I shall conclude this Report with the following Statistical Tables having reference to the Gaol, the Civil Hospital, the Seameal Hospital, the Police Force, and the state of the Weather during the year:—
VICTORIA GAOL.
The following Table shews the Number of Cases and Mortality under each Disease, during the Year, 1858.
1
mitt who
Abess,
Amentia,
Berri Berri, Bronchitis,
Cholera, •
Colica, Constipatio, Contusio, Diarrhoea, Lysentery,
DISEASE.
Epilepsy,
Febris Intermittens,
Febris Remittens,,
Hematemesis,
Hemorrhoids,
Hemoptysis,.
CASES. DEATHS.
2
16
Icterus, Hernia,
Opthalmia,
DISEASE,
CASES. DEAT
Brought over,
91
13
Orchitis,
Phagedenic Ulcers,
Phthisis,
Pneumonia,
Rheumatism,
Syphilis, Primary,
Syphilis, Secondary, Scabies,
Wounds, Gunshot,
Wounds, Incised, Dyspepsia,
2297-20---
16
6
1
4
Carried
over,
91
18
Mortality 13.69.
22
ཡ ཡ ཿ བ མ | སྶ ཨ ཨི ཨ ཡ
2.
2.
27.
3.
Jan'
Feb
MAI
4-
Apr
May
Jun
Juli
Total,
163
la
Aug
23
Sep
Oct
Nov
Table showing Rate of Sickness and Mortality in the VICTORIA
GAOL, during the Year 1858.
AVERAGE STRENGTH.
TOTAL SICK. TOTAL DEATHS.
RATE OF SICKNESS.
KATE OF MORTALITY.
266
163
23
61.27
8.64
per cent.
Dec
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