Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 168

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8. It is rather a curious circumstance that with the exception of the cases quoted not a single case of disease among the 786 head of cattle for which licences to house have been issued, has been reported. It may be that there has been none but, if so, it is rather remarkable. The attention of the licensees has been directed to the bye-law providing for the reporting of any and every case of disease which may occur among their stock.

MORTALITY STATISTICS.

9. The attached tabular statements (B) show,

a. The death rate for 1890 for;

1. The British and Foreign community.

2. The Chinese community on land in each Registration District.

3. The Chinese community afloat in each Registration District.

4. The Chinese community on land in the Colony.

5. The Chinese community afloat in the Colony.

6. The total Chinese community in the Colony.

7. The British, Foreign, and Chinese communities combined-army and navy included.

b. The number of deaths occurring under each of the seven groups into which it has been deemed expedient— in view of the system of death registration in vogue-to temporarily classify in the summary the causes of death.

c. The total number of deaths occurring among the British and Foreign community in each month of each year-1886 to 1890 both inclusive--under six disease groups. These groups are the same as in B only 6 and 7 groups are amalgamated.

d. The same as C but for the Chinese Community.

e. The total number of deaths occurring in the Colony-those in the Army and Navy excluded-in each month

for the past five years together with the death rate for the estimated population.

10. The attached diagrams show,—

a. The number of deaths occurring under each of the groups referred to above.

b. The mean temperature for each month.

c. The rain-fall for each month.

11. It will be observed that the number of deaths registered during 1890 is somewhat less than in 1889.

12. As pointed out in last year's report the only really reliable figure in these statistics is the total number of deaths. The death-rate is worked out on an estimated population; such estimate being based on the increases found to have taken place between the censuses of 1872-1876 and 1881, and not in the usual manner, because of the abnormal nature of the population. This estimate will soon be checked by the figures obtained when the census of the present year has been taken.

13. With regard to the registration of the actual causes of death, it seems desirable to repeat here the remarks bearing on this subject which I made in 1886.

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"Medical Aid.—The entire want of medical aid is a great sanitary defect in public as well as in private sanitation. "As regards public sanitation, without medical assistance there is no reliable means of ascertaining the amount of disease For nature of the sickness prevailing among the people and the real causes of death are practically unknown. In ordinary "times the want of this knowledge is scarcely observed but in times of much sickness it is keenly felt and should an "extensive epidemic of cholera or other disease occur it will be our greatest want. This was clearly demonstrated last 'summer during the prevalence of choleraic complaints. The urgent necessity of the Government providing a medical "service for the native community not only for the Kaulung Peninsula but for the whole Colony is quite clear but it is

very difficult to see how this is to be doue. The only possible ways would appear to be;—

C

“j. A staff of fully qualified English Medical Officers.

"2. A staff of qualified Indian Medical Officers.

I do not suppose that

"3. A staff of Chinese Medical Practitioners more or less trained in European medicine.

"The expense alone is prohibitive to the employment of a staff of European Medical men. "the expense of a staff of qualified Indian Medical men would be prohibitive to their employment and it is just possible "that such a staff would fully meet our requirements. There is however one grave objection to the employment of