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that the disturbance of this floor was the most probable source of infection in this case. One of the Inspectors of Nuisances contracted the disease during the month of June and died therefrom, while in July the Sister in charge of the Plague Hospital at Kennedy Town also became infected, but happily recovered.

In addition to these 16 European cases, there were 28 cases among Indians and 3 among Eura- sians, making a total of 47 cases among the non-Chinese community; 31 of these cases died, giving a case mortality of 66 per cent. The case mortality among the European cases alone was 50 per cent. Of the cases which occurred among the Chinese community, one was a foreman scavenger who had been employed by the Sanitary Board for a number of years, and who had passed through the epidemic of 1894 unscathed, only to succumb in 1896; another was Interpreter to one of the Inspectors of Nuisances, and he also died, while several of the coolies employed in the cleansing of premises and the removal of the sick and dead were also known to have died of the disease.

In view of the existing prevalence of Bubonic Fever in Bombay and Karachi, it may not be out of place to mention that this disease almost invariably travels overland, and that there is very little risk of its introduction by shipping, provided that the importation of rags, bedding and soiled linen is controlled, and that a striet medical inspection of passengers and crew, before they are permitted to land, is enforced. It has been suggested that the rats which swarm in vessels carrying grain may be responsible for the conveyance of the disease from port to port, both in their own bodies and by contamination of the grain, but I am not inclined to attach very much importance to this theory, and the consensus of opinion among the medical authorities in Bombay appears to be entirely against the theory that the disease was introduced into that port. from Hongkong by shipping.

CHOLERA.

Three cases of Cholera were reported during the third quarter of the year; one of these was an imported case from Singapore, the patient being a Chinaman, while the remaining two were European cases of Sporadie Cholera contracted in the Colony, one of which occurred in the Barracks and the other at the Sailors' Home, this latter being a Norwegian sailor, and mutch addicted to drink.

During the fourth quarter, fifty cases of Cholera were brought into the Colony from Singapore by the S.S. Cheang Hok Kean, the victims being Chinese deck passengers; the cause of the outbreak appears to have been a cask of contaminated water supplied for drinking purposes.

At that time Singapore was suffering from an extensive outbreak of this disease. Thirty-six of these fifty cases died, giving a case mortality of 72 per cent., which is considerably higher than the average mortality, which ranges usually somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50 per cent.

The poor physique however of these deck passengers and the effects of exposure during an exceptionally rough passage are quite sufficient to account for this unusually high mortality.

Cholera is a disease from which the Colony may now reasonably hope to remain exceptionally free, for it is universally recognized at the present day that this disease can, under ordinary circum- stances, be communicated only by the ingestion of contaminated water or food, and provided, therefore, the public avoid all drinking water of doubtful origin and all uncooked vegetables which may have been irrigated or washed with containinated water, there is little chance of the disease becoming endemic in the Colony.

To ensure this immunity however it is essential that there should be an abundant supply of pure drinking water available at all times from the public service, and that all wells which are liable to contamination should be closed. During the past year the Sanitary Board have ordered the closure of 13 wells, the waters of which were proved to be contaminated, while the waters of 21 others were reported upon by the Government Analyst as fit for potable purposes; these latter are periodical- ly examined by the Inspectors of Nuisances and will be again analysed should occasion arise.

SMALL-POX.

During the first quarter of the year three cases of Small-pox occurred in the Colony, one of them being a Chinaman and the remaining two being Japanese. During the second quarter nine cases were reported, 5 of whom were Europeans, but all these latter were imported cases, two from Manila, one from Newchwang and two from the Coast Ports; the three remaining cases were Chinese, and one of them was imported from the Coast Ports the other two having in some way contracted the infection in the Colony. No cases were reported during the third quarter of the year, but early in October some further cases were brought down from the North, which resulted in a small outbreak of the disease at the latter end of the year. Twelve cases occurred amongst Europeans, five of which were imported (4 from Japan and 1-from Bangkok); one imported case occurred in a Japanese and four imported cases among Chinese; while one Indian and seven Chinese together with the seven European oases mentioned above contracted the disease in the Colony, these making a total of 25 cases for the fourth quarter of the year.

ENTERIC FEVER.

During the first quarter of the year eight cases of Enteric Fever occurred among Europeans; three of these were imported from neighbouring ports, and two occurred in the Military Barracks in Vieturia; one case occurred in a Chinaman, employed as a chair coolie by the Board's. Surveyor, and one case occurred in a Japanesc.