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Appendix No. XVII.

Report by Dr. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer.

From the enclosed returns it will be seen that malarial fever has been preva- lent in the New Territory since it was taken over in April last.

I attach the following tables :-

1. A return showing the admission to hospital of cases of malarial fever from the New Territory occurring amongst the Police during 1899.

2. A return showing admissions of Police to hospital from the several

stations in the New Territory during 1899.

It will be seen that Un Long contributed the largest number of fever cases, viz., 19 out of 65, Táipó coming next with 14 cases. The disease was not of a particularly severe type, the only fatal case being that of the Inspector at Ch'eung

Chau.

He was admitted to hospital with symptoms of remittent fever and rapidly developed hyperpyrexia.

A careful post-mortem examination was made and as this was a most excep- tional case portions of the various organs were preserved and sent to Dr. MANSON for examination. From a report which I have recently received from the Tropical School of Medicine, it is doubtful whether this was a true case of malaria and it would be more correct to consider it a case of Siriasis or Thermic fever.

In addition to the cases from the Police, three of the Cadets were admitted from Táipó suffering from attacks of remittent fever; they recovered.

Three cases of dysentery were admitted to hospital; one patient was a European and two Indians. Knowing how malarious many of the districts were, instructions were drawn up by myself for the guidance of Police and others, a copy of which I enclose, the object being to protect them as far as possible from anything that would tend to induce attacks of fever, special prominence being given to the prophylactic use of quinine in small daily doses.

Accompanied by the Director of Public Works and the Captain Superintendent of Police, I spent three days in visiting the territory and selecting the most suitable sites for the Police Stations. This was prior to the occupation of the Territory in April. Undoubtedly much of the fever has been occasioned by the temporary nature of the buildings in which the Government servants of necessity have been housed. When permanent brick buildings have taken the place of the temporary buildings, mostly matsheds, I anticipate a considerable diminution in the number of cases of malarial fever.

Dr. Ho NAI-HOP, a licentiate of the College of Medicine for Chinese in Hong- kong, was appointed Resident Medical Officer and was stationed at Táipó, his duties being to attend to the minor ailments, mild attacks of fever, &c. occurring amongst the Civil Staff and the Police. Arrangements have been made whereby he regularly visits the several Police Stations and treats free any villagers who may apply for advice and medicine. Free vaccination is also performed by him during the winter months on his periodical visits. I attach a time table showing the days and hours at which he visits the several stations.

Knowledge of the prevalence of plague at Ch'eung Chau was obtained in April last and Drs. THOMSON and CLARK were deputed to visit and take the necessary steps to eradicate the disease.

House to house visitation was instituted, a matshed hospital erected and free medicine distributed, so that by the middle of June the disease was practically stamped out. The Police carried out the house to house visitation, Inspector GILLIES particularly distinguishing himself. Indeed, I have very little doubt the the assiduous way in which he performed these duties undermined his health predisposed him to the attack of fever which unfortunately proved fatal.

A few cases of plague occurred at Chinese Kowloon. No other case reported from any other portion of the New Territory although the di epidemic in Hongkong.

12th January, 1900.

J. M. ATKI