Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 336

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Asiatics (Chinese and Japanese).-1,315 were admitted during the year, as against 1,098 in 1901, an increase of 217. The majority of these must have been Paying Patients as there were fewer Police Cases and Free Patients treated than in the previous year. It is interesting to note that Asiatics are availing themselves more of the benefits offered by this Institution.

DISEASES.

The following diseases caused the greatest number of admissions:-

Fevers:-

Dengue, Malarial Fever,

Simple Continued,

Enteric,

Venereal Diseases,.....

Diseases of the Digestive System,

Respiratory System,.

"}

17

Nervous System,

Dysentery, Beri-beri, Influenza,

·

.422 ......349

85

34

890

...118

.267

.202

.122

74

62

67

The following diseases caused the greatest number of deaths:-

Diseases of the Respiratory System,

Cholera,

Malarial Fever,

Enteric Fever...

22

10

9

8

6

Dysentery,.

Dengue. No less than 422 patients were admitted suffering from this disease.

The first case occurred on the 28th June, 90 cases were admitted in July, 241 in August, 56 in September and 33 in October. The outbreak subsided with the onset of the cold weather, only two cases being admitted in November.

Nearly all the members of the Nursing and Medical Staff contracted the disease which is very infectious. It cannot, however, be said to be contagious, as many of the attendants did not contract it until they had been attending cases for fully two months.

Enteric Fever.-There were 34 cases under treatment with 8 deaths. 15 of them were imported cases and 3 occurred amongst members of the Police Force, viz., Two Europeans and one Indian.

The disease was much more fatal amongst the Chinese, as out of 8 admitted 6 died, whereas with the Europeans out of 21 cases, 2 only proved fatal. The 5 Indians attacked all recovered.

Cholera. There were 14 cases of cholera admitted with 10 deaths, these occurred in connection with the serious outbreak of this disease in the early part of the year.

Dysentery.-There were 74 cases, with 6 deaths, a diminution both in the number of cases and in the number of deaths as compared with the previous year.

Diphtheria.-There were 6 cases under treatment with one death.

Beri-beri.-There was an increase in the number of cases as compared with the previous year, the figures being 62 as against 41. Five of the cases were fatal.

Malarial Fever.-There was a decided decrease in the number of patients admitted from this class of disease, the figures being 349 as compared with 787

in 1901.

This marked diminution is to a great extent accounted for by the active anti- malarial measures which have been carried out during the past few years.