267
Plague.-94 cases of plague were admitted, of whom 80 died. As was men- tioned in reference to cholera, many arrived in a state of collapse, 48 of the fatal cases dying within the first 24 hours. The racial mortality was as follows:-
Cases.
Europeans,
3
Deaths.
1
Mortality. 33.33%
Portuguese,
1
1
100
17
Chinese,
80
73
91.25
77
Other races,
10
50
77
94
80
85.11%
The following table shows the distribution of the buboes :-
Cases.
Deaths.
Femoral,
46
40
Inguinal,
10
9
Axillary,
21
19
Cervical,..
3
Multiple,
2
1
No apparent bubo,
11
8
94
80
It
During this epidemic anti-plague serum was for the first time available. was obtained in monthly instalments from the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and was used systematically throughout the epidemic. The method of administration and the quantity used were as recommended by the Pasteur Institute Authorities. Allow- ance was made for sex, age, and other circumstances, but as a rule 40 c. c. of the serum were injected intravenously, and 20 c. c. subcutaneously, on admission, and 20 c. c. subcutaneously on each subsequent day while fever lasted. In spite of this, the mortality from plague was 85.11%. During the past three years the mortality
has been:---
1900, 1901,
1902,
77.5 %
76.5 27
85.1 77
1
This actual increase of mortality I regard as an accidental circumstance in the consideration of a comparatively small number of cases; but the anti-plague serum as supplied to us from Paris is manifestly useless, though this uselessness in Hong- kong may be due to deterioration through lapse of time and through exposure to hot temperatures during transit from Paris.
Towards the end of the Plague epidemic I reported specially on this subject, under the date 7th August, 1902, and showed the main details of every case treated with the serum up to that date in the form of a tabular statement, which, however, I do not think it necessary to reproduce here. I suggested that it would be well to initiate arrangements forthwith for a supply of anti-plague serum being prepared in this Colony in good time for the next probable recrudescence of the disease, as the question of the value of such a serum is one of great practical importance to the Colony, and the curative qualities, if any, are at a maximum immediately after production from an immunized animal. What I suggested was authorized, and I understand that the Government Bacteriologist has this matter in hand.
Observation Cases.-A much larger number of cases than usual were sent to Kennedy Town for observation purposes. The diagnoses are shown in the appended Return of Diseases, and they for the most part suggest the infective conditions under suspicion of which these patients were sent to this Hospital.
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