Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 409

Month.

Cases.

303

1903 EPIDEMIC,-1,415 Cases.

Temperature. Humidity.

Sunshine.

Rain.

November,...1902,

December,

January,......1903,

February,

i

71.5

74

150-8

5.400

4

64.6

75

71.9

2.965

58-3

67

107:3

1:370

29

58.4

73

77-2

0·210

"

Mean or Total, .......

38

63.2

72.2

407-2

9.945

Table Shewing the Number of Cases of Plague known to have occurred. in the Colony for each Month from 1895 to 1903.

YEAR.

MONTH.

1895. 1896 1897 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902.

1903.

January,

49

9

1

7

1

4

February,

March,

April,

125

67

보

8

14

29

...

168

137

5

54

115

316

468

101

94 160

27

272

May,

2

344

534 421

326

701

157

515

June,

13 113

1

92

514

325

551

194

343

July, August,

September,. October, November, December,

243

52

11

7

263

209 109

131

$5

86

80 27

50

32

57

16 24

9

:

4

12

5

5

1

12

N N

2

1

2

4

2

1

11

44 1,204 21

1,320 1,486 1,087 1,651 572

1,415

RAINFALL AND WATER SUPPLY.

The rainfall for the year amounted to 93.659 inches being 3.841 inches less than in 1902 and 7-539 inches more than the average rainfall for the last twenty years.

The annual scarcity of water is a matter of the greatest hygienic importance inasmuch as the people are frequently driven to obtain water from most unde- sirable sources. Were the system of water service designed ab initio for an inter- mittent supply careful supervision could eliminate many dangers, but unfortunately we bave in Hongkong that most dangerous combination--a system designed for constant service with an intermittent supply during several months of each year. I have before, in a report on cholera at the Tung Wah Hospital in 1902, pointed the dangers of the ball valves in the street hydrants, and how they may be the means of entrance of specific infective material, and should unfortunately a water borne disease, e.g., cholera, break out in the City during our time of intermittent supply there would be many chances of the disease assuming epidemic proportions. The quality of the water as shewn by chemical analysis throughout the year has been constant and good. The result of twelve analyses shew an average analysis as follows:-

[These Tables are compiled from Monthly Reports to the Board by the Government Analyst.]

KOWLOON SERVICE.

Results expressed in grains per gallon.

Appearance in 24 inch tube,

Clear and bright.

Total solid matter dried at 212o F.,

3.65

Chlorine in chlorides,

4.75

Hardness in "degrees,"

Ammonia,

absent.

Albumenoid Ammonia,

.0003

Oxygen al sorbed in 4 hours at about 80o F.,.

.009

Nitrogen in Nitrites and Nitrates,

2014

Nitrites,

absent.

Sugar test for the detection of sewage,

Poisonous metals,

* On four occasions slightly opalescent.

negative.

absent.