316
TYPHOID FEVER.
The number of cases of typhoid fever reported during the year was 44 as compared with 55 in 1902. The distribution of these cases according to nationa lity is shown in the above table of Infectious Diseases.
Sixteen European cases were imported, one Indian case and one Japanese case.
The nationalities of the cases given under the heading "Other Nationalities" in the above-mentioned table were:-Chinese 6, Portuguese 2, Japanese 2, Indian 1.
Of the 33 European cases 7 died, giving a mortality of 21-2 per cent.
Of the 6 Chinese cases all died.
The others recovered.
Of the 26 non-imported cases 17 occurred during the first four months of the year and 9 only afterwards.
This is important when it is remembered that the City is invariably on a short water supply in the early part of the year before the advent of the rainy season warrants the turning on of a constant supply. During the shortage of water much is obtained from questionable sources.
There are so many possible ways by which the infective material may reach the person that it is extremely difficult if not impossible to say in most cases how they originated.
Possible and even probable sources of infection are manifest, e.g., one case occurred in a house having its own private water supply. The water was liable to contamination as it passed through a vegetable garden top dressed in the usual Chinese manner.
There was no evidence during the year to show that the public water supply was contaminated even peripherally but at the same time it is an undoubted fact that the intermittent supply in the dry season coupled with the system of ball valve hydrants is a latent danger.
SMALL-POX.
There were recorded during the year 60 cases of small-pox with 31 deaths. The cases comprised 53 Chinese, 4 Europeans, 1 American, 1 Indian, and 1 African,
The deaths were all amongst Chinese. Of these cases 19 were known to be imported leaving 41 local cases. The 4 European and I American cases were imported as also the Indian and African cases. Twelve Chinese cases were also imported. Of the local Chinese cases 23 were found in the streets, hillsides and foreshore. Consequently measures for disinfection and vaccination of contacts could not be undertaken. The number of vaccinations recorded is unfortunately less than in last year and in 1901, which showed totals of 6,475 and 5,937 vaccinations respectively. The following table shows the number of recorded vaccinations for 1903:--
VACCINATIONS IN 1903.
At the Government Civil Hospital,
Victoria Gaol,
"7
Alice Memorial Hospital,
57
453 .2,887
321
By the Tung Wah Hospital:-
In Victoria,
15
Aberdeen, Stanley,
Shaukiwan,
""
Kowloon,
..1,591
24
15
29
28
Total,.....5,348
1902.
CHOLERA.
Fortunately there was no retura during the year of the Cholera Epidemic of
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