Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 514

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hospital as shown by the following figures kindly supplied to me by Colonel WEBB, a result undoubtedly due to the extensive training of nullahs and other anti-malarial measures which have been carried on in the neighbourhood of the Barracks by the Military Authorities.

Return shewing the number of Admissions for Malarial Fevers to the Military Hospitals during the years 1902 and 1903.

Year.

Annal Average Strength.

Admissious.

Ratio per 1.000.

Remarks.

Europeans,

1,381

1.523

1902

1,102.8

Asiatics,

2.741

1,443

526.5

Europeans,

1,220

937

768.0

1903

Asiatics,

2,568

1,223

476.2

Decrease 1903: Europeans, 568 or 334.8 per 1,000 of strength.

Asiatics, 220 or 50.3

The average rate of sickness was less in both European and Indian Troops. The rate of mortality was lower amongst the European but higher amongst the Indians than in the previous year.

The following table shows the rate of Sickness and Mortality of the Troops serving in Hongkong during the years 1902 and 1903:—

YEAR.

AVERAGE STRENGTH.

ADMISSIONS INTO HOSPITAL.

DEATHS.

AVERAGE DAILY RATE OF SICKNESS.

RATE OF MORTALITY PER 1,000 OF THE STRENGTH.

White. Black. Total. White. Black. Total. White. Black. Total. White Black. Total. White.

Black.

1902, 13,81 2,748 4,129 2,994 3,346 6,340 || 19

1903, 1,220 2,568 3,788|| 1.996|| 2,719 | 4,715 12

*19

38

20

131.7: 132 263.7

32 112.89 116.82 229.7

13.77

6.91

9.8

7.8

W. F. WEBB, R.A.M.Ç., P. M. O., H. M. Troops, South China,

The disease causing the greatest number of deaths were as follows:-

-malarial fever eight, dysentery three, pneumonia three, enteric fever two, heart disease two. There were also two deaths from gunshot wounds and one from opium poisoning.

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

Attached is a very full and interesting report by the Superintendent on the working of the institution during the year.

He refers to the need of a new operating theatre.

There is no doubt that the question of constructing an entirely new Hospital, arranged in accordance with the best modern practice, will have to be seriously considered in the near future.

The present buildings are old and cost a considerable sum of money yearly in repairs.

Amongst our requirements are:-

(1.) Increased office and store accommodation.

(2.) A hospital laundry,

(3.) Increased accommodation for private patients.

(4.) An operating theatre detached from the hospital proper but con-

nected with it by a covered passage.

In my reports as Superintendent of the hospital for the years 1892 and 1893 and later, I have referred to this, and I would again suggest the reserving of a site for a new hospital.

* In Hongkong.