Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 422

360

Nationality and Sex.

These 472 cases are made up as follows:-

No. of Cases. Nationality. Sex. Percentage for Sex. Total.

307

Chinese

M.

65.3

470

163

F.

34.7

2

Indian

M.

100.0

2

F.

nil.

472

472

It is remarkable that during this year the disease has confined itself to the two above-mentioned nationalities.

This has undoubtedly had some effect in raising the general death-rate for the disease this year, the low European death-rate and the comparatively low rate for other nationalities during last year having had a great effect in lowering the general death-rate.

But notwithstanding this the Mortality rate has been higher amongst Chinese this year than last as the following table shews:-

Death-rates for Nationality and Sex.

470 cases and 455 deaths=96'8 per cent. Chinese 307 males with 299

=97.3 163 females

=95.7

100 per cent. (1903, 48 8 per cent.). .).

15

2 cases

156 and 2 deaths

Indians

2 males with 0 females

-

100

"

nil.

21

(1903, 93-2 per cent.).

(1903, 91-9

.).

(1903, 95·7

.).

(1903, 43-2 (1903, 83-3

""

27

It will be observed that the death-rate for Chinese females is the same as that recorded last year, the increase in the total Chinese death-rate being due to the increase for males alone.

The Total Death-rate for the Epidemic is 96-8 per cent. as compared with 88.4 per cent. last year. Compared with 1902, however, this year's rate is very slightly lower.

The following are the death-rates for each Epidemic since 1894 :- Year,.....

1894 1896 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904

Death-rate per cent, 92.7 89.5 89.0 96:1 95.5 95.2 97.5 88.4 96-8

It is worthy of remark that, during the years 1902 and 1904 when the Epi- demics have been mild, the mortality rates should have been the highest two re- corded. It is very difficult to suggest any reason for this.

It is certain that the Epidemic of this year has been much milder when com- pared with the year 1903 than the figures for the total recorded cases in these years would lead one at first sight to believe.

Last year when the epidemic was at its height there was almost a panic amongst the Chinese, and in consequence the exodus from the Colony on the least feeling of illness was very great.

This year, on the other han 1, has been remarkable for the quiet way in which the presence of the epidemic has been viewed by the people.

One seldom heard any native this year admitting that there was anything more than a trifling amount of plague in the Colony.

It is of course impossible to give figures, but I feel sure that the ratio of plague for this year to that for last year is very much less than the recordel numbers of cases shew.