Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 556

478

THE PUBLIC MORTUARY.

1,551 Post-Mortem Examinations were held during the year 1904.

During the last three years, there has been a gradual diminution in the num- ber of necropsies conducted.

Total number of Autopsies in 1902

=

Do. Do.

in 1903 in 1904 =

J

2,816. 2,326. 1,551.

Do. Do.

This gradual diminution in the number of post-mortem examinations is due, in a great measure, to the absence of severe epidemic disease. During the past year, the prevalence of exotic disease was slight. The epidemic of plague was comparatively trifling; cholera, apart from a few scattered and mostly imported cases, never showed itself in epidemic form; and the death-rate from other infec- tious and non-infectious diseases, was, on the whole, somewhat lower than that obtained during the two preceding years.

The establishment of a Morgue in Kowloon has relieved the congestion in the Public Mortuary. This, from a scientific point of view, is a decided boon. With a smaller number of cadavers, much more attention can be devoted to each individual case and the presence or absence of pathological conditions more exactly determined.

Altogether 6,693 bodies have passed through my hands, since I assumed the duties of the Medical Officer in charge of the Mortuary, and in the presence of such a wealth of pathological material, I propose, in this Report, to draw certain con- clusions as to the incidence of disease from several points of view.

The following figures may also be of interest :-

Autopsies on Males during 1904,

Do. on Females during 1904,

Stated in percentages these figures mean:-

.1,026 525

Males,

Females,.......

..66 per cent.

..34 17

Again, it has been stated, by several authorities, that female children are much more frequently found "dumped" than male children. All these bodies are brought to the Mortuary.

The figures obtained during the past year are interesting from this standpoint.

Males under 1 year,

Females under 1 year,

Total,

These figures speak for themselves.

RETURN OF CAUSES OF DEATH DURING 1904.

I. Total General Diseases,.

II. Total Local Diseases :-

Of the Nervous System,

Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Digestive System,

91

፡፡

Urinary System,

Generative System,

13

Ductless Glands,

55

III.-Total Injuries,

IV. Total Decomposed Bodies,

236

.262

.498

..1,063

8

42

206

·

30

11

3

1

301

95

92

1,551