Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 390

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(b) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION.

During the year under review considerable progress has been made in rendering existing domestic buildings rat proof as a preventive of Plague, 370 ground surfaces of houses have been repaired, and 1,201 buildings have had rat-runs filled up with cement. In addition 44 basements illegally inhabited have been vacated.

New buildings (domestic) to the number of 142 were erected during the year and in these the effect of the present Ordinance is seen in the increased amount of open space about the houses, which the law requires. Scavenging lanes which have to be provided in the rear of new houses also increase the open space about them and tend to reduce surface crowding.

During the year there were 198 deaths from Plague, compared with 842 in 1906 and 287 in 1905.

There were 1,825 deaths from Respiratory Diseases amongst the Chinese; 655 of these deaths were due to Phthisis, a percentage of 9.6 of the total deaths amongst that community.

Beri-beri caused 562 deaths-a high figure.

The deaths from Malaria were 579 as against 448 in 1906, and 287 in 1905, an increase which it is hoped will only be temporary. The average number of deaths from this disease has fallen from 526 in the quinquennium 1898 to 1902 to 383 in the quinquennium 1903- 1907. Military returns of admissions to Hospital for Malaria show a marked reduction in the incidence of this disease, as will be seen from the subjoined Table :-

Admission for Malaria: European Troops.

Year.

Strength. Admissions. Deaths.

Ratio per 1,000.

1898

1.569

595

10

379.3

1899

1,643

829

5

504.6

1900

1,484

629

423.8

1901

1,673

1,010

603-7

1902

1,381

1,523

1,102.8

1903

1,220

937

768·0

1904

1,426

390

1

273.5

1905

1,370

348

254.0

1906

1,525

480

314.75

1907

1,461

287

196.00

(c.) CLIMATE.

The average monthly temperature throughout the year was 72.2° F. as compared with 71-8° F. in 1906 and 72-0° F. during the ten preceding years. The maximum monthly temperature was attained in July, when it reached 87-1° F., and the minimum monthly tem- perature was recorded in February, when it was 55-2° F. The highest recorded temperature during the year was 91.6° F. on the 29th August, and the lowest 450° F. on the 31st January.

The total rainfall for the year was 93.54 inches as compared with an average of 77-96 inches during the past ten years. The wettest mouth was September, with 19:46 inches, the dryest, February, with only 0.16 inch. The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 5530 inches on the 15th September, while no rain fell on 215 days of the year. The relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 77 per cent., as compared with an average of 77 per cent. during the past 10 years. The average daily amount of sunshine was 3-2 hours being 46 per cent. of the possible duration.

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