The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1911]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Straits Settlements medical report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In Province Wellesley there were 19 cases with 6 deaths. The disease was evidently imported from Penang. 11. Small-pox.—There were outbreaks of Small-pox in all the three Settlements, Malacca showing the largest number of cases, viz., 558, and Province Wellesley next, 357 out of a total of 1,281 cases. In Singapore the cases increased in prevalence up to June with a decrease in the second half-year. In all 241 cases occurred in Singapore with 98 deaths, against 414 with 152 deaths in 1910. In Penang the outbreak was a continuance from 1910. Total 109 cases with 36 deaths as against 894 with 239 deaths in 1910. In Malacca the disease occurred in various districts at different times. Alor Gajah District was most affected. School teachers were taught how to vaccinate. A fee of 20 cents was paid to them for each successful vaccination. The results were satisfactory. One feature being that the natives who hitherto evaded vaccination willingly came forward to be operated on by fellow countrymen. In the whole of Malacca 558 cases with 173 deaths wrere reported. An examination of the reports of the Medical Officers in the appendices will show the beneficial results of vaccination upon the course of this disease. 12. Diphtheria.—Five cases were treated in the hospitals of the Colony with one death, compared with 8 cases and 3 deaths in 1910. In all 14 cases were notified to the Health Department, compared with 20 in 1910. The total deaths from this cause were 7. All the cases reported occurred in Singapore. 13. Enteric Fever.—One hundred and seventy-five cases were admitted to the hospitals for treatment, 11 remained from the previous year, giving a total treated of 186. Of these 102 terminated fatally. There were 113 cases with 47 deaths in 1910. The reason for this exceptionally high mortality rate is that the large majority of cases are brought in only in the later stages of the disease and when very dangerous¬ ly ill, hopelessly so frequently. 14. Beri-beri.—The deaths from Beri-beri were 2,056 as compared with 1,737 in 1 y 10. i he use of cured rice in the different institutions of the Colony has lessened the death-rate from this cause so far as those treated in hospitals are concerned. \ Although the actual cause of the disease still awaits elucidation, there can be little doubt that the consumption of over milled rice is a factor in its incidence. In our present state of knowledge legislation upon the question would be premature, and in any case it would be difficult, entailing as it must, considerable interference with the staple food supply of the people. This subject is being carefully watched and it may be possible in the future to induce mill owners to somewhat vary their process of milling. The disease is on the increase in Malacca where the number of deaths from this cause was 443 for 1911, against 267 in 1910 and 219 in 1909. This rise of Beri-beri in Malacca coincides with the diminishing cultivation of padi, natives there finding it more profitable to work for rubber planters or to cultivate rubber themselves. At the Beri-beri Hospital at Pasir Panjang, Singapore, of 521 cases treated for this disease but three deaths out of 16 are attributed to Beri-beri. The following table gives the deaths from Beri-beri for the last 5 years, for all Settlements:— Deaths from Beri-beri. Settlement. 1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. Singapore ... G213 1,117 87 3 1,071 1,220 Penang 212 534 399 367 368 Province Wellesley 9 20 11 6 6 Dindings ... 5 2 4 7 9 Malacca CO 227 219 267 443 Labuan ... • • • ... 19 10 Total 1,626 1,900 1,506 B737 2,056