The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

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    STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. The Straits Settlements Medical Report for the year 1914. POPULATION AND HEALTH. i. The following table shows the estimated population and the birth and death- rates for the years 1913 and 1914:— Settlement. Estimated mean Population. Births No. Deaths No. Birth Ratio per mille. Death Ratio per mille. I9I3- 1914. I9I3* 1914. I9I3. I9I4- I9I3- 19I4- I9I3- 1914. Singapore 320,984 330,199 7,248 8,780 n,327 11,256 22-58 2660 35‘29 34-09 Labuan 6,706 6,746 216 185 144 145 32-21 27-42 21-47 2I*6i Penang I44,252 145,618 3,783 3,73i 5,069 5,244 26'22 25'62 35-14 36-01 Province Wellesley 131,910 133,402 3,957 4,37i 3,775 3,745 30'00 32-77 2862 28-07 Dindings 8,403 8,915 254 272 302 340 3023 3051 35-94 38-14 Malacca 130,755 134,225 4,5o6 4,74i 5,333 5P76 3446 35-32 40-78 38-56 Total ... 743-010 759,105 19,964 22,080 25,95o 25,906 2687 29 09 3493 34-13 The figures for the European population are :—■ Estimated mean Population. Births No. Deaths No. Birth Ratio per mille. Death Ratio per mille. I9I3- I9I4> I9I3- 1914. I9I3- 1914. I9I3- 1914. I9I3- 1914. Straits Settlements. 7,685 7,883 161 194 64 98 20-95 24-61 833 12-43 The population at the last Census (1911) was 711,951 and is estimated at 759,105 for 1914. 2. These figures are based on previous Census figures calculated by geometrical progression. The reasons tor so doing have been stated in previous reports. Since the outbreak of war some 11,000 estate coolies and others have been repatriated to China and India, simultaneously strict regulations were put in force for the suspension of the usual large immigration as far as deck passengers are concerned. The situation thus created has affected the correctness of the estimated population and in consequence the statistics and ratios deduced therefrom. From available figures and calculation it may be roughly taken that during the last 5 months of the year the artificial death-rate shown is lower than that actually occurring and it is probable that the rate is nearer 35'37 Per mille than the figures of 34’ 13 given in my table. Births. 3. The births registered during the year numbered 22,080 and were equal to a rate of 29-09 per 1,000 persons living. This rate is higher by 2-22 than that recorded in the previous year and is the highest yet recorded since the new Registration law came into force (1897). Deaths. 4. The deaths from all causes registered in 1914 numbered 25,906, and correspond to a death-rate of 34-13 per 1,000 of population, compared with 34-93 per mille in 1913 and 39*01 in 1912. The average for the last ten years 1904-1913 was 39-93 per mille of population. As usual the largest number of.deaths was due to malaria (3,516) and fever unspecified (4,183) eliminating “Convulsions” which showed 3)833 deaths in 1914 and 3,822 in 1913.