The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1910]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    3/158 (page 3)
    14- The following are the figures of Beri-beri cases treated in the various hospitals for the last five years :— Year. Total Cases. Deaths. Percentage of Deaths. 1906 1 >971 296 1907 ... 1,806 243 I3H5 1908 2,777 284 10-23 1909 ... 2,118 224 10-57 1910 2,044 290 14-18 The results from the use of parboiled rice continue to be satisfactory, the native patients at the several hospitals are exclusively fed on it. 15. The returns from the Pasir Panjang Beri-beri Hospital show 437 cases treated with 5 deaths, 4 of the deaths occurred within three weeks of admission. 16. Venereal Diseases.—The admissions to all hospitals in 1910 were 2,299 with 42 deaths as compared with 2,603 with 49 deaths in the preceding year. Of the admissions in 1910, 201 were prostitutes. 17. Phthisis.— Deaths registered from this cause numbered 2,571, against 2,659 in 1909 and 2,988 in 1908. 18. Dysentery and Diarrhoea.—There were 2,011 deaths from these causes as against 1,756 deaths in 1909. The cases treated in the hospitals numbered 2,371 with 848 deaths. The patients come in for treatment in the last stages of these diseases and help to swell the death-rate from these causes to a very large extent. 19. Malaria.—The death-rate from this disease continued very high. There were in all 3,300 deaths in the whole of the Colony as compared with 2,589 and 3,062 in 1909 and 1908 respectively. The work of draining and filling up swampy land, extending drains, and cleaning ditches, etc., has been continued. The chief cause of the great prevalence of this disease is the opening up and clearing of new estates in all parts of the Peninsula. 20. Sanitation.—Good progress was made during the year with the “ back-lane scheme,” that for Ivampong Kapur referred to in the report for 1909 being nearly com¬ pleted by the end of the year. It is under the control of the Municipality. Schemes tor other parts of the town were also approved. A refuse incinerator was constructed in Alexandra Road and has proved very satisfactory. Scheme of underground sewers as also the building of the new quarantine hospital were under consideration during the year. The waterworks extensions were completed and taken over. 21. Ankylostomiasis.—There were in all 280 cases admitted to the hospitals during the year of which 84 ended fatally. The largest number was returned from Province Wellesley. 96 admissions. 22. Hospitals and work done :— Year. Number of Patients Treated. Number of Deaths. Percentage of Deaths to Total Treated. Europeans. Natives. Total. Europeans. Natives. Total. Europeans. Natives. 1 Total. (a) 1908 ... 1,287 29,083 30,37° 83 3,948 4,031 6-45 13-57 13-24 (h) 1909 ... B398 28,868 30,266 70 3,565 3,635 5-oi i2'35 I 2'01 (c) 1910 ... B463 34,221 35,684 64 4,465 4,529 4-37 13-05 12-69 C (a) 508 cases and 65 deaths. Includes Lunatic Asylum :— < (b) 556 cases and 78 deaths. (. (c) 579 cases and 115 deaths.