Tes are no items of outstanding interest to report during the month under review, and the health situation did not change appreciably as compared with April.
Scarlet fever broke out amongst the Jewish Emigrant population, but fortunately did not prove to be of a severe type, and only one death was recorded, according to the report of the Commissioner of Public Health for May.
Towards the end of the month a sharp Rise was noted in the incidence of typhoid fever, a disease which though more commonly encountered during the summer months, has in recent years been more prevalent throughout the year than one would wish. Whilst it is difficult to assign any particular reason for this increase, it is thought likely that flies play an important role in mechanical transmission, since water supplies in general have not given cause for anxiety.
The fly problem, closely associated with overcrowding and the consequent production of greater quantities of refuse in which the flies can breed, is being given close attention, and as an additional precaution all residents are advised to take advantage of the protection offered by anti-typhoid inoculation The minor epidemic of cerebrospinal that, have made it quite impassable. The bridges many of them old stone bridges, were blown up, and a pagoda, which had been a landmark on the coast for centuries, was also destroyed.
The plain consísts entirely of rice fields and there are only narrow stone roads and footpaths for travellers now. An invading army would find its way impeded at every turn. This has made communication with Foochow very difficult, formerly a bus did the journey in three hours, now it takes three days. People have also run out of supplies and have neither flour nor potatoes. Neither is there any electric light, the company moved its plant about a month ago. But these things do not matter so much, as at the close of each day one feels quite fortunate to be alive fever which is drawing to its close afforded the opportunity of experimenting with a new form of treatment which had been the subject of many articles in medical journals abroad, From the results of this experimentation, it would seem at first sight that the mortality is lowered and the cost of treatment is lessened both in regard to medicaments used and as regards the saving due to the shorter stay of patients in hospital. It may also be possible in future to hold stocks of a stable chemical in lieu of reserves of serum which deteriorates on keeping.
So far, however. these represent merely tentative conclusions and since no extra outlay is required, it will be easy to continue our observations next year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.