An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service, from 1871 to 1882 : with chapters on the history of medicine in China; materia medica; epidemics; famine; ethnology; and chronology in relation to medicine and public health / compiled and arranged by C.A. Gordon.

Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service, from 1871 to 1882 : with chapters on the history of medicine in China; materia medica; epidemics; famine; ethnology; and chronology in relation to medicine and public health / compiled and arranged by C.A. Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In 1870 the requirements of hygiene around the city were ignored. 'Even the dead fail to receive decent burial, but are frequently left, encased in poorly constructed boxe3, Conservancy. ^ ^e s]ow process of natural decay, to breed further disease and death.'—(XII. 26.) The spring rains of 1877 were unusually heavy and protracted. House and compound walls were covered with a low form of vegetation. The system of drainage was of the worst order— house drains converted into reservoirs, with no outlet for slops, garbage, and excrement. The state of the main sewer is particularly objected to. The relation of drainage to disease was exemplified at the Customs establishment during the summer months by a somewhat startling list of typhoid affections among the native staff.—(XIV. 62, 63.) According to the Eeport to September, 1877, the major part of the water-supply for the foreign and native communities was procured at a point but a few yards removed from the mouth of the main sewer, and which is a favourite rendezvous for native boats. These causes render the water there procured a source of disease hardly to be appreciated after long years of immunity, but nevertheless dangerous.—(XIV. 63.) In the seven months from September, 1875, to March, 1876, the maximum temperature from 89° Fahr. in the former month, down to 43° Fahr. in January, then rose to 76° at the end of the period. The range of minimum temperature similarly was from 61° Fahr. in September .to 18° Fahr. in January, then upwards to 36° in March.— (Xf. 11.) In the succeeding six months of 1876 the actual maximum, 95° Fahr., was reached in July. In August and September it was 90° Fahr. in both. The minimum, 44° Fahr. in April, rose to 74° Fahr. in August, then fell to 58° Fahr. in September.— (XII. 26.) During the year ending 30th September, 1878, the rapidity and extent of thermometrical changes were unusually great. These changes were attended also by heavy snowfalls, rain, and thunder-storms; the extremes of temperature greater than in any like period of time in reference to which meteoro- logical records are available.—(XVI. 20.) In the year ending March, 1880, the heat of summer was more distressing from its duration than from its intensity. The temperature on several days in July and August reached 98° Fahr. —(XIX. 0.) The characteristics of the climate during the year ending 31st December, 1880, are given as follows : First part of January, fine; from 10th to 24th, sun and rain at intervals; latter part of the month, fine. First part of February, mostly rainy, with disagreeable weather; snow on 4th and 20th; latter part fine, with a few dull and rainy days. March, very fine, with only a few rainy days ; on 18th, a thunder-storm and heavy showers. April, beautiful weather, ■with occasional heavy rain; on 23rd, strong gale from N.W. May, beautiful weather; only a few foggy and rainy days, and occasional thunder-storms accompanied by light showers; on 30th, a gale from the N.W. June, beautiful weather; latter part of the month, thunder-storms and heavy showers. July, fine, with occasional thunder-storms and heavy showers. August, beautiful weather, with occasional light showers. September, fine, with a few rainy days. October, very fine and clear weather; on 23rd, strong gale from N.E. November, very fine and clear weather, with occasional windy days; 7th and 23rd, gale from N.W.; 28th, heavy fall of snow. December, fine, with occasional cold and windy days; on 14th, 16th, and 19th, snow; on 18th, strong gale from N.E.—(XXI. 98.) In the seven months from September, 1875, to March, 1876, the health of the foreign com- munity was reported as good, yet ' scarcely an individual of it but has been affected with some ilealth f°rm °f disease more or less grave; but all cases have readily yielded to treatment, doubtless due to the exceptional healthy surroundings.'—(XI. 11.) Small-pox was epidemic in the city and suburbs. From April to September, 1876, the health of the community