quarantine station, and the appointment of a Commission productive of reports which led to nothing. In the year 1859 a mild epidemic of ophthalmia appeared in the gaol and rapidly spread throughout the Colony, attacking both natives and Europeans. As it also appeared at Canton, Amoy and Foochow, it was thought that it had been caused by atmospheric rather than local agencies, But in November, 1859, the Colony was threatened by an epidemic of diphtheria which, however, was happily limited to 10 cases and of these only two proved fatal. It was noted that the summer of 1859 was unusually severe as there was, previous to 4th June, a continuous drought of almost eight months' duration and the thermometer was for several weeks at an average height of 90 degrees. During the next two years (1860 and 1861) the health of the Colony was exceptionally good, and it is noteworthy that both years were stated to have been conspicuous for the absence of violent extremes of temperature. The long talked-of scheme of a medical sanatorium, to be established on Victoria Peak, was at last carried out but did not receive a fair trial. At the recommendation of the principal medical officer of the station, the Military Authorities opened, in spring 1862, a well-built sanatorium on the plateau below the flag-staff and filled it with patients (of an unsuitable class). But, before the close of the year, the military doctors condemned the scheme as a manifest failure, on the ground that nearly every case sent up had been attacked with diarrhoea of an intractable nature and that all medical cases had been aggravated rather than improved. The fate which had pursued the Island as a whole, and the Kowloon Peninsula in particular, asserted its power also as to the first settlements on the Peak: the first occupation produced disease, and patience and discretion were required to overcome the difficulty. It took years before Peak residence, strongly advocated by Mr. Granville Sharp, who took a lease of the deserted sanatorium, rose into favour. A small epidemic of cholera (25 cases) broke out in the gaol on October 17, 1862, but did not spread farther. Owing to the outbreak of cholera
