THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD MARCH, 1867.
99
of chain gang work which had lately been adopted. It was however found that by punishing every case of well proved self inflicted injury and compelling those who had thus hurt themselves to march down and break stones in some public locality, with boards specifying their crimes placed in front of them, what threatened to be an epidemic soon diminished and has now nearly disappeared. Of those who died the great majority refused to submit to amputation and perished from mortification or the extreme prostration of the system consequent on the great drain produced by the extensive ulceration.
It
In my last year's Report I referred to the system of public flogging and I have seen no reason to alter the opinion then expressed. A more efficient whipping post would however be a great improvement. I have been present on every occasion when this punishment has been inflicted and have subsequently had the treatment of the men in Hospital and I have become very strongly impressed with the belief that a great improvement on the present system would be to cast the criminals a drift from the whipping post, to return to their companions in guilt, a terror to evil doers, rather than to take them into Iospital to be nursed for a couple of months, where they are too comfortable to be at all desirous of making a rapid recovery. would prove much more deterrent of crime than long imprisonment or even repeated floggings. This suggestion applies all the more forcibly where the crime has been one admitting of branding the criminal previous to deportation, which might be accom- plished before the men are flogged. This admirable plan of tattooing a broad arrow on the lobe of the left ear, considering that it is never done except at the criminal's own request, has nothing objectionable in it that I can imagine. It is a painless operation which cannot affect the health.
The Establishment is a model of cleanliness, good ventilation and good management and reflects the highest credit on the Officer in charge.
IV. THE CONVICT HULK.
As this establishment was discontinued and merged into Victoria Gaol in October, as yet with apparently nothing but good results, I need not do more than refer to Table IX. which shews the rate of sickness and mortality at Stone Cutter's Island, during the first nine months of the year.
V. THE LOCK HOSPITAL.
Table X. gives the usual information in regard to this Institution. Much has been done in the way of suppressing pri- vate and unlicensed brothels by the new Inspectors on their appointments, but whether from the first burst of zeal having be- come extinct or from the Prostitutes and their keepers being too sharp for the Inspectors, these spurts of improvement have been temporary only. No really thorough efficiency can be expected until the new Ordinance on the subject, which I believe it is the intention of His Excellency the Governor to introduce, becomes the law of the Colony.
Table XI. is an approximative estimate of the mortality among Foreign Residents in Hongkong during the last ninc years. The data from which it is compiled are furnished to me, so far as the number of Residents is concerned by the Regis- trar General, and by the Sextons of the two cemeteries so far as the deaths are concerned. This table does not embrace Sol- diers, Sailors whether employed in the Navy or the Merchant Service, or those who have been buried from the Hospitals. From an inspection of this table it will appear that the death rate among Foreign Residents in this Colony was, as miglit well have been expected, very much below the average, lower indeed than it had been since 1862.
Table XII. gives the usual information regarding the work performed by the Inspector of nuisances attached to this De- partment.
Table XIII. Shews the annual mean state of the atmosphere during the year 1866 as recorded at the Government Civil Hospital.
J. I. MURRAY, M.D., Colonial Surgeon.
1.-POLICE.
TABLE shewing the Admissions into Hospital and Deaths during the Year 1866.
EUROPEANS.
COLORED.
CHINESE.
MONTHS.
Admissions. Deaths." Admissions. Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.
TOTAL TOTAL
Admissions. Deaths.
January,
13
February,
12
March,
my
April,
12
May,
13
21
June,.
15
July,
13
August,.
11
September,
17
October,
19
November,
11
December,..
8
ARARA85385
28
23
80
26
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19
33
30
37
42
31
10 10 10 0 ON CO 10 CX HD Hand fund
1
42
36
2
39
39
39
36
3
49
1
5
46
59
63
2
48
41
Total,..
151
2
355
6
31
2
537
10
2.-TABLE shewing the RATE of SICKNESS and MORTALITY in the POLICE FORCE during the Year 1866.
AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Europeans.
Colored.
69
325
TOTAL SICK.
TOTAL DEATHS.
Chinese.
Total.
165
559
537
RATE OF SICKNESS.
RATE OF MORTALITY.
96.08
10
per cent.
3.-TABLE shewing the RATE of SICKNESS and MORTALITY of the TROOPS serving in Hongong during the Year 1866.
1.78
per cent.
STRENGTH.
ADMISSIONS INTO HOSPITAL.
DEATHS.
RATE OF SICKNESS.
RATE OF MORTALITY.
White. Black. Total. White.
Black. Total. White. Black. Total.
846
286 1,132 2,076
614
2,690 27
12
39
237.632 per cent.
3.445
per cent.