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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TM MARCII, 1865.
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I. THE POLICE.
The Police Force of this Colony, with all its disadvantages in the material of which it is composed and the trials to which exposed, is eminently remarkable for one quality: that of its sanitary condition.
Table I. shews the number of admissions into, and the deaths in, the Hospital, of Members of the Police Force, during every month of 1865.
Table II. shews the rate, per cent, of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year.
Although the average strength of the Force was considerably greater in 1865 than in the preceding year, the mortality as not much increased and still remained very low: 1.96 per cent, while the rate of sickness was only 93.19 per cent, which at much above that of the previous year. The health of this body of men is mainly attributable to the care which is taken hein, the comfortable quarters in the New Central Station which they now occupy, the sufficient and suitable clothing which supplied to them and the monthly inspections they undergo for the detection of venereal disease. I am also glad to be able port that there has been a great diminution in the number of Impostors, feigning disease, to avoid night duty, or punish- ent, admitted into Hospital.
Table III., kindly furnished to me by Dr. Dick, the Principal Military Medical Officer, gives a comparative Return of the alth of the Troops serving in Hongkong, from which it will be seen that the rate of mortality was more than double what it been in 1864 and this Table does not include the great number of deaths which occurred among the invalided soldiers After leaving Hongkong. It forms no part of my duty to enter into the question of the probable cause of this great difference the health of two bodies of disciplined men, performing somewhat similar duties, I therefore abstain from any comment on this portion of the subject.
II. THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
Table IV. gives the number of admissions into and the mortality in this Hospital during the year 1865, to which is added the purpose of comparison the average number of admissions and deaths during eight years. By this table it will be seen that the admissions (1357) during the past year have been nearly double the average number.
Table V. gives the rate of mortality in the Civil Hospital, during the past eight years, distinguishing the rate in the case Europeans from Colored persons and Chinese.
Table VI., kindly sent to nie by the Resident Surgeon, Dr. Adams, gives information in reference to the Seaman's Hospital. The rate of mortality shows an improvement in comparison with that of the preceding year; but it is still high, as might have en expected from the temporary and imperfect nature of the accommodation available, for the treatment of patients, until the completion of the new buildings. Although the death rate in the Seaman's Hospital has been below that in the Civil Hospital, it is very much above that of the Europeans and Indians treated in the latter Institution, and with them alone a comparison can fairly be instituted.
In the Civil Hospital the rate of mortality has been higher than it has been since 1858. But after all this is more apparent than real, for in the case of European patients the rato has been more favorable than during the two preceding years, while in the case of Indians it does not much surpass the average; it is among the Chinese that the great increase of mortality has occurred, and this is owing in part to the number of nearly moribund patients admitted whilst suffering under Yellow fever or starvation, and who, although only a short time under treatment, greatly increase the death rate. Whether it was owing to the great commercial depression of the past year or to the greater facility for poor people reaching Hongkong from China, it is certain that a much larger proportion ultimately came to the Civil Hospital than in former years. Among the two classes of patients just mentioned, namely those suffering from Yellow fever and starvation, there were 49 Chinese who died; this number, if deducted from 163, the total number of deaths, would at once reduce the death rate to a little over 9 per cent.
Two Europeans were admitted under the heading of "starvation." The arrangement by which destitute Europeans can now, as for some months past, find shelter and food in the Gaol, will I trust enable me to omit this heading for the future in reference to Europeans.
Altogether the result of the last year's treatment in this Institution has been very satisfactory.
III. THE GOAL.
Table VII. shews the number of admissions into the Gaol Hospital, and deaths there during the year 1885, with the average number of admissions and deaths during eight years, as a means of comparison.
Table VIII, shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the Gaol Hospital as compared with the total number of prisoners and with the number treated during the year 1865.
The great mortality of the past year is mainly attributable to the epidemic of Yellow fever which I have already described; from which cause alone there occurred 40 deaths. If these are omitted from the calculation the death rate is at once reduced below the average.
The building is clean, well ventilated and admirably well managed, so as to secure the most satisfactory sanitary condition of the prisoners.
An important change has been introduced in the mode of punishment adopted for graver crimes among the Chinese. I refer to the public whipping post and the substitution of the "Cat" for the rattan. Having been present and narrowly watched culprits during most of those public floggings and treated them subsequently in Hospital, I can state without hesitation, that for the majority of adult Chinese the punishment is not such as to affect their health, and if the Surgeon in attendance has the power, as at present, to stay the hand of the operator at once, the number of strokes, now administered need not be altered. I desire however to suggest that a better form of whipping post be adopted, to enable the back to be better stretched; and in is manner the man flogging may apply his strokes with more regularity. I would also suggest that where more than two Bergings are ordered to be given within six months, the intermediate one be, at the direction of the Surgeon when he considers necessary, given within the Gaol on the buttocks, instead of on the back and shoulders. The object with which this change is suggested, is to meet the difficulty of getting the skin sufficiently healed within two months, so as to enable the culprit to bear a second flogging, more especially when the men are well aware that they are interested in retarding a cure. salutary effect of the punishment I have nothing to say, but of the dread with which the prisoners view it I can speak confidently.
The numbers confined in Victoria Gaol during the year were:
Europeans
Indians
Chinese
620
221
.3,995
Total,
.4,836
Of the
The daily average was 5663 of which number 71 died.
The following Return is in continuation of the table I gave last year shewing the change in weight which long sentence apean prisoners undergo after several years confinement.