THE
Hongkong
Government
GAZETTE.
NEW SERIES.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 3D APRIL, 1858.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
VOL. III. No. 148.
The Contract for publishing this Gazette, entered into on the 24th September, 1853, was terminated on the 30th ultimo ; and notice is hereby given, that a NEW SERIES of this Gazette will be published hereafter, to commence from the 7th instant, under a New Contract, and that
"THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE" will, as before, be the only Official Organ for PROCLAMATIONS, NOTIFICATIONS, and PUBLIC PAPERS, of this Government.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 2d July, 1855.
No. 32.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The subjoined Sanitary Report by the Acting Colonial Surgeon for the Year 1857, is published for general information.
By Order,
W. T. BRIDGES. Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 31st March, 1858,
Government CIVIL HOSPITAL, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 21st January, 1858. SIR,-With reference to your letter No. 1015, dated 19th December, 1857, I have the honour to forward a Sanitry Report for the Colonial Surgeon, for the Year ending 31st December, 1857.
no Medical Records or Returns for the past Year were handed over to me on assuming charge on the 15th Nover er, I regret that I am unable to furnish any Statistical Tables which would be of the least value; and the very linted period I have as yet had for observation will I trust be accepted as an excuse for my not entering on the consideration of subjects which naturally come within the scope of my appointment, and which at some future period I hope to have the pleasure of bringing forward.
The following changes have taken place amongst the inmates of the Jail during the period
Confined during the Week ending 5ta January, 1857,
Whites committed during the Year 1857,
Coloured
do..
do.,
307
806
2,775
Total cases of Sickness during the Year :-
Deaths :-
Whites,..
Coloured,
Whites,.... ............................ Coloured,
In Jail, on the 31st December, 1857:-
Europeans, ..................... Coloured,
****
Sick remaining on the 31st December, 1857 :--
Europeans, Coloured,
Total,...... 3,581
29
125-Total 154
3
19 Total 22
44
203-Total 247
3
14-Total 17
The percentage of Sick to strength as well as of Deaths to strength, viz: 4 of the former and only .50 of the latter, shows a remarkably satisfactory Sanitary condition, depending doubtless very much on the admirable working of the institution under the present Governor. Strict attention is paid to all points of its interior economy likely to affect the health or wellbeing of Prisoners-scrupulous cleanliness-good and sufficient diet-free ventila- tion of the wards and cells-and punishment commensurate with the physical powers of the men,-appear to have been carefully studied. The accommodation is certainly at present limited, but I believe it is in contemplation to build another and larger Jail; and although it would be desirable, especially in a hot climate, to give each individual a larger cubic space of air than is enjoyed at present, the short average periods of confinement renders this point a matter of less moment than it would be if the same individuals were constantly breathing the same atmosphere. There has been no epidemic malady during the year. The sickness and mortality do not appear to have resulted from any other than natural causes, and are certainly much less than might have been expected considering the usual character of the occupants of a Prison.
The accommodation for the Sick prisoners-Europeans as well as Chinese-is separate and ample. Such as require it are rationed from the Civil Hospital, and no expense is spared by the Colonial Government to render their condition as comfortable as may be consistent with the circumstances of the case.