276
VICTORIA GAOL.
The following table gives the number of admissions to the Gaol and the daily average number of' prisoners for the past ten years:-
1886. 1887
1888.
1
}
1889,..... 1890.
1.
1891.... 1892.
1893,...
1894,...
1895,.
Total number admitted to Gaol.
Daily average No. of prisoners.
...4,600
674.00
.....4,302
584.00
..3,627
531.00
..3,705
581.00
..3,444
566.00
..5,231
507.00
5,046
515.00
4,010
458.00
...3,913
455.00
.......5,014
472.00
These figures show a considerable increase in the number of prisoners, 1,101 more being admitted than in 1894, in only two years in the last ten is this number exceeded.
The number of prisoners admitted to the Hospital was less than in 1894, the figure being 231 as compared with 271.
Of those treated in the hospital 45 were suffering from malarial fever, 24 from anæmia; whilst there were fifteen contused wounds from flogging and 12 gluteal abscesses the result of flogging.
I would submit for consideration the advisability of more frequent floggings of a smaller number of strokes at a time; there was only one case of gluteal abscess the result of flogging in 1894, therefore either the punishment must have been inflicted more vigorously or the subjects were of poorer physique.
Of the 948 cases treated in the cells 508 suffered from contusions the result of floggings, two of which were Europeans. The total number of floggings was 555 as compared with 208 in 1894. Of the others not treated in the hospital venereal and cutaneous diseases, chiefly scabies and ringworm, formed the greater percentage.
There were seven deaths from natural causes, one Chinaman committed suicide by hanging him- self in the cell, and two were executed.
TUNG WA HOSPITAL.
The number of cases treated in this Hospital during the year was 2,732 compared with 2,354 in 1894; of these 1,457 were discharged, 145 being transferred to the Government Civil Hospital.
There were 1,210 deaths, 494 occurring within forty-eight hours of admission.
Five cases of small-pox were admitted prior to May, of these one died and four were discharged. 1,939 vaccinations were performed by the native doctors, 188 of these being in the outlying districts. Many improvements have been effected during the past year:-
Small-pox cases are no longer admitted for treatment but are sent to one of the infectious hospitals attached to this Department.
The wooden cubicles and the obstructions from the verandahs have been removed thus promoting cleanliness and admitting more light and freer ventilation to the wards.
The patients have been provided on admission with Hospital clothing, their own being disinfected A new mortuary is in course of erection at the extreme southern limit of the Hospital premises, provided with quarters for an attendant.
Monthly meetings have been held with the Committee attended by the Registrar General and myself, various recommendations have been made some of which have been carried out, much, however, still remains to be done.
VACCINE INSTITUTE.
This has been satisfactorily maintained and during the winter was in working order. Lymph was obtained early in October under my superintendence, Mr. LADDS, the Superintendent of the Institute, being away on leave. The stock from which we started our supply was obtained from Dr. NAKAGAWA in Japan.
Owing to Messrs. WATSON & Co. having informed me that no further supplies were required early in December last, I have received applications from various medical practitioners and firms to which I have responded.
The results obtained by the civil medical practitioners and public vaccinators have been very satisfactory.
HEALTH OF THE COLONY.
Table XVI. shows that there has been a slight diminution in the number of deaths among the foreign residents, the percentage of deaths being 2,43 as compared with 2.53 in 1894.