529
Five hundred and three prisoners were admitted to hospital as compared with 298 in 1898 and 342 in 1897; and 1,778 medical and surgical cases, not requiring admission to hospital, were treated in the cells as compared with 1,033 cases in 1898 and 455 in 1897. Of the 1,778, 972 were medical cases, the daily average being 19.14. Eight hundred and six were surgical cases with a daily average of 26.18. The amount of venereal disease in prisoners admitted continues on the increase, and deductions are not difficult to draw. The following are the numbers for the last three years:
Syphilis,. Gonorrhoea,
1897.
86 39
1898.
149
73
1899.
167
103
Vaccination has been carried out as usual. The supply of lymph has been good in quality, but on several occasions our supply ran out. Out of a total number of 4,789 prisoners admitted to Gaol 3.378 were vaccinated. The others were old men or those suffering from debility and whom it was not advisable to vaccinate, whilst a few escaped vaccination when our supply failed. The table shows a very favourable percentage of successful vaccinations.
The increase of admissions from 298 to 503 is accounted for mainly by admissions for Remittent Fever, General Debility, Diseases of the Digestive System (mainly diarrhoeas), Diseases of Connective Tissue, and those under observation.
Infectious Diseases were represented by 2 cases of Enteric, of Influenza and 3 of Leprosy. One Enteric case was infected before admission. Another case was supposed to have been infected in Gaol ; as I was on other duty at the time I do not know the circumstances of the case.
The very cold weather of January and February was responsible for a large number of Fever and other cases, and now in cold weather I have ordered special hot drinks either of plain water, tea or congee to be given occasionally to debilitated prisoners. It is more especially in the morning between 3 and 5 a.m. that such is necessary; most of the prisoners felt the cold most acutely at that time.
Dr. THOMSON was on duty from 1st to 10th January and from 15th May to 14th September. During the rest of the year I acted for him, with the exception of three weeks in November when Dr. BELL was in charge.
The health of the staff has been uniformly good. An outbreak of Influenza necessitated a con- siderable number being sent to the Civil Hospital for treatment, as they simply got worse always if they attempted to remain on duty.
I append the following tables :--
I. Showing admissions and Mortality in Victoria Gaol Hospital during the year 1899.
11. Showing medical cases treated by the Medical Officer in Victoria Gaol, but not admitted to
Hospital during the year 1899.
III. Showing Surgical cases treated by the Medical Officer, but not admitted to Hospital during
the year 1899.
IV. Showing the rate of sickness and mortality in Victoria Gaol during the year 1899.
V. Showing the number and results of Vaccinations in Victoria Gaol during the past ten years. VI. Showing general statistics connected with Victoria Gaol and the Gaol Hospital during the
past ten years.
The total number of floggings with the birch was 148, 99 by order of the Police Magistrate, 36 by the Supreme Court, and II by the Superintendent and 2 by the Superintendent and Justices of the Peace. There was one flogging with the cat. No injury resulted requiring surgical treatment; in fact, the flogging with the birch does not require the attendance of a medical man.
The health of the Warders and Guards has been fairly satisfactory during the year.
The Wardmasters T. HOLMES and SUNDA SINGH performed their duties to my entire satisfaction.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Dr. J. M. ATKINSON,
Principal Civil Medical Officer,
&c.,
$0.9
&c.
JAMES A. Lowsox,
Acting Medical Officer.