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Report on the Gaol Hospital.
Hongkong, 29th February, 1904.
£,-I have the honour to submit the Annual Medical Report on the sanitary condition of the Victoria Gaol, and the health of the staff and of the prisoners during the year 1903.
Dr. Thoмsex proceeded on leave of absence on the 2nd September, 1903, and I took over medical charge of the Gaol.
Health of Staff - An early victim to the epidemic of plague last year was an Indian Assistant Warder. IsuIR SINGH, who was transferred to Kennedy Town Hospital and died on May 21st, 1903. Five other other Indian officers and one European officer contracted the disease and were promptly transferred to the same hospital. They all, I am glad to say, recovered. Apart from this the general health of the staff was good.
Outbreak of Plague.-On the 24th of April a prisoner under remand shewed signs of plague a few hours after admission. He was taken into the hospital at once but died within a few hours. Sixteen cases occurred after this, six among the staff and ten among the prisoners. Among the staff one case occurred on May 16th, two on May 28th, two on June 3rd, and one on June 7th. Among the pri soners one case occurred on May 22nd, one on May 27th and on May 30th, two on May 31st; one on June 1st, two on June 3rd, one on June 4th, and one on July 16th. Of these cases three, possibly a fourth also, seemed to have contracted the disease in the Gaol; the others showed signs very shortly after admission which admitted of no doubt, but that the disease was already incubating when they were committed to prison. Among the staff, four could be reasonably suspected to have contracted the disease in the prison, the two probably contracted it outside. All the cases were immediately transferred to Kennedy Town Hospital and the Tung Wah Plague Branch. Energetic disinfection of the cells and corridors was carried through. No further cases occurred after July 16th. A Commission was appointed by His Excellency the Governor to investigate into this outbreak and has already reported.
Overcrowding.—The question of overcrowding is still urgent, and is a matter which should be dealt with decisively at an early date. Each year shows a steady increase in the number of committals to Gaol, not merely of short sentence prison- ers but also of long sentence prisoners. The Belilias Reformatory has been used as a gaol, and between ninety and a hundred prisoners are kept there. But the Reformatory is certainly not satisfactory as an ideal prison. In spite of this, and of other drastic measures, it will be noticed that the daily average of pri- soners in Gaol is 653. It is a matter for congratulation that the slight outbreak of plague ceased so quickly, but there is not the last doubt that should by any chance a serious qidemie break out, the condition of affairs will be distinctly a cause for aların.
Sanitary Condition.-Tle sanitary condition of the Gaol continnes satisfactory. The pail system of removal of sewage exists and is perhaps the most suitable under the circumstances The old drains and traps about the entrance yard require attention rgemly.
Dietary. The food was good and wholesome, and of sufficient quantity according to scale: there were practically no complaints among the prisoners re- garding the quality of the food, which was inspected by me at frequent intervals.
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Warming and Ventilation of the Hospital.-Frequently during the past winter the temperature in the hospital has gone down to 54° 52°, and lower--a temperature which is distinctly dangerous to enfeebled and sick persons. In the case of two old men who were admitted into hospital, acute pneumonia supervened in from two to three days, which undoubtedly was caused by or accelerated by the cold. I recommend that before next winter a stovė should be placed in each ward, as has been done in the Tung Wah Hospital, so that by this means a uniform temperature of 60° can be maintained. A slight alteration of the ventilation will have to be arranged in order to permit of the free circulation of fresh air without. the danger of draughts.