347
Annexe F.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER IN CHARGE OF VICTORIA GAOL.
The post of Medical Officer was held, in succession, by Dr. J. C. THOMSON and Dr. W. V. M. Kocn, for three and five months, respectively. My appointment dated from September 1st.
The general health of the Gaol Staff has been good.
The sanitary condition of the Gaol is satisfactory, though overcrowding still obtains.
The daily average number of prisoners was 697. The Belilios Reformatory, on account of its more healthy surroundings, has been used for the accommodation of 100, short sentence prisoners, which leaves a daily average population of 597 in the Gaol itself, which properly provides accommodation for only slightly over 500 inmates. However, the general health of the prisoners has been good.
This
The admissions to Hospital numbered 441, as compared with 893 last year. rednction, however, is due to the small number (179) being taken into the wards for par- poses of observation, as compared with 624 last year. As the majority of these cases are found to be malingering this diminuti n is very satisfactory. There is a slight increase in the percentage of out-patients, that is, trivial cases, including parasitic skin conditions, treated in the cells. The rate of total sickness was 4.39 % of the average daily population of the Gaol, as compared with 3.86 % in 1904, 5.77 % in 1903 and 7.25 % in 1902.
One case of Plagne and two of Enteric Fever occurred. Dysentery, which is below the average for previous years.
There' were only 29 cases of
There were 52 cases of Malarial Fever, the figures for recent years being :
1900,
1901.
1902,
1903,
1904, 1905,.
..163
98
63
93
59
لان
Newly admitted prisoners are carefully examined for parasitic and venereal disease, and, if necessary, put under treatment forthwith; there were treated as out-patients 62 cases of Scabies, 303 Pediculosis, 97 Ringworm, 40 syphilis (23 Primary, 17 Secondary) and 24 Gonorrhoea. The total number of out-patients, including the foregoing, was 1,020.
Two thousand nine hundred and eighty-four prisoners were vaccinated.
Two births occurred in the Female Prison. Mother and child did well in both cases.
Seven prisoners were discharged on medical grounds (beri-beri, lung diseases, &c.) as compared with twenty-two last year.
There were 18 deaths from natural causes. Three Europeans were executed.
No case of corporal punishment required any after-treatment.
I append the following Tables:
L.
Disease and Deaths in 1905.
II. Rate of Sickness and Mortality in 1905.
III. Vaccinations in the Gaol during the past ten years. IV. General Statistics of the Gaol during the past ten years.
WILLIAM B. A. MOORE.