454
Annexe G.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER IN CHARGE OF VICTORIA GAOL.
There was one case of Enteric Fever amongst the European Staff, which unfortunately proved fatal, otherwise the general health of the Gaol Staff has been good.
The sanitary condition of the Gaol is satisfactory. Throughout the year there has been no overcrowding. The daily average number of prisoners was 518, which is slightly over the number which the Gaol properly accommodates; however, as from 50 to 80 short sentence prisoners are always accommodated in Belilios Reformatory, the daily population of the Gaol has been well below the full complement. The general health of the prisoners has been good. The admissions to Hospital numbered 355, and of these 114 were admitted for observation and found malingering, leaving a total of 241 suffering from diseases, a percentage of a little over 4 on the total admissions to the Gaol,
The rate of total sickness was 4.81 per cent. of the average daily population of the Gaol, as compared with 4-39 per cent. in 1905, 3.86 per cent. in 1904, 577 per cent. in 1903, and 7-25 per cent. in 1902.
There were 38 cases of Dysentery as compared with 29 last year. This disease prevails chiefly towards the end of Spring and Autumn, and appears to be more severe in the cold weather. There is a marked reduction in the number of cases of Malaria treated in hospital. This is the more remarkable as the disease was more prevalent throughout the Colony than in recent years. The following figures show the number treated in the Gaol Hospital for recent years :-
1900,
·1901,
1902, ...
1903,
1904,
.163
98
63
93
59
52
22
1905, 1906,
Newly admitted prisoners are carefully examined for parasitic and venereal disease, and, if necessary, put under treatment forthwith; there were treated as out-patients-57 cases of Scabies, 113 Ringworm, 34 Syphilis (13 Primary, 21 Secondary) and 7 Gonorrhea. The total number of out-patients, including the foregoing, was 681. Two births occurred in the Prison. Mother and child did well in both cases. Eleven prisoners were discharged on medical grounds (5 Small Pox, 1 Leper, 1 Melancholia, 1 Ruptured Spleen, and 3 General Diseases).
The small number discharged for General Diseases accounts for the slight increase in
the number of deaths.
All the cases of Small Pox contracted the disease outside the Gaol.
The
One prisoner was murdered, by a fellow workman, in the Shoemakers' shop. wind pipe and all the large vessels of the neck were completely severed by a blow from a peculiarly shaped knife used for en ting leather. Death was practically instantaneous. The murderer was subsequently executed.
There were 18 deaths from natural causes, 1 murder, and four executions.
No case of corporal punishment required any after-treatment.
I append the following Tables;—
I.-Diseases and Deaths in 1906.
II.-Rate of Sickness and Mortality for 1906.
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, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., (Ireland).