있
449
Table XIII. gives the rate of mortality in the Civil Hospital, during the past seven years, distinguishing the rate in the case of Europeans from Colored persons and Chinese.
Table VI, kindly sent to me by the Resident Surgeon, Dr. Adams, gives information in reference to the Seaman's Hos- pital similar to what may be gathered from Table V. in regard to the Civil Hospital.
Table VII. I have constructed on the same plan as Table IV., so as to give the number of admissions into the Seaman's Hospital, during the last seven years, with the result of the treatment in encli case.
It cannot be denied, that the result is not so satisfactory as might be desired; I can only repeat, however, what I have already mentioned in these Reports, that no fair rate can be looked for, until the building and appliances for treatment are placed upon a very different footing from that which they now present; at the sumetime, it must not be forgotten, that, among the number of admissions, there are not dozens of inoribund destitutes brought within the walls only to die, as cons- tantly occurs in the Civil Hospital.
In the Civil Hospital the result of treatment has been more satisfactory than it was in 1868, but is still above the average, and much above what it was in 1860-61 and 62; this high rate has been maintained by the epidemic of small pox, already referred to-by a great increase in the number of admissions of cases of Diarrhoea-by an altogether unusual number of severe cases of wounds, more especially of the abdomen, a most formidable class to treat; and, lastly, by the smaller but still large, number of cases of starvation and destitution, many of which are admitted almost dead, but go to swell the rate of mortality.
Still the death rate in the Civil Hospital of this Colony, is not so high but that it will bear favorable comparison with that in European Hospitals, as may be gathered from an examination of Table XIII. with the following data.
Rate of mortality iu the following Hospitals in the
St. George's.. Charing Cross Great Northern University College. St. Bartholomew's King's College.. Hôpital Cochin Hotel Dieu
} (Paris)
year
1802.
وو
8.3 per cent.
8.2 11.2
1)
"J
10.7
12.00 12.91
17
37
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>>
Our average for seven years is only 8.79 per cent, and last year was 9.63 per cent-a rate for which there is great reason to be thankful.
It remains a matter for serious consideration, however, that there were no less than four admissions resulting from star- 'vation among Europeans, and that two of that number died.
Many improvements have taken place during the past year in the establishment itself. Among these the most important are the introduction of proper latrines and baths; increased pay to the wardmasters, who are consequently more attentive to the patients; monthly Reports from the Superintendent, forwarded to His Excellency the Governor, pointing out repairs and alterations required; and, lastly, regular visitation by the Justices of the Peace. With the present system in force, I look confidently for even better results than we have yet obtained-results which would appear almost incredible when compared with those of 1858, but not more marked than the contrast between the present condition of the Institution, and that which it presented in 1858.
III. THE GAOL.
Table VIII, shews the number of admissions into the Gaol Hospital, and deaths there during the seven years ending 31st December, 1864.
Table IX. shews the rate of admissions into the Gaol Hospital, and the rate of mortality there during the same seven years.
The death rate, although somewhat higher in 1864 than in the previous year, was not equal to the average of seven years, nor much above that of several of our English Prisons. There occurred no disease in an epidemic form, and the deaths generally were such as could in no way be attributed to the system of incarceration. Of the two Europeans who died, one, a soldier, was from disease of the heart, which proved fatal from excitement at the moment when he was about to be sent on board ship, for removal to England; he fell dead in the Court Yard, in presence of his escort-the second died of serous apoplexy, the result of prolonged intoxication prior to admission.
The building is clean and well ventilated, and under its present able management should maintain the satisfactory sanitary condition for which it has been long known.
The numbers confined in Victoria Gaol during the year wore:-
Europeans,
Indians,. Chinese,.
The daily average was 447 of which number only 16 died.
Total,.
800 Lee in sh
176
.2,408
.3,478
large
The following is a curious table, shewing how far Europeans are affected in health by long imprisonment as proved by their weight.
NAME.
SENTENCE.
C. W. J. P.
JANUARY.
FEBRUARY.
MARCH.
APRIL.
MAY.
JUNE.
Araf
AUGUST.
SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
DECEMBER.
938896:::
W. M. R. I.
Life,.
Life,.
17 years,
18 years,
W. S.
8 years,
W. D.
3 years,
131
W. II.
Life,
155 154 150 153 152 150 151 119 119 122 117 118 110 113 114 116 146 147 152 146 149 145 146 147 145 145 144 143 134 138 135 129 129 135 183 132 130 127 126 126 120 130 134 127 128 126 130 131 181 131 154 154 152 150 146 142 150 142 142
150 148 147
145
145
*
147
147
150
*
120
129
130
180
143
143
140
C. A.
Life,
J. D.
years,.
G. B.
years,
W. H.
years,,
140 146 145 147 145 140 145 154 155 152 153 154 148 151 150 150 148 165 167 162 162 162 160 162 150 147 147 140 141 138 140 144 142
160
157
157
*
*
*
ཝེ ནིཀྑགའོ;::
It will be seen that, as a
rule, the men lose weight in the summer, which they generally regain in winter. The talle also points out the fact of two prisoners, out of the four named in the table as condemned for life, who have gone on steadily gaining weight, contrary to what might be expected to occur to men who have lost all hope of freedom.
The table is only thic commencement of a series of observations I propose to make on this subject.
IV. THE CONVICT HULK.
Table X. shews the rate of sickness and mortality, in the Convict Hulk at Stone Cutters' Island, during the past year. The result shewn here is very satisfactory. The total number of prisoners was 412 against 384 in 1863-giving a daily average of about 284 against 250 in 1863, and the rate of both sickness and mortality markedly diminished.
In 1803 the rate of mortality, to the total number of prisoners, was 10.067 per cent and to the average 16.40 per cent, while in 1864 it was only 1.69 per cent to the total, and 2.06 to the average number of prisoners.
The Hulk was visited daily by the Surgeon appointed to perform that duty and was inspected by me from time to time. During these inspections, some of which were made in the middle of the night, I directed my attention especially to the tem- perature between decks and to the state of ventilation. The latter appeared to me very good and the following Table will show what the temperature was :--
Month. January,.
Maximum. .85
Minimum.
60
February,
651
.60
March,
.72
.63
April,
.83
.71
May,
.88
.78
June,
.88
.80
July,
.89
.82
August,
.00
83
September,
.80
.78
October,.
$3
78
.78 ......74
70
.58
November,. December,
I think this result very satisfactory, and the fact of an increased number of Convicts, on board the vessel, presenting such a marked degres of health, shows how unfounded was the notion that the Royal Saxon had been overcrowded in 1863.
V. THE LOCK HOSPITAL,
I have to report the continued good derived from this Institution and the working of Ordinance No. 12 of 1807, by which it was established.
Table XI. affords instructive information on this subject.
It points out how, during the seven years the Ordinance has been in force, 2,436 infected women have been segregated from the localities in which they could convey infection, and that during a total of 65.010 days-in other words, supposing that every infected woman would only convey the disense to one man, during each day she was so diseased, we have 65,916 cases of disease prevented, or at least that number of opportunities of conveying the disease prevented. But this must be greatly below the amount of good done, for without the present system the women would probably continge infected for a much longer time, and it is certainly a very low estimate to say that each one would only infect one man a day. This table points out further, that the duration of treatment has steadily diminished up to last year. referable to two causes, viz.: the return from Shanghai and the North of many badly diseased women, and some imperfections The increased ratio I believe to be in the Ordinance, which the women have discovered and hy which they are enabled to evade the Inspector of Brothels. I believe that it will be necessary to revise this Ordinance, and amend it so as to meet the changes in the Town and the defects in its working, for it behoves us to maintain the reputation we have gained for a station, once notoriously infected, having nearly purged itself of the foul disease.
In the year 1802 the enormous prevalence of Venereal disease in the Army and Navy, caused a Royal Commission to be issned, for the purpose of devising measures to check, in some manner, its spread. In the "Confidential Report" issued thereon, the good work begun in this Colony is thus acknowledged: "Too much ereilit cannot be given to those who have "been concerned in the framing and working of the enactments which have produced such good effects at Malta and Hong- "kong." But it will require unremitting attention to deserve a continuance of such commendation.
Table XII. gives fuller details as to the character of the disease, and average duration of treatment during every month of the year 1864.
Table XIV, is an approximative estimate of the mortality among Foreign Residents in Hongkong, during the last seven years. The data from which it is compiled are furnished to me by the Registrar General as regards the number of Residents, and by the Sextons of the two cemeteries as regards the deaths, excluding in both cases military, and naval and merchant scomen, as well as burials from the Hospitals. A further deduction of no less than 42 out of the 151 deaths recorded must be made for the wives and children of soldiers, a class of the community peculiarly sickly. In this manner of compiling the table it appears, as there were good grounds to expect, that the past year has been more healthy than 1863 and the mortality among the actual Residents smaller. But there are many difficulties in the way of obtaining accurate information for statis- purposes. Among these must not be forgotten, the peculiarly migratory character of our Foreign population, and the reputation Hongkong lias attained as a sanatarium in China thus bringing many sick here for change. Should it ever bo found advisable to appoint a registrar of births, deaths and marriages, and make the registration compulsory many of the difficulties now existing would disappear.
tical
Table XV. gives the usual information regarding the work performed by the Inspector of Nuisances attached to this Department.
Table XVI. shows the annual mean state of the atmosphere during the year 1804, as recorded at the Government Civil Hospital. It points out the great increase in the fall of rain, and the lower range of the Thermometer and Barometer.
J. I. MURRAY, M.D., Colonial Surgeon.
*These men were removed to Stone Cuttors' Island.