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There were 13 cases of Beri-beri as compared with 10 last year. The disease was in all cases contracted before admission to the Gaol. The total number of out-patients was 750. The principal diseases were Syphilis 31 (Primary, 11), Diseases of the Respiratory System 158, Scabies 57, Ringworm 98, Gonorrhoea 12.
One birth occurred in the Female Prison. Mother and child both did well.
Twenty-eight prisoners were discharged on medical grounds. (For operation, 5. Insanity, 5. Infectious diseases, 9. Pulmonary Consumption, 5. Broncho-pneumonia, 1. Beri-beri, 2. Paralysis, 1.)
Six cases of Cholera occurred in August. In conjunction with Dr. W. W. Pearse, Acting Medical Officer of Health, I investigated the cause of the epidemic and we submitted a special report. The disease started amongst the prisoners whose duty it was to clean the cells of the newly admitted prisoners, and we concluded that the infection was introduced by some prisoner who only spent one night in gaol, and who was in an early stage of the disease or recovering from a mild attack.
There were 10 deaths from natural causes and 2 suicides by hanging.
No case of corporal punishment required any after treatment.
I append the following Tables:—
1-Diseases and Deaths in 1908.
II. Rate of Sickness and Mortality for 1908.
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).