L 8
Appendix.
ANNUAL REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS.
MEDICAL.
The following is the report of the resident Medical Officer, Hong Kong Prison for 1939:
Dr. G. I. Shaw carried out the duties of Medical Officer till 4.8.39, when he went on home leave. He was relieved by Dr. A. H. Barwell.
2. Total admissions to Hong Kong Prison, Stanley during 1939 were 11,964. Of these 824 were 50 years of age and over,
3. Total admissions to the Prison Hospital during the year were 2,467, daily average of hospital patients being 46.96. This figure does not include patients kept under observation in "G" Block, now attached to the hospital.
4. Total number of prisoners reporting sick was 16,772, making a daily average of 54.1.
5. Total number of prisoners on outdoor treatment during the year was 38,856. These prisoners attended hospital twice daily for treatment making a daily average of 212.9.
6. On admittance to prison 204 prisoners were directly admitted to hospital, 2,174 placed untasked in cell, and 1,816 on half-labour.
7. The following were the principal diseases prisoners were suffering from on admittance to prison:--
Chronic Tuberculosis 372 Chronic Opium Poisoning 272 Heroin 1,020 Scabies 2,171 Venereal Disease 360 Hernia 136 Tinea 151 Myocarditis 1238. During the year there were 63 deaths. Twenty of these were caused by pulmonary tuberculosis.
9. The following transfers took place during the year
To Queen Mary Hospital 12 To Mental Hospital 7 To Infectious Diseases Hospital ...10. 7 prisoners were released on medical grounds suffering from leprosy. On completion of the Isolation Block (at present under construction) leper prisoners will be isolated and treated as prisoners until termination of their sentence before being sent to a suitable institution, if required.
11. Only one case of cholera was reported to the Health Department. There were 610 cases of other infectious diseases also reported, mostly T.B. and dysentery.