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TITLIC.O. 133
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246
1. THE POLICE.
The Police Force of this Culony, with all its disadvantages in the material of which it is composed and the trials to which it is exposed, is eminently remarkable for one quality: that of its sanitary condition.
Table I. shews the number of mimissions into, and the deaths in, the Hospital, of Members of the Police Force, during every mouth of 1865,
Table II, shows the rate, per cent, of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year.
Although the average strength of the Foren was considerably greater in 1805 than in the preceding year, the mortality was not much increased and still reuminol very low; 1.03 per cent, while the rate of sickness was only 18.19 per cent, which is not much above that of the previous year. The health of this body of men is maiuly attributable to the care which is taken of them, the comfortable quarters in the New Central Station which they now occupy, the sufficient and suitable clothing which is supplied to them and the monthly inspections they undergo for the detection of renereal disease. I am also glad to be able to report that there has been a great dimination in the number of lupostors, feigning disease, to avoid night duty, or punish- ment, admitted into Hospital.
Tuble III, kindly furnished to me by Dr. Dick, the Principal Military Medical Officer, gives a comparative Return of the health of the Troops serving in Hongkong, from which it will be seen that the rate of mortality was more than double what it had been in 1964 and this Table does not include the great amaber of deaths which occurred among the invalided soldiers after leaving Hongkong. It forms no part of my daty to enter into the question of the probable cause of this great difference in the health of two bodies of disciplined men, performing somewhat similar duties, I therefore abstain from any comment on this portion of the subject.
II. THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
Table IV. gives the number of admissions into and the mortality in this Hospital during the year 1805, to which is added for the purpose of comparison the average number of admissions and deaths during eight years. By this table it will be seen that the admissions (1357) during the past year have been nearly double the
average umber.
Table V. gives the rate of mortality in the Civil Hospital, during the past eight 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 Hospital The rate of mortality shews an improvement in comparison with that of the preceding year; but it is still high, as might have been expected from the temporary and imperfect nature of the accommodation available, for the treatment of patients, until the completion of the new buildings. Although the death rate in the Seaman's Hospital has been below that in the Civil Hospital, it is very much above that of the Europeans and Indians treated in the latter Institution, and with them alone a comparison can fairly be institated,
In the Civil Hospital the rate of mortality has been higher than it has been since 1858, But after all this is more apparent than real, for in the case of European patients the rate has been more favorable than during the two preceding years, while in the case of Indians it does not much surpass the average: it is among the Chinese that the great increase of mortality has ocentred, and this is owing in part to the number of nearly moribund patients admitted whilst suffering under Yellow fever or starvation, and who, sithongh only a short time umiler treatment, greatly increase the death rate. Whether it was owing to the great commercial depression of the past year or to the greater facility for poor people reaching Hongkong from China, it is certain that a much larger proportion ultimately came to the Civil Hospital than in former years. Among the two classes of patients just mentioned, namely those suffering from Yellow fever and starvation, there were 49 Chinese who died; this number, if deducted from 163, the total number of deaths, would at once reluce the death rate to a little over 9 per cent.
Two Europeans were admitted under the heading of starvation." The arrangement by which destitute Europeans cap now, us for some months past, find shelter and food in the Gaol, will I trust enable me to omit this heading for the future in reference to Europeans.
Altogether the result of the last year's treatment in this Institution has been very satisfactory.
III. THE GOAL.
Table VII. shews the number of admissions into the Gaol Hospital, and deaths there during the year 1865, with the average number of admissions and deaths during eight years, as a means of comparison.
Table VIII. shews the rate of sickness and imortality in the Gaol Hospital as compared with the total number of prisoner. and with the number treated during the year 1865.
The great mortality of the past year is mainly attributable to the epidemic of Yellow fever which I have already described; from which cause alone there occurred 40 deaths.” If these are omitted from the calculation the death rate is at once reduced below the average.
The building is clean, well ventilated and admirably well managed, so as to secure the most satisfactory sanitary condition of the prisoners.
An important change has been introduced in the mode of punishment adopted for graver crimes among the Chinese. I refer to the public whipping post and the substitution of the "Cat" for the rattan. Having been present and narrowly watched the culprits during most of those public floggings and treated them subsequently in Hospital, I can state without hesitation, that for the majority of adult Chinese the punishment is not such as to affect their health, and if the Surgeon in attendance has the power, as at present, to stay the hand of the operator at once, the number of strokes, now administered need not be altered I desire however to suggest that a better form of whipping post be adopted, to enable the buck to be better stretched; and is this manner the man Bogging may apply his strokes with more regularity, I would also suggest that where more than tw floggings are ordered to be given within six months, the intermediate one be, at the direction of the Surgeon when he consider it necessary, given within the Gasl on the buttocks, instead of on the back and shoulders. The object with which this chang is suggested, is to meet the difficulty of getting the skin sufficiently healed within two months, so as to enable the culprit hear a second flogging, more especially when the men are well aware that they are interested in retarding a cure. Of the salutary effect of the punishment I have nothing to say, but of the dread with which the prisoners view it I can speak confidently!
The numbers confined in Victoria Gaol during the year were:
Еигореаль
Chinese.......................................
The daily average was 5605, of which number 71 died.
020
221
.3,995
Total,..
.4,830
KAL
The following Return is in continuation of the table I gave last year shewing the change in weight which long sentenc European prisoners undergo after several years confinement,
247
The Monthly weight of European Pais0xxus confined in. Victoria Gaol in the Year, 1865.
126
NAK.
SENTENCE.
*ANYONYN
FEBRUARY.
Manen.
APRIL
*AVK
JUNK.
*170
139
*LÁDAY
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
745
ARUNKORČÍ
C. W.
Life,
W. M.
Life,
150 147
W. H.
Life,
150 148
148 140 183 152 149 132 140
163 148
150 150
149
140
14
C. A.
Life,
158 157
147 163 140 147 14 138 158 150
144 145
144
148
145
140
135
125
134
154
138
151
150 154
153
157
157
150
181
A. J...
Lafe,
A. B
Life,
B
10 years,
W. S A.S.. F. X.
8 years,
159 163 155 153 16:1 164 100 109
108 112 184
153
150
145
147
148
147
147
142 104 105 165
184 105
166
102
167
112 113 1101 100
309
112
112
113
116
3 Years,
130 140
18:33 139 190 140 151 150 104
130 131
132
1:30
139
135
199
145 145
199
1:30
143
141
3 years,
135 140
144
144
149 143 130 135 138
139
128
180
E. M. W. D.
6 Years,
127
120
124
1:7
124 100 179
121
123
129
194
127
3
year,
130
127
•
J. D..
A. T.
7 years, 4 years,
159 159 161 101 137 137 137 139
160 1:50 157 155 143 140
136 137
155
156
155
+
IV. THE CONVICT HULK
140
Table IX. shews the rate of sickness and mortality, in the Courict Hulk at Stone Cutter's Island, during the past year. The result is not so satisfactory as it was in 1804 which is another proof of the sickly character of the past season. Notwithstanding this the men appear for the most part robust and healthy and are well cared for, while at the same time imprisonment to them is somewhat more than mere detention; as they are really obliged to work.
It is somewhat remarkable that not a single case of Yellow fever occurred on the island. This is in part no doubt attribut- able to the great care taken in sending prisoners thither to avoid sending any who were likely to convey the disease.
V. THE LOCK HOSPITAL
Table X. gives all necessary information in regard to this lastitation. The good it does is undoubted; the good it might do were all unlicensed brothels suppressed is incalculable. At present many of the worst cases of infected women escape entirely the beneficial operation of the Ordinance, by removing to unlicensed houses, where they propagate infection without hindrance, to the great injury of the troops and sailors. Greater stringency is required to meet this evil as the prevalence of venereal disease is again becoming the subject of complaint on the part of the Military and Naval Medical authorities. I beliers that if any plan can be devised so as to bring the whole of the prostitutes of the Colony under the system of periodical examination, as adopted in regard to the licensed houses, the disease would become nearly unknown here. "As it is I am certain that very few cases of disease are contracted in the licensed houses, from their nominal inmates.
Table XI. is an approximative estimate of the Mortality among Foreign Residents in Hongkong during the last eight rears. The data from which it is compiled are furnished to me, so far as the number of Residents is concerned, by the Registrar General, and by the Sextous of the two cemetaries so far as the deaths are concerned. These data however exclude in both cases Military, Navel and Merchant Seamen, as well as those who have been buried from the Hospitals. From this table it appears that the Residents actually died in smaller numbers than in the preceding year. From the manner in which the table is compiled, it is impossible to say positively, whether the amount of sickness as well as the mortality has been less, but I am inclined to believe that it has really been very much greater, and that the actual rate of mortality has only not appeared by reason of the number of invalids who have left the Colony, either in time to recover their health, or to be counted in the death returns of some other place. I believe that it is the opinion of the majority of the medical practitioners here, that no such sickly year as the past, has been experienced since 1858.
Table XII. gives the usual information regarding the work performed by the Inspector of Nuisances attached to this Department.
Table XIII. shews the annual mean state of the atmosphere during the year 1805, as recorded at the Government Civil Hospital.
Abnormalities. Intense Jaundice. Fluidity of the Blood.
Congestion of Viscera,
Enlargement and
brittleness of liver.
Greenish black fluid
in stomach.
• Discharged.
APPENDIX.
J. I. MURRAY, M.D., Colonial Surgeon.
Post Mortem Examination of bodies of Prisoners who died of yellow ferær.
Skin, conjunctiva and cartilages of riba, &c., of greenish yellow hue. In one instance only was there any attempt at coagulation: it consisted in a small clot in the left ventricle. In every case the spleen was very much distended (in one weighing 28 ounces). Diaphragmatic surface of liver generally of a mottled appearance, and sometimes coated with reddish serum. Surface of kidneys at times very vascular, Mucous membrance of stomach near pylorus generally intensely congested, and in many cases studded with spots of blood. The heart in ons instance had several spots of blood on its surface. A slight turg escence of blood in the brain in one instance. Liver much increased in size and but little in weight. The substance pale and presenting numerous oil globules under the microscope. The gall bladder always contained bile of a very liquid
character.
This fluid resembled that contained in the gall bladder, but was much more viscid. In one instance there was a similar fluid in the colon, and in the same case there was about four ounces of chocolate colured urine in the bladder.
Transferred to Conviet Halk Royal Saxon.