PUBLIC
24
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPI-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
133
}
[219]
The means described in my last year's Report as having bon nilopted to check the number of cases of Ulver have proved so efficient that only 13 admissions to Hospital under this head are recorded in 1867, against 281 in 1860, of these 13 ad- missions in 1887, two terminated fatally; in 1866 there were 18 deaths from Cleer. It is however necessary to keep the strictest watch apon the prisoners to prevent them from injuring themselves, with the object of escaping from the now really heavy work in the chain gangs, und which they occasionally succeed in accomplishing, eren in spite of the greatest care taken of them, and the important improvement in the formation and finish of the irons lately imported from England.
Remittent Fever has proved the source of the greatest Mortality, there were 15 admissions to Hospital, and 4 deaths, among the Chinese from this cause.
The deterrent effect of the public flogging which was at one time of monthly occurrence has been shewn by the fact that it has not been necessary to go through this ceremony for the last six months,
Table XVIII--Shows the rate of sickness and Mortality in Victoria Gaol from the year 1315 to the year 1807, with the exception of the four years from 1834 to 1837, both inclusive, of which no records appear to have been kept. By this table at will be seen that the past year has shewn the smallest Mortality, in reference to the total number of prisoners, in any but the two years 1850 and 1860,
The building is, as usual, a model of cleanliness and good order. Under the management of the present able Superinten dent any improvements have been made during the last twelve months, and that principally with the convict labor. The Hall and Yards have been relaid with beautifully smooth granite, neatly cemented, which does not retain the dirt and moisture in the same manner as the roughly hewn stone pavement formerly employed. Shels have either been built, or are in course of erection, round three sides of the opea varts, which will prove of great benefit in protecting the prisoners in those yards, either for purposes of exercise ur labor, from the effects of sua amd rain. Open ironwork gates have been placed at the end of each passage, so as to permit of better classification, and greater safety of the prisoners. A similar arrangement replaces the old wooden doors of the cells, and, when completed, will nearly double the cubic space of air allotted to each prisoner, beides insuring a better watch over his movements, and, lastir, gas is being introducel thronghout the establishment, which, while it adds to the cleanliness and security of the Gaol, materially assists the care and attention to the sick.
IV. THE LOCK HOSPITAL
It is my intention to devote a much larger portion than usual of my Report to this institution, and the working of the present Orlizance for the check of infectious disease. That Ordinance has been ou trial for nearly ten years, and has done singulur service, and it is only justice to it's framers to reeved it's working, before the more perfected legislation of last year becomes the law of the Colony. This is rendered the more incumbent ou me in consequence of the apparent ignorance of those even who should be better acquainted with its details, as was shown in the evidence given before the committee appointed to enquire into the means of reducing Venereal Disease in the Anny and Navy, the report of which was only published last year. The ignomace therein displayed by Medical Officers who had served in China is most remarkable, eg, one gentleman expresses it as his opinica that the Prostitutes in China are dirtier than in England, whereas the reverse is notoriously the Another Medical Officer, who, in 1863, more than endorsed the undermentioned opinions, is doubtful about the success In opposition to the eridence obtained by of the Hongkong system when he comes to be examined before the committee.*
case.
the committee I shall now record a few deliberate expressions of opinion on the part of officers fully qualified to express them- selves on the subject.
Deputy Inspector General Dr. Home, forinerly Principal Military Medical Oficer here, and who had experience of the Colony before the introduction of the Ordinance, as well as after, writes to me in February, 1863: “on behalf of the Army Medical Officers stationed kere, I have pleasure in expressing to you the great advantage we have derived from the excellent Venerval disease, from being but a few years ago one of the most "sanitary arrangements in force in regard to Prostitutiva. “common causes of unfitness for duty here, has now become of comparatively rare occurrence."
The evidence of Dr. Bernard, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals aud Fleets, conveyed to me in a letter dated 27th "I am enabled to say that true Syphilis is now rarely contracted by our January last, is even more satisfactory: he writes. ** uten in Hongkong.”
Table XI-Is an approximative estimate of the Mortality among Foreign Residents in Hongkong during the last ten rears. The data from which it is compiles are furnished to ine, so far as the number of Residents is concerned, by the Registrar General, and by the Sixtons of the two cemeteries, so far as the deaths are concerned. This table does not embrace Soldiers, Sailors, whether employed in the Navy or the Merchant Service, or those who have been buried from the Fospital Table XIV, already referred to at the commencement of this Report, gives similar information, as far as it could be collected, from the year 1845 to the present date, by which it will appear that 1862 alone stood higher in the scale of salubrity than 1867. It must not, however, be forgotten, in drawing up statistical tables of the Health of this Colony, that the character of the population is by no means analogous to that of England, that there are comparatively few females and children among the Resident Foreigners, the two combined not equalling in number the adult males, that paupers are not numerous, and of that, for the most part those suffering from chronic sickness are sent away from the Island, still I believe that after making every allysance, the result will compare favorably with that of any other settlement of similar extent situated on the verge
the Truses,
Table XII-Gives the usual information regarding the work performed by the Inspectors of Nuisances attached to this Department.
Talde XIII—Shews the annual mean state of the atmosphere during the year 1867, as recorded at the Government Civil
J. I. MURRAY, M.D., Colonial Surgeon.
← And as if ignorance was courted, 1 find is stated in the Report of the Health of the Royal Saxy for 1865, in reference to Hongkong:- "the Sanitary regulations that were for some prats enforced with god efket have lately been greatly neglected, and are now, I believe, scaredy * attended to in any particular."!!!
Мостна.
131
1.-POLICE
TABLE shewing the ADMISSIONS into Hospital and Deaths during the Year 1807.
TOTAL TOTAL
Deaths. Admissions.] Deaths.
EUROPEANS.
COLORED
Chixes.
Admissions. Deaths. |Admissions. Deaths. Admissions.
January, February,
18
1
9
6
March,
April,
11
May,
8
June,
July,
11
Augusty
17
September,
10
19
October, November,
25
17
24
December,..
15
20
Total,.
104
3
255
28823882838 | 3
¦mmatim com
4
115 co co co na co mi é
8
33
*:*:*:*:::::
58
40
43
888963978338 | 2
49
34
1
432
2.—TABLE skewing the Rate of Sicksess and MORTALITY in the POLICE FORCE during the Year 1867.
AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Colored.
Europeans.
84
352
I 1
12
TOTAL SICK.
TOTAL DEATHS.
RATE OF SICKNESS,
Chinese.
Total.
RATE OF MORTALITY.
2.12
130
per cent.
566
452
12
79.85 per cent.
3-TABLE shewing the Rare of SICKNESS and MORTALITY of the TROOPS serving in Hozakona, during the Year 1887.
STRENGTH.
ADMISSIONS INTO HOSPITAL.
DEATHS.
RATE OF SICKNESS.
White. Black. Total
White. Block. Total. White. Black,
Total
151.785
785
335 1,120
1,049 G51
1,700
11
20
37
per cent
RATE OF MORTALITY.
3.303
per cant