PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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DIC.O. 133 26 ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE,
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278
Small-pox was not met with during the past year much more frequently than in 1868, only one admission having taken place at the Government Civil Hospital, although there were 10 cases admit- ted at the Seamen's Hospital, but most of the latter were from vessels.
No epidemic of any kind visited the Colony during the year.
1. THE POLICE.
Both the rate of sickness and the rate of mortality of this Foree have diminished during the past year, and the Returns are therefore very satisfactory.
Table I. shows the number of admissions into, and deaths in, the Hospital, of members of the Police Force, during every month of 1869. The greatest number of admissions took place in Sep- tember, but the greatest number of Europeans were admitted in May.
Table II. shows the rate per cent of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year to be lower than that recorded for many years. Two deaths, however, are not included in the Table, one of a Sergeant murdered at Sowkewan and the second of a Constable who died suddenly in his quarters.
Table III. is compiled from the monthly Returns scut in to the Government by the Military Authorities. It shows that the health of the Troops serving in Hongkong is steadily improving-the ratio of sickness being below that of the Police Force and the death rate lower than that of the civil population (according to the Table.)
the
Table XV. shows the number of cases of contagious disease occurring among the Police, during past nine years, with a classification of the special nature of the disense. The result, if not quite as satisfactory ដ។ might be desired, shows a devidel improvement amongst the Europeans, in compari- son with the previous year.
II. THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
The amount of space provided for the treatment of the sick remains unchanged, and although the Board of Trade patients have been transferred to the Seamen's Hospital, the numbers treated in the Civil Hospital during the past year have only been 62 less than those treated in 1868.
I regret to report that the mortality has been greater among all classes of patients than it was since 1866, that aniong Colored Persons alone excepted.
Table V. which gives the rate of mortality during the last eleven years, distinguishing that of Europeans from Colored Persons and Chinese, shows at a glance that the general mortality has not reached the average except in the mase of Chinese; that the rate of mortality has been nearly donbled mag Europeans in 1869), while among Colored Persons it was little more than half that of 1868, and that the Chinese mortality is slightly in excess of the average.*
By a further examination of Table IV, which gives the number of admissions into, and the mortality in this Hospital during the year 1869, it will be seen that the admissions have increased under the heading of Remittent Fever, Insanity, Neuralgia, Colic, Jaundice, Rheumatism, Poisoning, all forms of Wounds, Contagious Diseases, Drunkenmess and Moribund. The increased mortality resulted from Fever, discases of the Låver, from Phthisis, Destitution and various forms of Wounds. Where there has been any improvement, the diminution in both admissions and mortality has come mider the head of Diarrhura and Dysentery, Ulcers, Delirium Tremens, and Chest affections other than Phthisis. Carbolic acid, as recommended by Dr. J. Lamprey, has been found very effectual in the treatment of Bubocs.
Table IX. shows the number of admissions into and deaths in the Government Civil Hospital during every month of 1869.
During the year, 7 invalids were sent home by the Harbor Master, and I understand they all arrived in safety at their destination.
Table VI.. A B and C, kindly sent to me by the Resident Surgeon, Dr. Adams, gives similar information in reference to the Scamien's Hospital, as the preceding tables give for the Civil Hospital. These Tables are very satisfactory and show à marked improvement in the rate of mortality during the past year.
I cannot omit to note here the great loss sustained by this Department of the Public Service, in the death of Dr. Cochran, who, for four years, performed the duties of Superintendent of the Govern- ment Civil Hopital, with zeal and ability.
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III. THE GAOL.
Table VII, slows the number of admissions into the Gaol Hospital, and the deaths there during year 1869.
Table VIII shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the Gaol Hospital, as compared with the total number of prisoners, and with the number treated during the year 1869. By this table it will be seen that the total number of prisoners has diminished, that the rate of serious sickness was only one third, and the rate of mortality one half, of what it was in 1868, the total number of cases (trifling,) actually treated, being one third less than in the previous year.
* This probably arises from the fact that many moribunil patients were received from the " futur **
179.
The numbers imprisoned in Victoria Gaol, during the past year, were:~
Europeans, Indians,.. Chinese,.
Total,.
708
263
.3,071
4,120
141
The daily average was 165, of which number only 5 died. In 1868 the total number of prisoners was 4,982, the daily average 532, and the deaths 10.
In 1868, the greatest number any one day in Gaol, was on the 8th September, when there were :—-
Europeans, Indians, Chinese,
Total,.
01
20
.513
.020
The smallest number in prison was on the 31st December, when there were:-
Eumpenos, Indians, Chineso,
Total,.
47
10
3832
430
During the past year, both the maximum and minimum number of prisoners have been greatly helow that of the previous year. Thus the greatest mumber confined on any one day in 1869 was on the 10th February, when there were:----
Europeans,
Indians, Chinese,
Toral,..
85 16
.401
.004
The smallest number in Gaol during the same year, was on the 3rd December, when there were :—
Europeans, Indians, Chinese,
Tutul,..
70
18
.304
.302
The greatest amount of sickness occurred on the 28th May, when there were :----
Hospital Cases, Tritling Cases,
Total,.
8
19
27
The smallest amount of sickness was recorded on the 27th November, when there were :——
Hospital Cases, Trifling Cases,..
Total,
&
14
Perhaps the most remarkable change during the past year in the health of the prisoners which deserves notice, is the great diminution of Ulcers-only 1 having been so bad as to require Hospital treatment, against 86 cases in 1868.
With the exception of two deaths from Dysentery, it is impossible to trace the mortality of the past year to any climatic disease; the only other deaths which occurred in 1869, three in number, may be considered as accidental; Dropsy, Insanity, and Apoplexy, are the headings under which they
are recorded.
The wonderfully deterrent effect of public flogging continues to be visible in the less and less recurrence of its employment, and the plan I proposed, some time since, of dismissing a prisoner from the flogging post, so as to be able to impress upon his fellow criminals its actual severity, instead of receiving him first back into Hospital to be cured before dismissal, has worked well.
Great improvement has been made in the building itself, by increasing the accomodation for Turnkeys and Gaol guard. To note that it is kept a model of cleanliness and good discipline, under the able superintendence of Mr. Douglas, becomes almost unnecessary.
IV. THE LOCK HOSPITAL.
Lately the Contagious Diseases Acts have been brought somewhat prominently before public notice, singularly enough by an association of "earnest and pertinacious ladies who are binded together with the avowed object of procuring the repeal of these Acts." It therefore behoves those who like myself, greatly in favor of their extension, and who possess unusual opportunities of judging of their working, to come forward and express their convictions-and I need not therefore hesitate to record, in this Official Report, the result, of about twelve years daily supervision of the system of Inspection and Control, as carried out in this Colony,
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