The admissions were less than last year, the deaths more by one, but the amount of sickness is not so surprising as it was in 1877, for then it was among troops that had been here a year and had previously come from Malta. Whereas last year it was among troops that had in the beginning of the year arrived from Singapore, and had been through a campaign in the Tropics. Here also there is n considerable increase in the number of cases of venereal disease, but of the 221 cases recorded, only 11 showed constitutional symptoms.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
On the 26th of December, the temporary Government Civil Hospital was burnt down. Such short notice of its danger was given, owing to the rapidity with which the conflagration of the buildings below it spread, that there was only time to remove the patients, instruments and records, some of which were lost in removal. The furniture, bedding, stores and library of the Hospital were all burnt. The attendants also lost most of their things, being engaged in removing the Government pro- perty that I have mentioned as being saved from the fire. No thought of the fire spreading with such rapidity to the Hospital had been entertained, and the attendants had been on the alert all night ex- pecting cases of injury might be brought in every moment, but though over 300 houses were com pletely destroyed, no case of injury fortunately occurred requiring to be brought to Hospital.
Our troubles concerning the Government Civil Hospital are now worse than ever.
One building was destroyed by a typhoon in 1874, and another has been this year destroyed by fire. Both these buildings were, as has been frequently reported, inadequate in their accommodation. Now the Lock Hospital, which was well fitted for the work it was built for, is quite inadequate for the use it is put to as a temporary Civil Hospital, and the temporary Small Pox Wards are inadequate for the use they have been put to as a temporary Lock Hospital. Some rooms in the ruined Hospital destroyed in 1874, being used as Small Pox Wards are not watertight, but fortunately Small Pox is only prevalent during the dry season; they could not be used for any purpose during the typhoon season, as the building would not be safe. All these troubles have been fully reported on, and it is to be hoped that the proposed Government Civil Hospital accommodation, which has been so long coming, will soon be anong the things that are, having all the requisites necessary for the comfort and well-being of the sick as well as the officers and attendants attached to it.
this
There has been a considerable increase in the number of patients received into the Civil Hospital year, both medical and surgical cases, and the limited accommodation gave serious inconvenience, bat the percentage of mortality among the patients received has been less than in any previous year, except 1876, as shewn by Table VI.
Table V shows the type of disease. Fevers and Bowel complaints being predominant, the former being chiefly of the milder forms, only one case of death occurring in over 300 cases of all types of Fever admitted. There has been a considerable increase in the number of venereal cases admitted, but I am happy to say those contracted in Hongkong have been of the mildest type.
Table VII shows the admissions and denths in this Hospital for every month in the year. The greatest number of admissions took place in the month of August, but from May to November, the number averaged over 120 per month, the admissions for the other five months averaging under 90 per month.
Table VIII shows the number of dead bodies brought to Hospital, which, as usual, were princi pally Chinese.
The Staff worked well, although the loss of Mr. BOTELITO's services caused considerable inconve nience. Mr. SENNA, who acted for him, though painstaking and willing, not having had the same amount of experience, could not fill the void left by Mr. A. A. BOTELHO, but for all that deserves praise and credit for the way in which he has performed his duties.
VICTORIA GAOL.
The medical charge of this Establishment is in my lands. There has been a greater number of adinissions to Hospital than usual and a greater number of deaths. The number of cuses allowed to leave the Guol with conditional pardons on account of disease have been fewer, which partly accounts for the increased number of deaths, but the main cause was the number of heart complaints: of these 22 were cases of general Anasarca, and the heart disease was first brought to notice by complaints of difficulty of breathing, rheumatic pains and swelling of the lower extreinities. Ultimately in all these cases general Anasarca occurred, the whole body limbs and fuce being swollen to an immense size. Some of the cases that recovered and are still in Gaol appeared worse than others that died. Of the cases that died nearly all were examined post-mortem, and in all these so examined the disease was similar, dilated right side of the heart; in some cases the wall so thin as to be almost transparcut: dropsical effusion into the pericardium and abdomen, and general congestion of all the internal organs. All these cases occurred in the beginning of the year in the cold months, a large number of Bronchitis and rheumatic cuses occurring at the same time, many more than usual being of a severe type, I was puzzled to account for them; till at last I discovered the cells were being washed by regulation s inany times a week, weather not being taken into account, so that on dull damp days the cell floors never dried at all, and the prisoners slept on them damp as they were almost when first washed.