PUBLIC RECOD:
། ། ། །
882
48
Forty-eight lashes is the greatest number he has ever seen inflicted at one time; but although men who have been sentenced to receive that number of lashes have frequently had a portion of the punishment remitted in consequence of fainting or other effects of shock, he has never known or read of injury to the internal organs of the chest by my flogging in the Navy. Of course all these men punished were Europeans, in good health, and carefully medically examined before undergoing their punishment.
On the 11th of May, 1878, the flogging of nine culprits on the breech with a rattan was witnessed in Victoria Gaol. Only one required assistance in walking from the flogging place.
On the 14th May six of these men were examined, the others having been discharged. The number of blows had varied from 18 in one instance to 12 in the five others. There was not any sloughing, but in four a great deal of ecchymosis. These men were again examined on the 3rd June. In four the wounds had healed, in two nearly so; in one of these latter a secondary abscess had formed over the left hip joint.
A man who had been punished with 36 strokes of the rattan on the breech on the 1st March, 1878, was examined on the 14th May. The wounds were not healed; there must have been sloughing from the evident loss of substance. On examination on the Bed of June, the wounds were not then healed, though the ulcerated surface was on a level with the surrounding parts and looked healthy. Dr. O'Brien saw this man early in September ; the wounds then were not completely healed. The Colonial Surgeon states on the 18th September," The scars have twice re-opened, whether by chafing of his canvas trousers or "how I cannot say; he has now a small ulcer on one of the scars," In the same letter this officer mentions a man who was flogged about a month ago in whom the left buttock healed rapidly, but the right sloughed and a large ulcer remains which will take mme time to heal.
We have examined the "Regulation Cat,” a “Naval Cat," and the "Rattan," used in the gaol, and and there is little difference between the "Cata," except the knots, which, we were informed, should be three in the gaol cat “over hand,” on each tail, but had not been used, smaller ones being worked on.
The "Rattan" is generally forty-seven inches in length, but there is no regulation as to length. The average circumference is two inches.
On reviewing the preceding details, we find :---
1
1st, we have no evidence to shew that any physical injury has been sustained by any
Chinese prisoner in Victoria Gaol, who has been flogged on the back with the
'Regulation Cat.”
44
2nd, it does not appear to us that pulmonary complaints are unduly prevalent in
Victoria Gaol. 3rd, the evidence submitted to us to prove that flogging on the back produces t Chinese phthisis, or any permanent injury of the internal organs, and the prisoner Leong-a-Loi has been phthisically and physically affected by the Roggings he has received on the back with the regulation gaol cat is inconclusive.
There does not appear to be any record to show the condition of the heart and prior to punishment, based on careful medical examination of all persons punished.
We learn from the Colonial Surgeon that he never saw an Asíatic flogged on the with a cat uusil he came to Hong Kong, and the record of his experianos here at2 to us is imperfect.
M
In deference to his experience in India of flogging on the breech with can fully understand and appreciate the anxiety he felt on witnessing the nập phthisis in men who had been flogged on the back with the cat, and couider i sf action most commendable in bringing the matter under affulak notice, whethe prove or not that the punishment originated or developed disease.
We are of musim that the punishment of flogginge om
Cat," without any!
that the neck is
thess means the blowe
intermedisje spinal
sighteen years of age.
be continued; care being talen
ment of offendem from the
any offenders of more tender
We consider the “Raitan
that the loins be pret
deep into the enllular and museni
muscles
on the ba
(the breeck with
to eighteen,
back with the
a weapon, and its effects are
sues, probabilly producing loss
sloughing mod thus for a long time dilaying the healing of the wounds.
49
We have given careful consideration to all the documents submitted to us. These documents, with other papers and correspondence, are attached as an Appendix. We regret that the ill-health of Deputy Inspector General Wells, by rendering him unable to act for nearly three months, has very much delayed the framing of this report.
Had any clerical assistance been afforded us it would have expedited the completion of the document.
We have, &c.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Honk Kong.
SAM 8. D. WELLS,
Deputy Inspector General,
Royal Navy.
RICHARD A. O'BRIEN, M.D., L.R.C.S.E
filnow ti u bobroka mul sembl
Bhogal yriql
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