500
HONG KONG,
4
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
TABLE NO. 5.--Exhibiting the comparative Amount of Sickness and Deaths amongst the Police, in the several months of 1847 and 1848, respectively.
The Number of cases of Sickness and Deaths. Numerical Excess in Cases and Deaths. 1847 1848 1847 1848 Cases Deaths Cases Deaths Cases Deaths January 47 1 32 2 15 1 February 46 47 1 March 31 55 24 April 32 42 10 May 38 56 18 June 35 63 28 July 46 78 32 August 36 77 41 September 40 3 71 31 October 26 1 57 1 31 November 37 36 1 1 December 36 2 2 168 208 Ditto 1848 Excess in strength in 1848 40The total fixed strength of the Police in 1847 was 978; in 1848, 989.
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
"gangrene," it is proper to say, is contagious and epidemic in its nature, and most decidedly malignant. In one case of gangrene, amputation of the infected limb was tried, but without success. The worst case, after the expiration of the term of imprisonment, was removed to the civil hospital, where the disease rapidly lost its malignant character, and the patient recovered; from which it is evident that removal from the infected atmosphere was the chief remedial measure. It will be observed with interest that the prisoners sustained the unhealthy season with comparative impunity. Amongst the police, the greatest mortality and the most disease prevailed in the months of June, July, August, and September; while, amongst the prisoners, the increase in sickness in those months was not marked, and the deaths were only three in number, from peculiar and specific causes.
Of the 152 cases admitted for treatment, 114 were ulcerations, or contusions on the hands, arms, legs, or feet; 17 were remittent or intermittent fever; 3 were venereal cases; 3, itch; 6, dysentery; 1, hernia; 1, scurvy; 2, colic; 1, rheumatism; 2, ophthalmia.
It will be seen by the following Table, that the proportion of deaths to persons admitted into prison is small:
TABLE NO. 7.-The Total Number of Prisoners admitted into the Victoria Gaol during the Year 1848; the Number of Sick, and of Deaths; and the Proportion of Sickness and Mortality to Strength.
HONG KONG Prisoners Admitted Cases of Sickness Deaths Proportion of Sick to Strength Proportion of Deaths 1847 37 3 1848 1,093* 152 8 Per Cent. 13.9 Per Cent. 0.7 Excess of cases in 1848 216 3 Deduct proportion of difference in strength in 1848, and it will be found that the actual excess of sickness in 1848 over 1847 amounts to 141 cases, while the excess of deaths is 30; but it must be remembered that 20 deaths in 1848 resulted from accident, and thus the comparison of deaths from disease in the two years will be as 6, in 1847, is to 14, in 1848.TABLE NO. 6. The Number of Prisoners in Victoria Gaol Sick during the Year 1848, the Number under Treatment each Month, the Number of Deaths, &c.
* This number, besides admissions, includes those who remained in prison in January 1848.
The following Table will exhibit the amount of sickness and relative mortality amongst all classes of persons employed by, and under the charge of, Government.
TABLE NO. 8.-The Number and Proportion of Cases of Sickness and Deaths to all those employed by Government, including Government Civil Officers, Policemen, their Wives and Children, Overseers of Roads, and Prisoners, in Hong Kong, during the Year 1848.
Cases admitted in Brought forward from the Total Number Total Europeans &c. Indians Europeans Indians of Cases Treated Number of Total Number of Days Sick Average Duration of Average Total Number of Number Persons Total Number of Cases of Sickness Total Number of Deaths to Strength of Cases Disease per diem Per Cent &c. the Month previous Month of Cases of Deaths of Disease January 3 14 17 250 143 8 Civil Officers, Servants, and Overseers of Roads. Policemen, &c. 81 31 3 3-7 368 237 192 11 6 Prisoners 11 5 1,093 152 35 8 14.7 0.7 February 14 73 4 12 March 12 6 4 April 22 5 7 10 May 19 9 61 17 June 20 27 14 4 81 July 17 27 2 37 12 10 August 14 23 40 17 13 September 38 2 15 12 13 October 13 28 42 6 14 November December 8 12 20 4 30 8 10 Total 14 2 88 24 3The preceding Table shows the actual number of prisoners admitted for treatment during the year to be 152 cases, and the average number under treatment per month to be 20. The deaths were confined to the Malays and Chinese. Two resulted from dysentery in July and August, one from valvular disease of the heart, and five from "hospital gangrene," supervening on slight ulcers produced by the friction of the irons.
In analyzing the preceding Table, it should be remarked, in the first place, that one of the deaths recorded amongst officers of Government took place in England. It was a case of paralysis, and the patient was absent on sick leave. The next was an overseer, who became convalescent from a violent attack of intermittent fever. He exposed himself to the sun without ordinary precaution, and returned to his duties before his recovery was completed. A violent relapse soon destroyed life. The third case was one of delirium tremens.
The low rate of mortality, as compared to the admissions in the prison, might be regarded as remarkable, if it is not remembered that the population of the prison is very variable, and it includes all those who are committed for trial, the majority of whom never return, as well as those committed by summary process, for default in fines, delay in obtaining sureties, and for petty offences; their imprisonment is, of course, of short duration. Notwithstanding all, however, the evidence of salubrity in the Victoria Gaol is strong:
500
HONG KONG,
4
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
TABLE NO. 5.--Exhibiting the comparative Amount of Sickness and Deaths amongst the Police, in the several months of 1847 and 1848, respectively.
The Nun, ber of cases of Sickness
and Deaths.
Numerical Excess in Cases and Deaths.
1947
1648
1947
1848
Cases, Deaths,
Cases.
Deaths. Cases,
Deaths. Cases, Deaths.
January. February
47
1
32
2
15
1
46
47
March
31
55
April
32
42
24 10
May
38
56
18:
June
35
63
28
32
5
July.
46
78
August
36
77
19
41
18
September
40
71
3
31
October.
26
57
1
31
November
37
36
1
December
36
2
21
168
ditto
1848
208
Excess in strength in 1848.
40
978989855
The total fixed strength of the Police in 1847 was
Ditto
5
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
gangrene," it is proper to say, is contagious and epidemic in its nature, and most decidedly malignant. In one case of gangrene, amputation of the infected limb was tried, but without success. The worst case, after the expira- tion of the term of imprisonment, was removed to the civil hospital, where the disease rapidly lost its malignant character, and the patient recovered from which it is evident that removal from the infected atmosphere was the chief remedial measure. It will be observed with interest that the prisoners sustained the unhealthy season with comparative impunity. Amongst the police, the greatest mortality and the most discase prevailed in the months of June, July, August, and September; while, amongst the prisoners, the increase in sickness in those months was not marked, and the deaths were only three in number, from peculiar and specific causes.
Of the 152 cases admitted for treatment, 114 were ulcerations, or contusions on the hands, arms, legs, or feet; 17 were remittent or intermittent fever; 3 were venereal cases; 3, itch; 6, dysentery; 1, hernia; 1, scurvy; 2, colic; 1, rheumatism; 2, ophthalmia.
It will be seen by the following Table, that the proportion of deaths to persons admitted into prison is small:
TABLE NO. 7.-The Total Number of Prisoners admitted into the Victoria Gaol during the Year 1848; the Number of Sick, and of Deaths; and the Proportion of Sickness and Mortality to Strength.
HONG KONG.
The relative excess in the number of cases in the two years is, as shown in the Table :-
1847 1848
Excess of cases in 1848
37 cases. 216
3
179
Prisoners Admitted.
Cases of Sickness.
Deaths.
Proportion of Sick to Strength.
Proportion of
Deaths.
1,093*
152
8
Per Cent. 13.9
Per Cent.
0.7
Deduct proportion of difference in strength in 1848, and it will be found that the actual excess of sickness in 1848 over 1847 amounts to 141 cases, while the excess of deaths is 30; but it must be remembered that 20 deaths in 1848 resulted from accident, and thus the comparison of deaths from disease in the two years will be as 6, in 1847, is to 14, in 1848.
TABLE NO. 6. The Number of Prisoners in Victoria Gaol Sick during the Year 1848, the Number under Treatment each Month, the Number of Deaths, &c.
* This number, besides admissions, includes those who remained in prison in January 1848.
The following Table will exhibit the amount of sickness and relative mor- tality amongst all classes of persons employed by, and under the charge of, Government.
TABLE NO. S.-The Number and Proportion of Cases of Sickness and Deaths to all those employed by Government, including Government Civil Officers, Policemen, their Wives and Children, Overseers of Roads, and Prisoners, in Hong Kong, during the Year 1848.
Proportion of Deaths
Cases admitted in Brought forward from the Month. previous Monthis.
Total Number
¡ Total
Europeans &c.
Indians, Europeans
Indians,
of Cases Treated.
Number of
Total Number
Deaths.
of Days Sick.
Average Duration of
Average
Total Number of
Number
Persons.
Total Number of Cases of Sickness.
Total Number
of Deaths.
to Strength.
of Cases
Disease.
per diem.
Per Cent.
&c.
January
3
14
17
250
143
8
Civil Officers, Servants, and)
Overseers of Roads. Policemen, &c.
81
31
3
3-7
368
237
192
11
6
Prisoners
11
5
1,093
152
35
8
14 7
0.7
February
143
73
4읍
12
March
126
11+
4
April
225
14
7
10
May
199
61
17
June
20
274
144
81
July
17
27
2
337
12
10분
August.
14
23
407
17
13
September
382
15
12
13
12
October
13
28
426
15
14
November
December
8
12
20
4
308
15
10
Total.
145
2
88
243
8
The preceding Table shows the actual number of prisoners admitted for treatment during the year to be 162 cases, and the average number under treatment per month to be 20. The deaths were confined to the Malays and Chinese. Two resulted from dysentery in July and August, one from valvular disease of the heart, and five from "hospital gangrene," supervening on slight The disease called "hospital ulcers, produced by the friction of the irons.
In analyzing the preceding Table, it should be remarked, in the first place, that one of the deaths recorded amongst officers of Government took place in England. It was a case of paralysis, and the patient was absent on sick leave. The next was an overscer, who became convalescent from a violent attack of intermittent fever. He exposed himself to the sun without ordinary precau- tion, and returned to his duties before his recovery was completed. A violent relapse soon destroyed life. The third case was one of delirium tremens.
The low rate of mortality, as compared to the admissions in the prison, might be regarded as remarkable, if it is not remembered that the population of the prison is very variable, and it includes all those who are committed for trial, the majority of whom never return, as well as those committed by sum- mary process, for default in fines, delay in obtaining sureties, and for petty Notwith- offences; their imprisonment is, of course, of short duration. standing all, however, the evidence of salubrity in the Victoria Gaol is strong:
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