CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 430

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Report by Dr.Lowson.

Aco? 22 MAY 00:

Superintendent Gaol.

With regard to Rule 289 Section 19 anent

punishment of prisoners my opinion is that it should stand

as it is. The necessity for it occurs occasionally- for exam-

ple ulcers are very common in the Gaol and it sometimes

happens that old offenders (especially) tear off dressings

and irritate the sores so as to escape labour. The same

thing happens after self-inflicted injuries to escape labour

or punishment. In my experience internal European medicines

have never been refused by any Chinese prisoners, unless

malingering or insane. I should never force a prisoner to

take medicine internally unless to prove he was malingering

or was insane. The refusal of medicine is usually a good

test of malingering among Chinese. The rules is a necessary

one though granted that the Medical Officer should use

great judgement in reporting the matter. I do not consider

the hours of labour at present excessive, but I recommended

a somewhat longer interval in the middle of the day during

the hot summer months.

(Sd.) James A.Lowson.

9/3/1900.