242
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH MAY, 1870.
The daily average was 465, 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,.
91
22
.513
.626
The smallest number in prison was on the 31st December, when there were:-
Europeans, Indians, Chinese,
Total,...
47
10
.382
.439
During the past year, both the maximum and minimum number of prisoners have been greatly below that of the previous year. Thus the greatest number confined on any one day in 1869 was on the 10th February, when there were:—
Europeans, Indians, Chinese,
Total,..
85
18
.461
.564
The smallest number in Gaol during the same year, was on the 3rd December, when there were:-
Europeans, Indians, Chinese,
Total,..
70
18
.304
.392
The greatest amount of sickness occurred on the 28th May, when there were:---
Hospital Cases, Trifling Cases,..
Total,.
8
19
27
The smallest ainount of sickness was recorded on the 27th November, when there were:-
Hospital Cases, Trifling Cases,
Total,..
6
8
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 banded together with the avowed object of procuring the repeal of these Acts." It therefore behoves those who are, 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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