98
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD MARCH, 1867.
Table I. shows the number of admissions into, and deaths in, the Hospital, of members of the Police Force, during every month of 1866.
Table II. shews the rate, per cent, of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year.
Table III. kindly furnished to me by Dr. Robertson, the Principal Military Medical Officer, gives a comparative return of the health of the Troops serving in Hongkong, from which it will be seen that a marked improvement has taken place in the health of the Military: the death ratio not having reached one half of what it attained in 1865.
II. THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
Table IV. gives the number of admissions into and the Mortality in this Hospital during the year 1806, to which is added for the purpose of comparison the average number of admissions and deaths during the past nine years.
Table V. gives the rate of mortality in the Civil Hospital, during the same period, distinguishing the rate in the case of Europeans from Colored persons and Chinese.
Table VI. kindly sent me by the Resident Surgeon, Dr. Adams, gives information in reference to the Seaman's Hospital. It is gratifying to find a marked improvement in the death rate, following upon the opening of the magnificent establishment at Morrison Hill, for which the Seamen frequenting this port are entirely indebted to the princely liberality of one of our
mercantile firms.
In the Civil Hospital the absolute mortality has been a trifle higher than it was in 1865. But as I pointed out last year this increase is rather apparent than real, for in the case of European patients the rate has actually been more favorable, than it has been since 1862, while in the case of Indians it does not much surpass the average: it is among the Chinese that the great increase of mortality has again occurred, a mortality reaching as high as 33.53 per cent on the admissions. Such a frightful state of matters requires the explanation that, the great majority of Chinese admissions to Hospital consist of moribund or nearly moribund patients. Some of these I am led to believe have been put out into the street by those with whom they lodged, who are desirous of escaping the expense and other inconveniences attendant upon death in their houses, and are in As all cases of this this state picked up by the Police and brought to Hospital, where in half an hour or so death ensues. description have to appear in our Returns it is thus that the result looks so bad.
Under the head of Starvation there have been 35 admissions, 6 Indians and 29 Chinese; of this number 2 Indians and 17 Chinose have died. The same explanation, which has been offered in reference to yellow fever cases, may also to a certain extent apply to those of starvation admitted to Hospital. I am glad to say that no European was admitted into Hospital under year. If therefore this head, a result no doubt consequent upon the wise arrangements of the Government to which I referred last the 30 deaths from yellow fever and the 19 deaths from starvation are put out of consideration, the total number of deaths A result which, will be 89 only, which would give the wonderfully low death rate of 7.93 per cent on the 1,122 admissions. considering the utter unfitness of this establishment for its intended purpose, reflects great credit on Dr. Cochran the Resident Surgeon.
III. THE GAOL.
Table VII. shews the number of admissions into the Gaol Hospital and deaths there during. the year 1866, with the average number of admissions and deaths during the past nine years, as a means of comparison.
Table VIII. shews the rate of sickness and mortality in the Gaol Hospital as compared with the total number of prisoners and with the number treated during the year 1866.
The numbers imprisoned in Victoria Gaol during the past year, were:
Europeans Indians
Chinese
The daily average was 5842 of which number 70 have died.
695
194
4,572
Total,......5,461
The following return is in continuation of the tables I have already given for two years, shewing the change in weight which European prisoners undergo after several years imprisonment.
The Monthly weight of EUROPEAN PRISONERS confined in Victoria Gaol in the Fear 1866.
NAME.
SENTENCE.
JANUARY.
FEBRUARY.
MARCH.
APRII.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY.
AUGUST.
SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
DECEMBER.
7
C. W.
Life,.
A. J.
Life,.
155 150 159
157 165 165 158 159 +
W.M.
Life,.
145 140
152 143 138
148 148
146 +
144
140
145
142 140
138
142
143
W. H.
Life,.
135 135 142
142
144
142
+
C. A.
Life,
157
160
161
157
149
150
154
151
153
156
162 159
A. B.
Life,..
167
167
168
165
167
167
170
166 163
166
171
1.63
W. S.
8 years,
139
140
138
137
133
132
132
130
130
131 131
131
R. B.
10 years,
124
119
116
113
113
115
114
110
111 112
112
112
E. M.
6 years,
125 124 126
127
125 122 122 121 122 123
123
F. X.
13 years,
130
131
140 134 183
135
131
126
132
132
138
139
W. D.
7 years,
152
153
159 162
163
162
164
162
160
158
164
165
NCO QV — OD OD TA
1
R. B.
3 years,
151
145
150
150
150
151 153
153
155
140
145
147
174 173
J. K.
3 years,
170
*
P. N.
10 years,
143 141
146
143
144 141
142
143
147
147
148
148
W. C.
7 years,
132 134
133
182
132
133
138
137 139
138
139
139
155
*
166 166
T.
3
years,
155
*
152
152
J.
3
years,
*
B..
2 years,
Another year of yellow fever, as I have already mentioned has gone far to swell the death rate. 533 Prisoners suffering from this disease were admitted into Hospital, of which number 32 died.
281 Extensive ulcers of the feet and legs terminating not unfrequently in death formed almost an epidemic at one time. prisoners were admitted into Hospital of whom 16 died. This disease became so alarming in its extent that His Excellency the Governor ordered an enquiry to be made by the Police Magistrates and myself, and the result of our enquiry proved these sores to be in the great majority of cases self inflicted, for the purpose of escaping from the, to them objectionable, system
*Transferred to Convict Hulk Royal Suzon.
↑ Discharged.
TIME IN
GAOL.
Years. Months.
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