X1000306-1959-60_Part02 — Page 2

TABLE 33

TABLE 31

Kowloon

Victoria

SUICIDES IN HONG KONG, 1959

Total Autopsies performed

3,084

1.256

Number of identified bodies Number of unidentified bodies

898

658

Drowning

Hanging

2,186

598

Jumping from heights

Deaths due to natural causes

2.621

943

Poisoning by Insecticides

Deaths due to unnatural causes

463

308

Other Poisonings Others

Males

1.107

802

Sex

Females

1.973

450

Total Suicides

Unknown

+

Pictoria

Kowloon

37.9%

6.4%

17.8%

26.4%

36.4%

25,4%%%

6.4%

20.0%

8.6%

19.5%%

2.9%

1.3%

100%

100%

140

220

Race |

Chinese

3,079

1,239

Non-Chinese

5

17

Age Groups Over 60 years

135

181

45 - 60 years

380

290

30-45 years

662

222

15-30 years

134

103

1-15 years

$11

127

| month - 1 year

563

$1

under t monch

585

123

FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

374. All medico-legal work in connexion with the investigation of crime is carried out from laboratories situated in the Police Head- quarters building. The laboratories are staffed jointly by the Medical und Health and Police Departments, the staff consisting of the Senior Forensic Pathologist in charge, two M.O.s and one Assistant Chemist. and five members of the Police Force, one of whom is a woman constable. Table 36 details the work done during the year.

Stillbirths

110

མས་

Age unknowIL

4

18

7

TABLE 36

STATISTICS FROM 1ST APRIL, 1954 TO 31st March, 19960.

Examination of rodents for plague

Total number examined

TABLE 34

Kowloon

133,469

162,295

36.920

65,895

61

Nil

고

Nil

Dissection and mascroscopic examination Complete bacteriological examination Positive for plague

372. The prevalence of suicide as a cause of death has given rise to a detailed investigation by the Government Senior Psychiatric Specialist. A monograph on this subject was published by the Hong Kong Univer sity Press in November 1958.

373. It is of interest to record the frequency and pattern of causes of deaths occurring in this way during 1959. Table 35 is an analysis of suicide cases brought to the two public mortuaries.

Examination of victims and suspects

416

Attendance at scenes of crime

90

Attendance at courts

41

Medico-Legal post mortems

184

Medico-Legal examination of weapons

$4

Examination of hairs, fibres and other slides

364

Examination of clothing

642

Miscellaneous examinations (Articles)

275

Blood Grouping (Medico-legal)

1,582

Blood Grouping (Police Officers)

653

Lectures to Police Officers including advanced course

38

Assistance in Raids

Breach of Pharmacy & Poisons Ord. and Penicillin Ord. Unregistered Medical Practitioners

47

12

Abortions

Nil

Illegal dental practice

375. The Senior Forensic Pathologist is Lecturer in Forensic Medicine at the Hong Kong University and also lectures on the medico- legal aspects of crime to the Advanced Detective Training Course.

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