Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 553

The Colonial Surgeon's Report for 1883.

Presented to the Legislative Council, by command of His Excellency the Governor.

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,

HONGKONG, 24th March, 1884.

SIR,—I have the honour to forward my Annual Report for 1883, together with the Tables shewing the work done in the different Establishments under my supervision and charge.

POLICE.

2.-The admissions from the Police Force to Hospital are still steadily increasing.

The numbers for the past three years are as follows:-1881, 498; 1882, 549; 1883, 599. The average strength of the Force for those three years, was--1881, 624; 1882, 588; 1883, 658. Thus the admissions to Hospital for 1883 are 101 more than in 1881, though the strength of the Force is only increased by thirty-four, as compared with that year. The rate of sickness compares a little more favourably with last year, the increase in the number of admissions to Hospital being fifty, and the strength of the force increased, seventy; so that though the admissions to Hospital have increased as compared with last year, the sickness in proportion to the strength of the Force has been a trifle less. 3.-There were eight deaths in the Force this year, seven of which occurred in Hospital. One Lokang who was on duty on the Praya at Wan-tsai was found drowned. The others were on leave.

4.----Table I shews the number of admissions from the Police to the Hospital for each month of the year. The numbers are largest in the summer months, especially in June and September.

5.-Table II shews the average strength of the Force during the year, and the percentage of sickness and deaths in it, both being considerably less among the Indian and Chinese portions of the Force than last year. Among the European portion of the Force both are slightly increased.

The

6.---Table III shews the Police admissions to Hospital from the different districts and stations. Police Hulk, which furnished more cases than any other single out-station, and has for many years been condemned, will give no more trouble, as providence has taken the matter in hand and destroyed it by fire, unfortunately before the new Water Police Station on shore was ready. Stanley Station, which last year only furnished seven cases, this year sent in twenty-eight, twenty-one of these being Indians. No. 2 and 3 Stations shew an increase, sending thirty-nine cases to Hospital, as compared with thirty- four last year, but the change here is rather unaccountable. In 1882 the admissions were: Europeans, 2; Indians, 12; Chinese, 20; this year the admissions are: Europeans, 11; Indians, 18; Chinese, 10.

7.-No. 3 Station is wholly unsuited for habitation and ought to be pulled down and rebuilt. This Station is one of the few in the town that has a fair sized compound. No. 7 Station furnishes 58 cases this year as compared with 46 cases last year. This Station also has a fair sized compound and should also be pulled down and entirely rebuilt. As I observed in my last Annual Report, none of the Police Stations in the City of Victoria can be commended on Sanitary grounds.

8.-The increase in sickness is shewn in every portion of the Force, but this year more noticeably among the Europeans in proportion to their strength, as is shewn below.

Admissions to Hospital, 1881,

Do.,

1882,

Do.,

1883,

Europeans.

88

92 ....113

Indians.

212

230

246

Chinese.

198

227

239

9.-This steady increase of sickness in all portions of the Force is anything but satisfactory, and cannot be accounted for by the general health of the Colony, which is no worse in proportion to numbers than it was ten years ago.

10.-Ten years ago, in 1874, the strength of the Force was 648, as compared with 658 in 1883. The sickness among the Force in 1874 was 346, as compared with 599 in 1883. The admissions of Europeans to Hospital in 1874 were 64, their strength being 116. In 1883 it is 114 with a strength of 113. That is to say the sickness has nearly doubled, while the strength has been a trifle lessened. The deaths among them were in 1874, 1; in 1883, 2; shewing that the increase of sickness amongst them cannot be attributed to the increase in severity of disease. The admissions to Hospital from the Police are more than one third of the total admissions to Hospital in 1883.

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