Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 218

The following table gives the Police admissions to Hospital and deaths for the last 10 years :-

1878,....

1879,

1880,

1881.

1882.

1883,

1884,.

1885,

1886,.

1887,

Admissions.

Deaths.

...566.

6

..566.

.588

.13

..498..

...10

.549

8

.10

.486...

7

..495.

9

.602.

..14

.619.

9

TROOPS.

There was a still further increase in the amount of sickness among the Troops last year as compared with 1886, but the death rate was as usual small compared with the amount of sickness. 1,749 men were admitted to the Military Hospital as compared with 1,607 in 1886, an increase of 142.

There were 14 deaths, of these two were cases of suicide, and two were from an explosion of fire- works.

Table IV gives the average strength of the Garrison and shows an increase of 88 compared with 1886. The admissions to Hospital with the percentage of sickness and mortality are also given.

The following were the admissions to the Military Hospital and deaths for the past 10 years :-

1878,.

1879,

1880,

1881.

1882,

1883,

1884,

.....

1885,

1886,

1887.

•

Admissions.

Deaths.

944

..10

1,035.

8

.1,075

.13

..1,116.

1,019.

9

1,105

..10

..1,097.

.12

.1,190..

.24

.1,607

9

..1,749..

.14

The sickness as will be seen exceeds that of any of the previous years. There were no cases of Cholera among the Troops last year.

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

There has been much trouble connected with the Staff of this Establishment during the past year. The Superintendent resigned in the beginning of the year.

Surgeon YARR, A.M.D. acted as Superintendent for six months during the summer, but as he had his own Military duties to attend to, he could not reside at the Hospital. He was however most energetic and efficient in the performance of his duties notwithstanding that he was hampered by his Military work which lay at one end of the City while his Civil work was at the other. He had eventually however to resign the Acting Appointment, his whole services being required by his own Department. and Surgeon THOMPSON, A.M.D. took charge for a few weeks till the arrival of the new Superintendent. Surgeon THOMPSON in addition to the trouble of double duty as had been the case with Surgeon YARK underwent the unpleasant experience of having to put the Senior and Assistant Wardmasters under arrest. Fortunately he discovered we could obtain the assistance of two non-commissioned Officers of the Medical Staff Corps to act in their place, and these two officers were accordingly engaged. I am greatly indebted to the Army Medical Department for the valuable and prompt assistance they have rendered the Hospital in its difficulties and I have much satisfaction in recording my appreciation of these services.

Dr. ATKINSON, the new Superintendent, arrived out in the Colony and took charge in November finding the unpleasant state of affairs to which I have alluded, to greet him on his arrival.

The Senior Wardmaster has since been sentenced to seven years hard labour in Gaol for embezzling

the property of patients in the Hospital two of whom were in a dying condition.

The Wardmasters have been a continual source of trouble during the fourteen years I have been in charge of this Department. I have seen over twenty appointed besides a number acting for a time. At present we have two Acting Wardmasters neither of whom is satisfied with his post. The Acting Senior Wardmaster, a Police Constable, prefers to return to the Police Force as he finds the hours at the Hospital twice as long, and the ward duties themselves far more arduous and harassing and entailing a greater amount of anxiety and responsibility than his former Police duties while the pay and advantages are inferior. Moreover at the Hospital he has no prospect of promotion in the service. The Acting Assistant Wardmaster a young Portuguese formerly employed in the Sanitary Department thinks the work, too much for his strength and prefers less pay with lighter work and less responsibility

elsewhere.