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The nursing staff has been all that could be desired with the exception of the Junior Wardmasters, with whom we have had the usual trouble and are still seeking a remedy.

Mr. Lucas, the Apothecary, had given notice of his wish to retire on the expiration of his three years' engagement to my great regret as he was a very superior Officer, and during the illness and absence on leave of Mr. CROW, the Government Analyst, did his duties most satisfactorily; but as he leaves for a better appointment at Home, he is to be congratulated and will, I am sure, give the same satisfaction to his new employers as he has done during his whole term of service here.

The Superintendent's report is a most exhaustive one and I agree entir. ly with all he has said. His work has very much increased with the absence of Dr. Lowson on duty at the Hygeia, the new Small-pox Hospital Hulk, stationed on the other side of the Harbour. 1 he later Officer's marvellous escape from the wreck of the Bokhara was a great source of congratulation to us, and the more so that he escaped with but trifling injuries and was soon able to resume his duty. He has done good work on the Hygeia and has had a considerable amount of trouble in organizing the arrangements for the patients and staff of the new Hulk, a duty he has performed most satisfactorily and successfully.

The past year was notable, as far as the Hospital was concerned, for the great diminution in the severer types of climatic disease.

The following table shows the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the past ten years :-

1883. 1884. 1885.

1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891, 1892.

Police,.

599

486

495

602

619

657

590

582

570

496

Board of Trade,

110

60

100

132

103

153

135

110

135

157

Private paying Patients,..

260

259

283

381

324

313

402

527

464

378

Government Servants,..

105

96

124

144

147

159

135

191

179

168

Police Cases,

227

231

238

142

208

242

252

264

240

232

Destitutes,

201

222

270

222

255

248

279

283

279

284

1,502

1,354 1,510 1,623 1,656

1,772

1,793

1,957 1,867 1,715

This table is most satisfactory in showing a decrease of sickness amongst the Police and Govern- ment servants also a small diminution of Police cases.

The percentage of deaths to admissions is the lowest with one exception in the past ten years, 3.96. See Table VI. Of the 68 deaths, 27 were in a hopeless condition when admitted, 23 dying within 24 hours, and 4 within 48 hours.

The following table gives the admissions and deaths in this Hospital for the past ten years :-

1883,

1884,

Admissions. 1,502.. ...1,354........

Deaths.

.70

...50

1885,

.1,510.....

.76

1886,

1,623.....

.79

1887,

1,656..

..89

1888,

..1,772..

...80

1889,

.....77

1890,

1891, 1892,

.1,957..... .1,867...............

.98

..84

........68

The Superintendent's exhaustive report and appendix shows no diminution in the interest and energy expendled in the performance of his duties which were more than usually heavy this year as Dr. Lowson, the Assistant Superintendent, was away on leave for a considerable portion of the summer months.

SMALL-POX HOSPITAL AND HULK HYGEIA.

There were thirteen cases of Small-pox treated, six in Small-pox Hospital, and seven on the Hygeia, of these two died. Seven cases were Europeans, of whom one died. Three Coloured cases, no deaths. Three Asiatics, one death. See Table VII.

PUBLIC MORTUARY,

Table VIII gives the returns of dead bodies sent to the Mortuary for examination. The total number was 131, of these 54 were found to be caused by disease, 51 Accidental, 19 Suicidal, and 7 Homicidal deaths.