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A Chinese woman, 72 years of age, a beggar, weak and emaciated, was recommended to the Magistrate for the Tung Wah Hospital.

Two lepers were sent to Canton.

11. Fewer patients were admitted into Hospital last year than in the previous one. This does not necessarily imply that the sanitary condition of the Gaol, which has always been good, has improved still more; but is accounted for, I believe, by the healthier constitution of the prisoners generally.

12. Some interesting cases were treated in this Hospital.

A Chinaman, who was on remand pending extradition, tried to escape over the wire netting which is spread above the wall of one of the yards. After reaching the top of the wall, he fell down in Old Bailey Street. He was picked up in a precarious state, the front teeth were fractured, the face was swollen and greatly disfigured. He was delirious, but gradually recovered. Two Chinese both old offenders, who were put to crank labour, attempted to commit suicide by hanging themselves in their cells. I found one of them in an unconscious state with convulsions. After bleeding from the right median basilic, he slowly recovered, but his brain showed signs of the injury received for a long time afterwards. Another old convict, who was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour for returning from deportation, had several deep incised wounds on the neck, his left external ear was divided. He said that he was wounded in Chinese territory five days before he came back to Hongkong. All the divided parts were joined with silver wire sutures, and although some days had elapsed from the time that those wounds were inflicted the operation proved very successful.

13. I have continued to treat, with marked advantage, certain forms of dysentery by means of enema of Ipecacuanha, as I have stated in my report last year.

14. There were, amongst the female prisoners, some cases which required great care in nursing. Mrs. M. NOLAN, the Matron, has proved to be very trustworthy and kind to the patients.

15. Dr. ATKINSON, the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital, sent me last November, six tubes containing lymph prepared at the Vaccine Institute of this Colony. A certain number of the prisoners was vaccinated with it by me and Warder FLORES. The result was satisfactory, the percentage of the successful vaccination being high. After a short time, arm-to-arm vaccination was established.

16. The Chinese prisoners, as a rule, are not the best subjects for experiment of this kind; for as I have stated in one of my former reports, that contrary to the old and prevailing notion, I have found that almost all the prisoners have been properly vaccinated in the arms and some inoculated when very young in their homes.

17. The subjoined are the results of the work and enquiry regarding the vaccination of the long- sentenced prisoners:--

Year.

Total number of vaccination and re-vaccination.

Taken.

Failed at first vaccination and re-vaccination.

Total number of those who have been vac- cinated or inoculated outside the Gaol.

1888,

2,051

1,354

697

1,951

1889,

2,060

1,445

615

2,057

1890,

1,736

1,024

712

1,722

1891,

2,836

1,090

1,346

2,521

1892,

2,625

1,985

640

2,618

18. The number of opium smokers that were received into Hospital and the disease which they had, are given in Table P.

19. Table Q. shows the weight of opium smokers for the first four weeks of confinement. It was compiled, as usual, by Warder FLORES and Assistant Warder HAMED, who have been very attentive to their duty, particularly Warder FLORES who is of great assistance to me.

I believe that incarceration in this Gaol for a period of twelve months or more, is the most efficacious way of curing the opium smokers of their habit.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

DR. PH. B. C. AYRES,

Colonial Surgeon,

fo.

Son

fc.

L. P. MARQUES,

Medical Officer.