Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 480

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LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

PUBLIC MORTUARY.

These are reported on by Dr. LowSON.

Y

Table VIII gives the returns of dead bodies sent to the Public Mortuary for examination. The total number received was 151. Of these 5 were European adults, 106 Chinese male adults, 14 female adults, 10 male children, and 11 female children; other nationalities none. Of these 45 were found to have died from disease, 88 accidental, 17 suicidal, 6 homicidal and one death the cause of which was not ascertained on account of the advanced decomposition of the body.

VICTORIA GAOL.

The following table gives the number of admissions to the Gaol and the daily average number of prisoners for the past ten years:→→

Total No. admitted to Gaol.

Daily average No. of Prisoners.

1885,

..3,610

530.00

1886,

..4,600

674.00

1887,

.4,302

584.00

1888,

.3,627

531.00

1889,

.3,705

581.00

1890,

.3,444

566.00

1891,

.5,231

507.00

1892,

5,046

515.00

1893,

.4,010

458.00

1894,

..3,913

455.00

There is a decrease in the admissions to Gaol of 97 as compared with 1893, with a decrease in the daily average number under detention of 3 only. It is the smallest daily average in the last 10 years, and for many years before, though the number of admissions is considerably less in four previous years out of the ten given in the above table.

The number of prisoners admitted to hospital 271, as compared with 272 in 1893. The number of prisoners treated in their cells was 614 as compared with 523 in 1893. Of those treated in their cells 178 suffered from contusions, the result of floggings, as compared with 119 in 1893, an increase of 59. Of those treated in hospital 30 were admitted suffering from contusions, the result of floggings, as compared with 40 in 1893, à decrease of 10. The total number of floggings was 208 as compared with 159 in 1893, an increase of 49.

Of the admissions to hospital, the chief causes were fever, anæmia, and contused wounds, the result of floggings. Of those treated in their cells the chief causes were scabies, venereal disease, and contusions, the result of floggings administered.

There were 12 opium-smokers admitted to hospital, of whom one died of phthisis and dysen- tery combined in the second week of his detention. He was admitted to hospital at the same time he was admitted to Gaol; had been an opium-smoker for 15 years; his consumption of the drug 2 mace per diem; and his age 55; his weight 90 lbs. on admission, decreased to 88 lbs. before his death. Of the 82 opium-smokers admitted to Gaol in 1894, there were seven of lighter weight than he was when he died. I do not think his death can be attributed to the opium habit. This is only the third death that has occurred in the Gaol in 21 years among those addicted to smoking opium, and he was only an average smoker.

The greatest consumer was one who smoked 4 mace per diem. Of the 82, 12 consumed 3 mace over, 5 were over 60 years of age, the three youngest were 22 years old. 40 years was the longest time any one admitted had been an opium-smoker; this man was 64 years of age, his consumption of the drug 3 mace daily and his weight 85 lbs. He lost 1 lb. in weight during 3 weeks' detention. Of the 82, 6 were over 60 years of age, 19 were over 50 years, 14 over 40, 26 over 30, the rest between 30 and 22 years old. In most cases their only offence was having opium in their possession without a permit. If all men were so severely handled for infringing Custom House laws in European countries there would be a formidable increase in the number of prisoners.

TUNG WA HOSPITAL.

The number of patients treated in this hospital during the year was 2,354 compared with 2,255 in 1893; of these cases 1,092 died and 1,259 discharged. Of those who died 466 were received in a moribund condition and died within 24 hours. There remained in the hospital 108.

There were 39 patients admited to the small-pox wards; of these 23 were discharged and 16 died, none remained in the hospital at the end of the year.

There were 1,971 people vaccinated at the hospital by the native doctors and 133 in the out- districts, a total of 2,104 vaccinations.

Since May this year all the patients admitted' and dead bodies received were inspected by European Surgeons, that is, ever since the plague began. I have performed this duty from the 1st of December to the present time. A very large proportion of the patients received are hopeless cases besides those actually moribund at the time of their reception. Numbers of cases of phthisis, heart disease, Bright's disease, progressive anæmia, septicemia from neglected wounds and abscesses in both

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