Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 394

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The number of deaths registered in the British and Foreign Community was 191 as compared with 251 in 1894; among the Chinese 5,209 as compared with 7,156 in 1894 and 5,230 in 1893. The causes of the deaths which occur in the Tung Wa Hospital are now reported by Mr. U I-KAI. The knowledge of the real causes of these deaths is of considerable importance, as almost all the members of the adult working population who die in Victoria are removed to that hospital on being taken ill. 171 out of the 191 deaths among the British and Foreign Community, and 1,757 out of the 5,209 among the Chinese Community were certified to by medical certificate or by the Coroner. It is impossible to expect a larger percentage of certified deaths among the Chinese Community until steps are taken to provide a supply of Chinese doctors with a suitable training in Western medical science.

The following table shows the number of deaths and the death-rate per 1,000 during the past six

years:--

Estimated Population.

I

British and Foreign, ....

1890 ..... 10,972

1891

1892

1893

1894

1895

10,494

10,590

10,686

10,782

10,828

Chinese,

Total,..

..187,770 .198,742

214,320

221,072

228,038

235,224

237,670

224,814 231,662

238,724

246,006

248,498

Deaths.

4,553

5,374

4,906

5,422

7,407

5,400

Death-rate per 1,000.

British and Foreign, Chinese,

17.13

18.20

17.37

17.97

23.28

17.64

23.25

24.18

21.36

22.93

30.42

21.92

Total,

22.90

23.90

21.18

22.71

30.11

21.73

BURIALS.

Of the 4,106 Chinese who died in Victoria 3,850 were buried in the Colony, the bodies of 191 were sent away, and 65 coffins were reported as being in the Mortuary awaiting interment or removal.

EXHUMATIONS.

157 permits were granted during the year to exhuine human remains for removal to China or for re-burial in the Colony. The Tung Wa Hospital bas commenced the exhumation of over 4,000 bodies buried in their cemeteries, and there is no reason why the Government should not follow its example when the present Chinese cemeteries under its control become full,

HOSPITAL DEATHS.

Table IV (D) contains a return of the number of hospital deaths, which amounted to 1,439 or 26.65 per cent. of the total number of deaths for the year.

Table IV (E) gives particulars regarding the Tung Wa Hospital. The number of those under treatment during the year was 2,840; of these 1,457 were discharged, whilst the number of deaths was 1,210 or 42.61 per cent. of the number admitted.

The out-patients during the year were:-

Male, Female,....

108,835. 54,457.

The closer supervision exercised by the Governinent over the hospital has not affected the number of non-paying patients, but it is noticeable that whereas there were 34 paying patients under treatment in 1893, there were none in 1894 and 1895. In 1890 there were 53, in 1891 74 and in 1892, 49.

VACCINATION ORDINANCE.

(No. 5 of 1890.)

978 vaccination notices were issued during the year, and 822 certificates of successful vaccination received.

Particulars are given in Table V.

There were no prosecutions under the Ordinance.

REGISTRATION OF Books.

(No. 10 of 1888.)

Only 28 books were registered during the year as compared with 63 in 1894. The usual quarterly lists were published in the Gazette.