Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 422

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One hundred and ninety bodies were brought in as compared with one hundred and fifty in 1895. Of these nine were European adults, one hundred and thirty-seven Chinese adults and forty-four Chinese children.

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 :-

1887,

1888,

1889,

1890,...

1891,

1892,

1893,

1894.

1895,.

1896,

Total number admitted to Gaol.

Daily average No. of prisoners.

4,302

584.00

.3,627

531.00

.3,705

581.00

.3,444

566.00

.5,231

507.00

..5,046

515.00

.4,010

458.00

.3.913

455.00

..5,014

472.00

...5,582

514.00

The total number of admissions to the Gaol was 5,582, or 568 in excess of those admitted in 1895. The daily average 514, or 42, in excess of 1895. This increase in the daily average is due to the unusual number of beggars, vagrants and petty thieves on short sentences.

The total number of admissions to Hospital was 500 as compared with 231 in 1895; there were 10 deaths in Hospital as compared with 7 in 1895. Seven other deaths occurred in the Gaol. Two Chinese were executed, 2 Chinese found dead in their cells from natural causes.

2 Chinese men and 1 Chinese female hanged themselves in their cells.

Of the admissions to lospital 57 were put in under observation for a day or two and their com- plaints only found trifling were dischagred. 10 were found to be of unsound mind, 26 had Remittent Fever, 50 Intermittent Fever, 29 Febricula, 35 suffered from Cardiac Disease, 36 from Diarrhoea, 39 from abscesses chiefly in the soles of the feet, 25 from contusions caused by the punishment of flog- ging; one of these cases died, the contused abrasions sloughed, from what cause could not be ascertained, and septicemia set in, causing death. After the Coroner's inquest a Commission of Enquiry was appointed, and by their advice flogging with the cane was abolished and the birch appointed to be used in future. Seven hundred and forty cases were not admitted to Hospital but treated in their cells. Eight out of fifty-four opium-smokers were admitted to Hospital; there were no deaths among the eight from pulmonary congestion: None of the opium-smokers were of a very advanced age, or showed any peculiarly interesting characteristics; none of them smoked to unusual excess. 4 mace is the greatest amount and this man increased in weight 2 lbs. in the first four weeks' detention.

TUNG WA HOSPITAL.

This Hospital was under the daily observation of the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital during the year and many improvements were made in the wards the cubicle partitions and platforms on the floors done away with allowing for ventilation.

The number of patients treated in the Hospital during the year was 2,041; of these 792 died, 258 were admitted in a moribund condition. No small-pox cases were admitted during the year by Government order.

In the City of Victoria 1,308 vaccinations were done and 293 in the Out-Districts of the Colony by the Native Doctors, the lymph being supplied from the Vaccine Institute.

This year (1897) from the 1st of January Doctor CHUNG, educated in the Medical College, has been appointed a resident Doctor to treat any of the patients who desire Western treatment or can be per- suaded to use it, and Dr. THOMSON to visit the Hospital twice daily, supervise the treatment and report on the cases admitted to Hospital, and the cause of death of the dead bodies brought in daily to the Registrar General. He sent in a report of the work done in the first quarter of this year which shows these gentlemen have been able to do good work and introduce many new improvements even in that short time by their knowledge of the language assisted by tact and discretion in dealing with the Chinese Directors and the Native Doctors.

VACCINE INSTITUTE.

This has been under the superintendence of the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital in the absence of Mr. LADDS on leave during the year. A full report concerning this Institution is given in his Appendix B, shewing its success in producing good lymph, and as a money speculation bringing in good profit.

HEALTH OF THE COLONY.

A very able report on this subject is given by Dr. F. W. CLARKE, the newly appointed Health Officer and Superintendent of the Sanitary Board, leaves me but little to say. The percentage of deaths among the Foreign Residents shows a slight increase on the previous 5 years, being 2.63. Table XVI `shows the mortality and percentage of deaths among the Foreign Residents for the last ten years.