Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 253

GAOL STAFF.

249

Sixty-five members of the Gaol Staff were admitted to hospital during the year out of a total staff of 86. There were no deaths and no invaliding out of this number.

SANITARY Department.

This department accounted for 15 admissions with no deaths and no invaliding, the Chief Inspector being invalided from the service for phthisis without coming into hospital.

The total number of admissions into the Government Civil Hospital is the greatest yet on record 3,030 as against 2,734 in 1899. Total number of out-patients was 13,883 against 13,744.

The following table gives the number and classification of those admitted during the past ten years:

Police,

1891.

1892. 1895. 1894. 1895.

1896.

1897. 1898. 1899. 1900.

570

496

522

505

466

588

529

488

692

920

Board of Trade,

135

157

132

100

129

87

45

65

25

37

Paying Patients,

464

378

467

491

498

632

603

741

764

891

Government Servants,

179

168

205

168

203

269

227

186

208

266

Police Cases,..

240

232

247

272

319

244

299

306

306

347

Free Patients,

279

284

262

427

668

778

742

785

739

569

1,867

1,715 1,835 1,963 2,283

2,598 2,445 2,571 2,734 3,030

There is an increase in all classes except the "Free". patients, owing to the limited space at our disposal it was frequently impossible, especially in the summer months, to admit many deserving .cases. This is a strong reason for an increase in the hospital accommodation as the poorer classes, especially Chinese, have a strong claim on the community for proper medical treatment and care. The troubles in the North accounted to a small extent for the increase in the private paying patients as several foreign sailors and soldiers were sent to hospital from the various transports.

The admissions into and deaths in the hospital for the past ten years are as follows:-

Year.

1891,....

1892,

1893, 1894.. 1895.

1896, 1897

1898..

...

1899,..... 1900..

Admissions.

Deaths.

..1,867

84

1,715

68

1,835

67

..1,963

101

..2,283

114

...2,598

143

..2,445

119

..2,571

138

.2.734

114

..3,030

155

The rate of mortality for the past year was 5.10 per cent.

The average daily number of sick was 110.95 as against 106.36 in 1899.

Women and Children —The number admitted was 325. As has already been pointed out our accoinmodation for patients of this sex is practically limited to one general ward of 14 beds for all nationalities, and this in a way accounts for the small number of patients. A proper hospital or rather annexe to this hospital is much required.

Europeans.-943 were admitted during the year as against 811 in 1899 an increase of 132. Indians.-788 were admitted as against 659 last year, of this nuinber 522 were members of the Police Force.

Asiatics. As usual these form the bulk of our patients 1,299 against 1,264 for last year. Owing to the limited accommodation at our disposal especially in the summer large numbers of this nationality especially the destitute Chinese have had to be refused admission.

DISEASES.

Malarial Fever.-674 cases have been treated during the year as against 469 last year. The confirmation by MANSON and others of the discovery by BIGNAMI in 1898 that mosquitoes can and do give malaria to human beings has given a great impetus to the study of this disease and a large amount of speculation has arisen as to the best means of getting rid of these pests. Personally I am of opinion that a great deal more knowledge is required of the life history of these insects before there will be much chance of doing any permanent good in this direction. Dr. THOMSON's report, up to date, on the prevalcace of anopheles confirms the fact that on their presence or absence depends the number of cases of fever in a given locality. Perhaps some energetic entomologist may turn up in the Colony who will devote his time to ascertaining more about the breeding places and time and