chief medical officer. · 2012-11-07 · 1861-2. victoria. chief medical officer. re'rurn of...
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1861-2.
VICTORIA.
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.
RE'rURN OF DISEASES
IN TIlE
VARIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS UNDER TEE CHARGE OF THE CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER, FOR THE YEAR 1861 .
. PRESEN'l'ED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY IDS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND .
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JOHN I"ERRES, GOVERNMENT PRlNTEa, MeLBOURNE.
No. 112.
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1; '.
, ....
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e
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RETURN -OF DISEASES.
IMMIGRATION HOSPITA'L,'''MELBOU:a'NEL
RETURN of DISEASES for' the .year 1861. .
I I ' Totlll ; Averoge Total Deaths . , Number of I dumtion of Number of per cent. i Cases. i each Case. Deaths.' of """". of Sickness.
1. ZYMOTIC DISEASES :-
Scarlatina Aphtha Dlarrhrea' r
'Dysentery .. ,'. . ... "'. Typhoid Fever ... Rheumatic Fever Syphilis Gonorrhcaa ;'''. .;
' ...
Total, Class 1 ...
, , r.··
... 1; !..,~ . ,·i:,.l '..),':'~ ...
2.' SPOR:A.DIC ':DISEASES ' OF:' . UNCERTAIN OR'\ V ARUBLE SEAT:- '. "
J\:1:enorrhtigia Ulcer ... " ... , Vesico:Vaginal Fistula Scrofnla ... ';;.
." ".~j. 1
Marasmus 0'0
Debility ,
. j; Total, Class 2
3. SPOnADIC :nIS~ASES OF SPECIALSYSTE:M:S .;:.-....:.
NervoUs System :Hydrocephalus .. , Apoplexy Trismus
., .... 1 1 2
Respiratory Organs:- j' "
Bronchills •..
.])i9.e~tive, Organs:-QUlnsy __ _ Dyspepsia' ...
. Locomotive Organs:Chronic Rheumatism
Generative Organs:-Childbirth .. _
Integwmenta1'Jl System:- . Impetigo .. _ . Phlegmon ." .
.; .. '
, !
" ' .Total, Class 3 ' ...
4. EXTERNAL CAUSES; INJURIES, &0.
',; "( , ',ITOTALS OF ALL CLASSES
r • ~. .
,."
, h 3
2 3
1
. 12
1 2
28.'\ ,.
50
28 3
12
6
20 3
365
15
84 12
27·
26
.Average daily N umencal Strength of Establishment 33 Number of Cases of Sickness per cent. of ditto 151 Number of Deaths per cent, of ditto 9
, '.
100.
9
1 100 1 00
; ...
2 7'1
3 6
4
REMARKS.
The number 'of cases of sickness in the Immigration Hospital during the year 1861 was not great, but several of them wer(( tedious, occupying a protracted period in their cure.
" Zymotic Diseases." One case of "scarlatina:' occurred and terminated favorably, although it was a tolerably severe one, and left the subject of it, a child, greatly debilitated. The cases of " diarrhcea" and "dysentery" were not severe, and soon yielded to the remedies used. The three cases of "typhoid fever" were attended with consiperable debility; the first, ~ very severe one, occurred on board an immigrant ship, and the subject of it, a girl, was a long time recovering; the other two cases were comparatively mild, and recovered more rapidly. The case of "rheumatic fever" was a very severe one, but yielded readily to the use of colchicum, leaving, however, the patient in a very'debilitated state. The cases of "syphilis" and" gonorrhooa" occurred respectively in a man and his wife, both newly arrived im~igrants; they were both in a low cachectic state of health, and wcre a long time in the hospital before they recovered strength.
"Sporadic Diseases of uncertain Seat." Two cases of "menorrhagia" occurred. one of them severe, but both readily yielded to proper treatment. The case of "ulcer," the subject of :which was a child in a debilitated state of liealth, recovered under proper treatment and nourishing diet. In the case of "vesico.vaginal fistula," which was the result ofe a protracted labor, an operation was performed which entirely succeeded in effecting a cure. "Scrofula."-This case was that of a woman who subsequently died, of apoplexy, and whose neck was one mass of glandular swellings, from which she had suffered nearly all her life; for some time after her arrival here the serofulous affection was greatly benefited by treatment, and she was able to work in tolerably good health. The case of "marasmus," which terminated fatally, occurred in a child born in the hospital, whose digestive organs were hopeJessly impaired from its birth. Three of the cases of "debility" occurred in children imperfectly nourished On board ship, who soon recovered under a milk diet, and the other two were women debilitated after confinement; they all did well.
"Sporadic Diseases of Special Systems." "Hydrocephalus."-The snbject in this, case wa,s a child" four years old, who was admitted to the, hospital in apparently a dying state, with its head enlarged to nearly twi,ce its natural size, and its body and limbs shrunk almost to a skeleton. under the regular application of the cold douche three times a day, and the free exhibition of brandy, combined with a milk diet, the child was, after a month's treatment, discharged. in quite a strong and healthy condition, its head being very much reduced in size. The case of " apoplexy" is that already mentioned under the head of H scrofula," and was a very remarkable one. The subject was a female immigrant who was sent out to the colony for the benefit of her health, having suffered from scrofula
;oj nearly all her life, and when she arrived here she had large scrofulous swellings in her neck, and statecl that she had been under treatment for that disease many years in the London hospitals. When the attack of apoplexy; came on she was in the Immigrants' depot and was immediately removed to the hospital, where in ;,spite of all ~reatment she died on the third day of her illness. A post mortem
, examination showed that disease of the brain had long existed, that extensive softening h~d taken place, and that there was considerable effusion in the lateral ventricles and about the base of the brain. One of the cases of "trismus" occurred in an infant who was born in the hospital, and who was kept alive by constant and assiduous feeding and stimulants; for a few days the disease yielded to the treatment followed, but again returned and with a fatal result. 'rhe three cases of "bronchitis" were slight, two of them appearing in children, and the other in the mother of one of the children; all were readily cured. 'Of the cases of " quinsy" one was slight; the other resulted from cold after parturition, and was a case of ulcerated tonsils, which for a long period resisted treatment, but at length yielded to the application of nitrate of silver and the' administration of mineral acids. The cases of "dyspepsia " were, in all instances, the result of over-feeding,' aI).d were readily cured by clearing out the stomach and bowels. A woman suffering from "chronic rheumatism" remained in the hospital from the previous year, and,was under treatment during the whole of 1861; every remedy was tried with more or less effect, and at the end of, the year she was near1y well. The cases of" childbirth" wcre tolerably numerous, many of them being unmarried immigrants: some of the cases occupied a long 'time on the sick list, owing to the various diseases, abscess, of breast, &c" which sometimes follow parturition . .. Impetigo." - This was an eruption on the legs, and was very intractable to every lind of treat· ment, remaining on the hospital at the end of the year. The cases of "phlegmon" were of an unusual description; oxie occurred in, a child of weak habit, affecting the breast somewhat severely; and'the other was a case of phlegmon of the labia in a young girl ,which occupied fifteen days before it was healed.
"External Canses." There were no cases under this head in 1861.
W. McCREA, Chief Medical Officer. 21st March, 1862.
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CENTRA.L GA.OL, MELBOURNE.
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2.
3.
4.
, RETURN of DISEASES for the Year 1861.
Total DISEASES. , Number of
eases.
" " >.' .- '.0.-'-
ZYMOTIC DISEASES :- i ~ . ,
Scarlatina. ... .' .. ... ... .. . 1 Diarrhooa ... ... .., ... .. . 36 Dysentery ' ... ... . .. ... ... 8 Rheumatic Fever ... .. ,. .. ! '" 35 Syphilis _.'" .f •• . "-" '" . .. 17 Gonorrhooa ... ... ... ... ... 46 Scabies ... ... ... . .. . .. 4
'0 i
Total, Class 1 ... ... .. . 147
. ' SPORADIC DISEASES OF UNCERTAIN OR V~IABLE SEAT:- ,
Hremorrhoids ,
5 ... ... . .. ... Abscess ... ... ... ... 'I Ulcer ... ' , 32 . " .0:," ... ... Caries ... '., ~ ... "t ... 1 Gout 2 ... ~ . ~ . ... .. '" ...
, r()tal" Class, ~ '" ... 47
SPORADIC DISEASES OF SPECIAL SYSTEMS:-
Net'vow> System :~ Delirium Tremens ... ... ... ... 5 Dementia ... ... . " ... . .. 5 Epilep!b ... ... ... ... .... 7 Ophth ·mia '" ... ... . .. ... 21 Otitis ... .. , ... .. , ... '" 5
Respirator!! Organs:-48 BronchitIS ... ... . .. '" " .
Pleuritis ... ... ... ... .. . 5
Dit;G!ive Or'gans :-12 wnsy ... ... '" . .. ' ...
·Ileus... . .. .. , ... . .. 18 Hernia t •• ... ... . .. .. . 5 Dyspepsia .... ... . .. '" ... 84
Ul'i1~ary Organs:-Ischuria .,. ... . .. ... ... 14
Generative Organs:-Orchitis ... ... .., '" ... 6
In~umenta1'.Y SyStem:-rticaria ... , .. .,. ." ... 1
Eczema ... ... . .. .. . ." 14 Herpes .. , ... ... ... ,o • 1 Psoriasis ... ... ... '" .., 6 ... Iloils ... ... ... ... .. . 10 Phleg~~n ... ... ... . .. 31 . . ~ ,
';!'otal, Class <3 ... . .. ... 298
EXTERNAL CAUSES, INJURIES, &c.:-
Contusions ... ... ." ... .. . 17 Fractures ~, , .. , ... i_ • . ..
I 2
Subluxatio '" ... ... .. . ". 15 Wounds ." ... ... !'," J '" 22
Total, Class 4 ... . .. f'" 56
TOTALS OF ALL Cr.ASSES ... . .. 548 '.
Average daily Numerical Strength of Establishment ... Nun'lber'ofCases of Sickness per cent. of ditto Number of Deaths per cent. of ditto
I
No. 112, a.
Tota,l Average duration of Number of ea.eb C"" •.
0,
DaYB.
11 4. Ii 'I
12 9 4.
'I
8 8 9
13 4.
8
4 11 12 8 5
'I 5
5 5 3 4
15
6
'1 8 3
11 5 7
6
6 27 8 8
8
7
... 235
... 233
... Nil.
Deaths.
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...
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...
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o
Deaths percent.
of cases of Sickness.
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REMARKS.
There was less illness in the Main Gaol ,in 1861 than in the p~eceding year, and the ~ickness, too, ~as of a less important character, the dUration of the cases averaging seven days in 1861, against eleven in 1860, and the mortality in 1861 being Nil, while four deaths occurred the previous year.
, "Zymotic Diseases." It is in this dass that the decrease of siok;:lesS is most noticeable, the , differenoe between the number of cases oocurring each year, 1:Jeing 146,. '1'he subjeyt of the case of " scarlatina" was a lad who had oaught the infection before his arrival at the gaol; the case was a favorable one, and by isolating the patient in a cell and taking other preventive measures, the disease was prevented from spreading amongst the other prisoners, no other case having occurred, The cases of" diarrhcea" were numerous, but sporadic, no epidemic attack of this disease having occurred like that of the previous year. The average duration of each case was only four' days, which is probably less than the average time occupied in the cure of. this disease in any part of, the world; and this result is,I consider, owing in a great measure, to the perfect means at the disposal of the medical officer for ensuring the administration of the diet ordered in each case. With the oases of "dysentery," which were not numerous, and the average duration of which was only five days, the same cause, no donbt, operated. Of the cases of "syphilis" and" gonorrhcea," the number was less than in 1860, and, their average duration was also less, though a few cases of ,the former disease remained for a considerable time on the sick list. All the cases, of venereal disease were readily cured, and scarcely any of them required that the patients should cease their ordinary labor. l'he cases of "scabies" were more numerous than in the year before, but still they were few, and were at once cured.
" Sporadic Diseases of Uncertain Seat." As compared with the previous year, the return for 1861 shows an increase of thirteen cases in this class. Of" hremorrhage," the cases were generally slight; one very severe case, however, occurred, the subject of which was an old man, who while in the gaol was greatly relieved by treatment, but who, not being a sentenced prisoner, did not remain there long enough to admit of his being operated upon. The" abscesses," which wel'e none of them very extensive, and which under a nourisliing diet -soon got well, generally resulted from debilitated habit of body. The" ulcers" were numerous; nearly all of them occllrred in the inferior extremities, and, though some of the cases were tedious, generally healed very rapidly, their average duration under treatment be~ng but nine days. "Caries."-l'his case was one of extensive disease of the right thigh bone, just above the knee, from which pieces of bone were continually coming away. The general health of the patient was good, but there was little probability of a cure being effected, and the case remained under treatment at the end of the year. The eases of" gout" were, of ShOl·t duration, having been cured by a new ,remedy much used in America-tincture of black snake root.
,. Sporadic Dis'eases of Special Systems." Here, as compared with the return for 1860, a considerable increase in the number of cases is observable, and under every head except" Diseases of the Res'(liratory Organs." Five cases of "delirium tremens" occurred, three of which were treated by emetlc~. a little alterabivemedicine, rest and quiet, and a light and nourishing diet; while the other two were dealt with according to a plan -latterly adopted in England of administering half-ounce doses of tinct. digitalis; both modes of' treatment were successful, all five cases doing equally well: In no case was the administration of opium or stimulants of any kind resorted to, and the result of my experience is that this disease can be better treated without them. There were five cases of" lunacy" (dementia) ; one of the patients was idiotic, and for him nothing could be done; two of the others were men who had exhibited symptoms of insanity before they were tried, one of them having shown such symptoms at his trial, but these indications of lunacy were feigned, and my experience of such cases enabled me in both instances to detp.ct the imposture; another was really insane, and was reJPoved to the Western Gaol, there to await a vacancy in the Yarra :Bend Asylum; and the fifth, who was tried for stabbing his son while laboring under mental delusions, still remains hopelessly insane, Seven cases of "epilepsy" occurred, most of them being dependent on gastro-intestinal irritation, and being cured by, the removal of the cause; one ease, however, was com'plicated with valvular disease of the heart, the result of acute rheumatism. The cases of "ophthalmia," which were numerous, but not generally severe, were usually affections of the eonjuctiva, consequent on exposure to dust; they all yielded very readily to the treatment adopted, The cases of "otitis" were all catarrhal affections of the ear, some acut'e and some chronic, and all were relieved by syringing the ears, and keeping oil and cotton in them afterwards. "Respiratory Organs."-Under this head the cases of "bronchitis," though the most numerous in this class, were. fewer than those registered in 1860, the greater number of them being slight, and easily cured. The cases of "pleuritis" were also of a slight description, readily yielding to the prompt treatment adopted. Under the head" Digestive Organs," the cases of" quinsy" were more than double those of the previous year; though they were less severe, and were geuerally of trifling import. The oases of "colic"~ (ileus) were numerous, the disease being in almost all instances the result of undigested food remaining in the stomach alld bowels, and being cured at once by clearing out those organs. The cases of H hernia" were all in~inltl, and the men only remained on the sick list until they were fitted with trusses. Of" dyspepsia," t4e cases were, as is generally the case, more llm'nerous than those of any other 'ailment in the prison, and they were all the result of over-feeding; in most instances they were relieved by clearing out the stomach and bowels and actingon'the liver, tonics being rarely required to complete}he cure. "Urinary Organs."-The only disease occurring under this head was" strictUre of the urethra," many of the cases of which were severe, and required the long and continuous use of instruments for their cure; in all instances but one a eure was effected, the exception being a prisoner who did not remain sufficiently long in the gaol to be cured there, but who was removed to the Pentridge Stockade,'_where his cure was completed, The diseases of the " Generative Organs" were eonfill!3d to the six case's of "orchitis," and these, which were the result of previous gonorrhcea, were easily cured, with the exception of one case, which was complicated with hydrocele and abscess of the testicle. Of the diseases of the "Integumentary System," the cases were tolerably numerous, but, with the exception of a few instances of "psoriasIs" and" eczema," which were somewhat severe, they were slight and easily cured. ,
"External Causes." There was a considerable number of "contusions," slight "wounds," and" sprains," ];lut-the CaSCS"Were' of very little importance. Of the two cases of "fracture," both of which were cured, one was a fracture of a phalanx:- of the little finger, ond the other a fracture of the bones of the right fore-arm, which had been reduced and bound in splints before the patient's admission to the gaoL .'
W. McCREA, Chief Medical Officer. 21st March, 1862 .. '
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WE STERN GAO~t MELBOURNE.
RETURN of DISEASES for the Year 1861.
Total Average Total Deaths percent. DISEASES. Number of dura.tlonof Number of of cases of cases. each ca..e. Deaths. Sickness •
l. ZYMOTIC DISEASES:-. Daya.
Scarlatina ... ... .. . ... ... 1 19 ... ... Diarrhrea ... . .. ... ... .. . 25 4 ... ... Dysentery ... ... ... ... ... 13 9 . .. .. , Colonial :Fever ... ... . .. ... . .. 5 16 ... .. . Gonorrhrea ... .. , ... ... ... 12 11 ... . .. Syphilis .. , ... ... . " ... 8 'g ... ... Erysipelas ... ... ... ... ... 3 11 ... .. .
I
Total, Class '1 ... ... ... 67 B ... . ..
2. SPORADIC DISEASES OF UNCERTAIN OR VARIABLE SEAT:-
Hremorrhage ... ... .. . ... ... 1 14 ... .. . Dropsy ... . .. ... ... ... 1 8 . .. ... Ulcer ... ... .. , .. , ... ... 40 10 . .. .. ,
. Tabes ... ... ... .. . ... 1 36 ... ... Debility' ... ... . .. ... '" 6 22 1 16'6 Worms .. , . " ... ... ... I 3 5 ... . ..
Total, Class 2· 52 12 1 I l'9 ... ... ... . ~
3. SPORADIC DISEASES OF SPECIAL SYSTEMS:-Nervous System:-
ApoRlexy .,. ... ... ... ... 3 12 3 100'0 Paraysis ... ... ... ... ... 5 22 ... ... Delirium Tremens ... . .. ... . .. 54 6 6 11'1 Mania ... '" ... ... ... 20 14 ... .. . Melancholia ... ... ... ... .. . 4 20 ... .. . Epilep:I; ... ... ... ... .. . 14 19 .. . ... O'[>hth' mm ... ... ... ... ... 23 8 ... ... Otitis .. , ... ... ... ... 7 16 ... .. .
Respiratory Organs:-Bronchitis ... ... ... ... .. . 45 8 1 2'2 Phthisis ... ... ... .. . . .. 2 16 1 50'0
Digestive Organs:-Quinsy ... .,. ... '" ... 21 9 ... . .. Ileus ... ... ... ... ... 13 4 ... .. . Hernia ... ... ... ... ... 1 3 .. . . .. Dyspepsia ... ... ... ... .. . 812 7 ... .. .
Urinary Organs:-Enuresis ... ... ... ... ... 2 21 '" .. . Dysuria ... ... ... ... . .. 1 'I . .. ...
Generative Organs:-Amenorrhrea ... ... ... ... . .. 4 15 .. . ... Childbirth ... ... ' .. ... .., 1 8 ... ...
" Locomotive Organs:-
Arthritis ... ... ... ... ... 4 7 .. . . . ~, Chronic Rheumatism .. , ... ... .. . 21 6 ... ...
Integumentary System :-Urticaria ... ... ... ... '" 1 3 ... . .. Eczema ... ... .. .. . ... 9 10 ... .. . Her)?es ... ... ... ... ... 1 7 ... . .. Psonasis , .. ... n. ... . .. 6 12 ... .. . Anthrax ... ... ... ... ... 1 ·18 ." .. . Phlegmon .. , ... ... ... ... 80 B .. . .. .
Total, Class 3 605 8 ,
11 1-8 ... ... . ..
,.
8
RETURN of DISEASES, &C., WESTERN GAOL, Melbourne-continued.
])lS~~~ • '0' - .. ~, , " '1'" ~~ta1 I AVe~ag:: Total /' p~e~:t ~"t~ _ 1" L.,,'.r." l~ •. ",:,:~".,_,' t .. J":~"'" ~I I' Numberof! dumtionof
l
Number of ofcases~f
....:.. __ -;---'-_-,;--'-~---,........:.=.:.......--;-_~ ___ .,-~ ___ I,_Ca_se_s_. _I each 0 .. se. Deaths. I Sicknell!!,
. . .. - --.1 .
4. EXTERNAL CAUSES~ INJURIES, &c.:-
. Contusion j SubliIxatio ,Fracture' • ; Wounds I iGangren~ : Burns : i !
..... ,1
... ; ,
rotal, , Cla:ss ' 4 I , . . T I . C· , .. OTALS~ .OF ,AL,L LASSES
Ave~age daily'Numerical Strength of Establishment .. Null).berqf Cases of Sickness per c~ut. of di~to . N uutber of Deaths per cent. of ditto
REMARKS.
10 6 3
35 1 5
60
784
. ,
l?ays.
4 11 23 .. ~ . 9
·'d~·-139
.) . 5 .'
11
8 12
.,.' ..... 94 ,'.:.,834
, 12'7:
1-5
'!',Zymotic 'Piseases.":. The' case of "scarlatina" oc~u~ed in ;the child of a prisoner. Prompt measures were taken for the removal'of the patient to the Immigration Hospital, out of the crowded and ill·v:entilated gaol where there was too:much",reaSon .tbexpect·:thedise,~.s.E!"w.ould sp.read. T4e result W;tS satisfa<.;tory, the phild recovering rapidly, and the progress of the ~s~a~.~"in t~e gaol being arre~ted. "Diarrp.rea" and "dysent~ry" were .not prevalent to any great extent during the year, and, combined, they only formed two' per cent. of the total cases of sickness; those cases whi.cll occurred were generally of ~ mild typ'e, and yielded readily to treatment, while they w'e!~:not atteJ?-ded with any morlalitf' The c~se8 of "f~ver", were of the usual low type of " colonial,". and we~e not attended by any 'circumstances! requiring I:emark.: The cases 'of "syphilis" and "gonorrhrea" "were few' in number, and confined'to the female prisoners; the smallness of the number which occurred beins, worthy of remark, ;whe;u:it i~ considered that the' grea,ter number of female' prisoners in the 'Western Gaol are prostitutes, Both diseases readily suc(lumbed to treatment, the cases of " gonorrhllla" only averaging eleven qays, and those of ,i syphilis ,; eight. The dryness of the climate of this·.'C'016ily appeai's to me to be peculiarly favorable to the cure of these diseases under proper treatment. ,; I,'
"iSporadic Diseases of U ncel'tain Seat." ,One case, of hremorrhage ,occurred, with threatened abortion; the subjeet being f1 female prisoner who was pregnant; it was seve,re! a,l?;q,;was subdued with difficulty. Of" U:~cer" the', cases mire tolerably numerous, some of them being <of a very unhealthy character; one was particufurly io, the' subject being a prostitute with fearful spreading ulcers on the legs and face; during -the p'eriods of her stay in gaol the ulcf!rs in a great measure healed under proper
, treatment, but at the expiration of her. st;lntences, .a few 'wfjcks, or eyen days,' always"-brought her hack in a worse state than before; this i-oman's life has, undoubtedly, been prolonged by her repeated imprisonments, and consequent ~edi6al treatment. The case of "tabes " occurrea'::i~:a child, '~nd was the .result'of·the tant of ptoper care) and sufficient food" previous to the mother's imprisonment; the child sO?n recovered under: the gao~ diet, (which for children is ·very nourishing)' ahd appropriate remedies., The suhjects of the cases of "debility" were old men and womc,J?" wh9 ha,q, b\len committed to gaol as vagrant.s., having no l~wful 'means of support, after having suffered greatly'from destitution be~ore their iID.pris:onnient; :wit~' app~o'priate diet and medical comforts they all r(;-f~,viired, except one old man ,who had ~een in .arid out of this gaol frequently for many yea,rs baek, and who died at last of old age and debility. . I , " 7"'. ,r.
, ":Sporadic Diseases pf S,pecial Systems." The three cases.?f "apoplexy" w,jlich 99~urred all ended fatally,. and were all cases :of serous effusion, on the brain, the ,result, of, a.;-long cQu,rsec of drunken habits. The instances of '~paralysis'" oocurred principally among the lunatics, and were generally dependent on braih disease,lof which: the early history could not be triiced:"\:Tn:e~~cases :of.' " delirium tremens " were th~. m~st impor~!lllt which took place in the gaol" and, although the'"nuriib~r of cases occfurin!,(in 1861 does ,hot gi-eatfy exceed those of'either of,the two preceding years, tlie: sev~nty of the disease Was much heater last year, ada'the mortality large: This may be accounted for 'by the fact that many habitual drnpkards, w\l~, in preY(Qus year~',: had b~~:n repell:~~d1y cur,e;d of att¥.k;s of,:' delirium tremens, l' last·year'sank·under thll'accumulated effects of continued intoxication,; one woman, for instance, who, dUiingthe lastTouryeafs haa bee~ on forty-two occasions committed for drunkenness,'besides having been delirious 'front ~riJik m~ny ~tim\l,glwhen imprisoned for otlierooffences;.Idied of "delirium tremens." /l'he eases of· '.' mania " w~re: !l1J.~f!!Q~.·,l!-:llq,il:llpo.rt=!J1~,~QQ!L~mL.D.lJ!ill!Y._!!]l1..2¥KJ,ltlLl~B-Il~ic.s ;",l}9~'Y;!l.!!l
9
sent to this gaol from the country, districts." 1The violence 'of· the disease was in many cases greatly mitigated, and in some .cured, by the exhibition of half.ounce doses ~f tinct. digitalis, a treatment introduced in Great Britain· about 'eighteen; months ago for. the. cure of "delirium tremens." By analogy the cases of "mania" in this gaol were treated in this manner ,ery successfully, and, I am convinced, that, in judicious hands; this remedy will bilf6lind not only a valuable means of cure, but· a most'humanc substitute for the'strait jacket in the treatment of maniacal violence. Of the cases of '''epilepsy,'? which were -numerous, and in some Instances severe; many 'exhibited great improvement under treatment. The caS\38 of "ophthalmia" were also numerous, but generally of a character, many of them occurring in: children. The cases of "bronchiiis,"whlch o~c~r~ed 'chiefly wlliter months, were numerous also, but were generally easily subdued; in one instance, however, this disease proved fatal, the patient being a woman who was committed to gaol for drunkenness, and whose nervous system had previously been 'lowered by frequent· intoxication, and attacks of " delirium tremens." The number of instances of "phthisis" was small; it is worthy of remark that so few \lases of this disease oc.cur in the Western Gaol, when it is considered that the prisoners confined there have been in their daily lives exposed to all those influences which tend so·much·to develope tubercular disease in Europe; the fatal case of ". phthisis" was that of a woman', who was worn out by a long course of dIssipation, and the privations attendant on a dissolute life. The instances of " quinsy" were numerous, but not severe, the women and children in th~. gaof being principally the!.!uiferers. The cases of "colic" (ileus) were
.. generally very speedily cured, the patients being in most cases female prisoners. Of" dyspepsia " there were more cases than of any other. disease in the gaol, ·and fully 250 out of the 312 Cj>ses registered arose from drunkenness, many of the :oases being of a severe character, and exhibiti~g ~ymptoms closely bordering on those of "delirium tremens;" most of the remaining cases of "ilyspe:psia~' occurred among the lunatics sent down from the eountry .districts;·who were in many instances suffering from severe derangement of the digestive organs, on"wmch disorder their mental disease not unfrequently depended. . Under the use of alterative medicines, and appropriate diet,' these latter cases all 'did remarkably well, the insanity in some cases being cured, and in many more greatly ameliorated, while in all the dyspeptic symptoms were much relieved. Of" arthritis" and" ehronie.rheumatism" the cases, .though numerous, were not severe, and yielded readily to the treatment adopted, as is shown by their short average duration. The cases of "urticaria," "eczema," "herpes," and" psoriasis," were less numerous than usual; one of them, however, was very severe, a scaly eruption covering the whole body of. the patient, who subsequently'.died in ~J:!.e Melb()urne ,Hospital. Of "phlegmon" (boils) the cases, though numerous, were not of an important description.
" External Causes." "Contusion."-Scat:cely any prisoners :.u:e brought to this gaol free from bruises of some kind, but the eases here registered are those only in which medical aid was required for their cure. The cases of " subluxatio" were generally sprains of the ankles, and were readily cured by rest ana: the effusion of cold water. "Fracture."-;One of the patients was a male prisoner suffering from fracture of the forearm, and the other two were females, the frecture in one'instance being also of the forearm, and in the other of a finger; all three cases recovered in the gaol. "Wounds."-Though the cases were, in most instances, of no great importance, and all recovered, some·ofthe injuries were of a very severe description, one being a severe wound of the arm, and several being wounds of the throat, self·inflieted by lunatics before their admission to the gaol. The case of " gangrene" was one in which the ends of several toes sloughed off, the subject being an old man of remarkable height (6 feet 4 inches) who had been demented for some time; 139 days were occupied in the cure. i,lfthis case, the circulation of the blood being exceedingly feeble. The cases of "burns" were mostly lnstances of scalds by boiling water, and were not of any importance.
During the year 1861 there were received into the Western Gaol from the country districts, 138 persons regularly committed as lunatics, of whom 82 were, after SOlue detention, forwarded to the Yarra Bend Asylum as 'vacancies occurred in that establishment, and 40, or 29 per cent., were cured in the gaol, and thence discharged; of the committed lunatics none died in the gaol during the year. During the Bame period 195 supposed lunatics were remanded to the gaol, from the various policecoul'ts, for medical enquiry, and of these, three died, 58 were committed and forwarded to Yarra Bend, and 129, or 6tl per cent., were discharged cured.
21st March, 1862. W. :McCREA, Chief Medical Officer.
No. 112, b.
10
PENTRIDGE STOCKADE . .. \
RETURN of DISEASES for the Year 1sin.
DISEASES. Total Average Total ~re~.
Number of duration of Number of of ca ... of Oe.ses. each Case. Doatbe. Sickness.
---------------------------------------i-----�------�I~----I-----
1. ZYMOTIC DISEASES:-DiarrhOla '" Dysentery ... . Influenza ... . Colonial Fever
. Rheumatic Fever Syphilis ...
·Porrigo ...
Total, Class 1 ...
2. SPORADIC DISEASES OF UNCERTAIN OR VARIABLE SEAT:-
Hremorrha~e HremorrhOiS ,Hydrocele Abscess meer Fistula Scrofula Gout ... Debility Worms
Total, Class 2 ...
3. SPORADIC DISEASES OF SPECIAL SYSTEMS:-N(Yf'VOUS System,,:-
Apoplexy ... Dementia ..• Epilepsy ... Ophthalmia ...
• Organs qf Gi;rculation:-Vancose Veins '" . .. .. . Fattr. Degeneration of the Heart ... Palpitation ... ... . ..
RespiratQ'!7I Organs:-BronchitlS ... Phthisis ...
Digestive Organs:-Qynanche , .. Hernia .. . Dyspersia .. . Jaundice .. .
17rinary Organs:--Ischuria .. . Diuresis .. . Diabetes .. . Contraetura Urethra
Ge1UJrative Organs :-Orchitis ...
Locomotive Organs:Chrome Rheumatism Caries... . ..
Integumentary System :-Psoriasis' .. . Anthrax: .. . Phlegmon .. .
Total, Class 3 ...
... •
33 9
12 9
47 13 2
125
1 6 1 7
11 6
10 7 8 7
64
5 14 17
7 1 9
19 7
10 3
83 2
2 2 1
11
6
1 3
I)
3 26
5 16
2 16 8
23 - 27
10
14 8
70 22 25 24 18 17 53
6
23
42 35 38
13 1
18
8 23
10 17
4 18
7 9
22, 32
13
250 90
13 15 7
237 I 15'
1 100'0
1
1 100'0
1
11
RETURN of DISEABES, &c" PENTRIDGE STOCKADE-continued.
DISEAJ!ES.
4. EXTERNA.L CAUSES, INJURIES, &c.:Burns .,. Contusions Dislocations Fractures Wounds
Total, Class 4
TOTALS OF ALL CLASSES ...
I Total Number of
, Casll ••
5 46
1 2
19
73
499
Average Daily Number of Prisoners in the Stockade Number of Cascs of Sickness per cent. of ditto .. _ Number of Deaths per cent. of ditto
REMA.RKS.
Average I Total duration of, Number of each C..... I ~eatb.s.
Days.
11 9
145 58. 24
16
15 2
869 57-4 0'23
Deaths per cent. of cases of Sickness~
0'4
At Pentridge Stockade the amount of sickness .which occurred during the past year, 1861, will bear a still more favorable contrast with that of 1860, as in last report compared with 1859, especially as regards the number of cases admitted into hospital, the mortality amongst them, and also as considered relatively with regard to the yearly increased number of prisoners there, showing that with a large increase each year there were 31 admissions less into hospItal in 1860 than in 1859, and in 1861, 290 less than in 1859, and in 1861, 259 less than 1860.
The hospital admissions are here placed comparatively and chiefly so not only to show the decrease of sickness in each of those years taken with the increase of prisoners, but also to prove the incalculable benefits which have already followed, and must hereafter more largely appear from the improvements made, especially within the last three years, in the increased sleeping accommodation provided for the prisoners in four large stone built dormitories in C division, capable of containing about 500 hammocks, each prisoner having about 250 cubic feet of space; three large stone mess rooms, where religious services are held twice on Sabbath days; healllhy stone walled yards, neatly gravelled, where the prisoners exercise when not at work; well drained gardens and elevated lands to work upon, with wholesome stone built workshops to work at their various trades within and covered sheds without; bath rooms for wholesome cleanliness, good clothing suited to the seasons, regular and early hours of rising, reasonable rest and easy labor; added to all this the more wholesome dietary established in January, 1860, in allowing less animal food at dinner, in lieu of which more bread and vegetables in their soup are given with the most beneficial results; the use of gas in their school-rooms and dormitories (not oil lamps as heretofore), and, though last not least, the general use and plentiful supply of Yan Yean .water conveyed through iron pipes alone, and the consequent disuse of brackish water of the old wells from 88 to 113 feet deep, their water holding in solution large quantities of earthy salts, especially impure magnesia; to this latter agent may fairly be attributed much of the diarrhrea, dysenteric, and other dyspeptic illnesses heretofore so largely prevalent, especially in hot weather, when the water for drinking and for all other uses was obtained only from these wells.
In the first class, "Zymotic Diseases," there was a large decrease in the total nmnber of cases under its head as compared with 1860; in that year there were 290 cases, and in the past year, 1861, 125 cases. This result is attributable to their having occurred but 12 cases of influenza during the past year, whilst 190 were recorded in the previous year, 1860. _
The cases of" diarrhrea" were eight less than in the previous year, of a milder character, and of much shorter average duration; as in "dysentery" also the nine cases admitted yielded to the usual treatment, although some assumed a serious character.
Under the head'" fever" there were but nine cases last year compared with 18 the previous year, readily yielding to the treatment adopted.
Under the head "rheumatic fever" there occurred 47 cases during the past year compared with 23 cases in 1860; in 1859 there were 46 .cases of this disease. This increase is mainly attributable to the unusually cold and prolonged wetter winter last than the previous ,ear. Some of those patients had often suffered from syphilis, others of scrofulous habits, and most 0 them men who had long and severe imprisonments at various periods of their lives. .
The increased number of cases of "syphilis," or venereal disease, mostly ocourred with men who had been previously at Pentridge, and were in some instances only a few weeks or days away when they returned, having in. the meantime contracted it. There was one exception, however, of a seriouB character in a first convicted man, who had greatly neglected himself, but who is now 9,uite well after being 141 days in hospital. Under the subdivisions of this classification, "Zymotic DIseases," there was no fatality.
In this second class, "Sporadic Diseases of Uncertain and Variable Seat," there is an increase of 13 cases more than in 1860, in consequence of there being six kinds of disease registered mOrc than in the preceding year, namely, "hremorrhage," "hydrocele," "fistula,"" scrofula," "podagra, or gout," and " vermes, or worms."
Under the head" hremoptysis," "abscess," and" ulcers," there is a considerable diminution of cases; in the latter (ulcers) there occurred only 11 in the past year against 22 in the former year, all terminating with the same satisfactory results in their treatment and cure.
One, however, of the only two instances of mortality which occurred at Pentridge during the past year was in the class" hremorrhage," from rUll!ure of a large vessel near the heart, a man who had been long a prisoner and of debilitated system. Under this classification the only other cases worth_ all~ding to were three from debility, who were placed under medical treatment in hospital upon their arnval at Pentridge from the Gaol; two were old offenders, and similarly affected when in llril;on before, doing n::> work; one remained in hospital 68 days, 'the other 162 days, when both were agam discharged from pm on convalescent; the third case was that of ~ first convicted man, who p~viou~ly had colonial
12
.fever before arrest, ,was very much neglected, 'remained 94 'days in: 'hospital,' and is now at work quite well. '
~: ,,}n: the ~,h!rd?l~ssl ":Spor~die piseases of Special Systems and Organs," the d?erease in the number.of,cases:m1tnlscmssbears.,a"stIll more favorable contrast, the past year, 1861, wIth 1860, than did the la~er lrith lthe prJviori~ year, 1859. In 1859, as shown, in that year's report, there were 439 'cases ; In 1860, 348 and durlllg the past year; 1861, that. numoer was redueed to 236, eaeh case of an average duration of days, anq. but one case teJ;Illinating fatally,undEtr t,he h.e!).d '~OIlgans of Circulation," mentioned hereafter in the subdivision" Nervous System." 'Under the head H mania," it is 'only'neces'sary to' allude to' one case, the oth'er yielded to anti-dyspeptic treatment and suitable food and exercise. The ,ease alluded to was partly constitutional, but greatly aggravated from a blow on the head by another prisoner quarrelling upon the works. He was sent from Pentridge to the Yarra Bend Asylum; ~nd.rrom thence su~sequently discharged. But from the ~ublifl pape~s it s~ems that t4e,first day oflus discharge he receIved a blow of a bot~le on the head whilst quarrelling with a womau, from which he died in a few days. . '
, 'under' the head" epilepsy," all of the fourteen cases -in the return were greatly benefited by the,dietf!ry and treatrpent employed,. except two; one man is at light :work, having been 212 days in h~s'Pital and in the convalescent yard; the other, after being in hospital, where he generally remained durIng his former convictions, was 208 days under treatment at the close of the last year, and is not likely to recover. ' " , ' ',.., .. :
Under the head '.' ophthalmia/",all' of the seventeen' cases recorded yielded to the treatment employed, except' one suHering from syphilis of long standing before being imprisoned, and was in hospital at the close of the year awaiting his discharge from prison.
Lnder the subdivision" Organs of Circulation," 'there was an increase of double the number of eases beyond those of 1860. Of nine cases of "palpitation" (disease of the heart), two only assumed ,ll- seri,9us character ; one man" after being one hundred and ten days under treatment in hospital, precluded 'fr,om 'ardent drinks', to' which he was greatly addicted, and removed from other habitual exciting causes, left prison greatly improved 'in' health; the other was a man ,of a very fretful, sullen, 'and ,depressed teJ'!lperament, only 'a few da,ys iit Pentridge;' never complained of il)ness nor asked for ,a:dvice' until voluntarily visited' in his' cell a few' hours Defore his death: which wits caused by fatty degeneration of the heart. N either of those cases wliich terminated fatally' were owing to causes arising within the prison, and both were beyond human controL The other cases require no' comment. " " Respiratory Organs." ", Under this heading it is somewhat satisfactory' to show that there were twenty cases ,of these illness,es'less in 1861 than in 1860, none of which led to ,serious results, lind all of whom remaining at Pentridge are at their daily avocations. " ' :'
, ", Under the term" Digestive Organs," there will be' observed a 'large reduction in" cases, the nu¢bers'in 1861 being ninety-eight; a~d ill 1860, ,two 'hundred cases; this is owing ,to tlie decrease 'in the class "dyspepsia," from' the ',singular fact of there being only eighty-three cases in the past year against 'oue hundred and eighty -nine casl!S .in'1860, or one hundred and, six cases of that disease less in'the pa,st than' in' tlie previQus' year. This l'esultm(!,y faiBy beattr~I,)l~~ed tq the cau,~~~3,lready assigned in these ':remarks," especially a~' 'regards' the change of 'diet and t,he various sanitary improyements of the prison., There are no other'cases:calling for observation under this subdivision;' , ' ',> Under the head "Lrinary Organs," there were no cases requiring notice beyond four protracted stricture illnesses, requiring constant hospitiI1 attendance, all of whom are progressing'favorably.
: ' .. ," O:rgans of Generation , " Here there were a lesser number of cases of "orchitis" (inflamed testicles) than in thepre1'ious year, chiefly occurring to men'from accidents at their various' occupations, !lnd in sOll).e few cases with menof serofulous habit or' sYPI1i1itic:' all oftheni now in prison are' at their usual work. " ' : .. , In the subdi1'ision "Organs of LocomotIOn," there was one case of" chronic rheumatism," a maD . similarly affected when' before" at' Pentridge, of scrofulous 'habit of ,pody, and debilitate'd from long illness. He was in hospitalf'or two hundred and fifty days, ,froIl} his arrival till h,i,s dischar,ge, 'unable to move except on crutches,when out of bed. " " ,
Of the ,three eases' of- diseased"bones; "caries;" one was'sixt'f2four'days in hospital from the eHects of,a blow orithe upper jll-w wJ:ten arrested; a portion: of the al1'eolar witll some of the teeth 'came away,' and he recovered,' '1'he second was from disease of the left arm bone, H radius," from ,a pistol shot before arrest; he was eighty-eight days in hospital, and when discharged from prison was
nearly' well." 'J:'he third was aTi AfrICan; ",nose feet were' frostbitten years ago whilst on a'hprthern whaling cruise ;' all the phalanges of the toes of both feet ,vere gone'; 'latterly one of the metatarsal bones came away, and he left the prison nearly well. ~ ,
.. There were' 'no cases in "Integumentary System" calling for remark; it may be'mentioned, ,however, that tl;1ere were,but thirty-four ease!:! under that heading in 1861, as compared with fifty-two cases in the previous year. ,,' , "", '
" " In thls,last classification;" External'Causes;" th'eI'e is an: mcrease of onlY'five' cases, and 8011\e of a more serious'charaeter than in the'previous year. 'The cases of'" combustion'''' were' .Qot serious.'and of s~ort duratio~. ,There were nil'!-eteen case~ of "eont~si?ns" more than in the previous year; fortySIX ill 1861 agalllst twenty-seven ill 1860, chiefly caused In' cO,nsequence of the large quarry works cap-ying on, completing a range of three hundred cells, a dining-room capable of acc()mmodating over
'fiv;e hundred prisoners, and extensive boiin,dary'\valls, subjecting'the :men to lUOre seriou!J accidents ,than hitherto': Though ,abme ~ere ob~tiil.ate in their cure; none' aSsumed a'seriouscharacter;and Iill left tIte hospital cured and returned to their duty: ' " , . 'Under the'head "fractures" there were three cases'; in one 'it'was necessary to':l'emove'the thumb; the seco.\ld, 8; fra,ctUl;e, of ,the right arm, ~hich united and, he recovered; in the third, a 'serious case,offractllre of the fibula: of the leg and dislocated ankle; this cl;lse terminated satiBfactori~y, and.he left, the prison quite weiL There, were thr,ee !lases 'of: "'\Younds;" recorded more than the preVIOUS y~ar ; they,all-recovered in a reasonable time.'" Of the'nineteen cases of''' wOilnds,"'one alone was of a serIOUS ,nature; it occurrea;,by a railway ~ru.c1!: passing,over l;1is foot, making a deep. lacerated wo.4nd from t~e phalange of tlie 'g:r;eat'toe to four lllches above the anJde ;': there were ten llgat1,ll'es reqUITed, to umte this wound/ which,though obstinate ultimately Jfuited, and the man , left the' prison cured. "The av~rage number of days in; hospital in: 'all, 'those q~,ses waS, of necessity greatly beyoJ;ld that of, the' ordmary illnesses oft1'e prison. ~, " , ", " ',,,' , ' Exclusive of the.four.}:lllI)dJ:e9.' and niJlety:n~e h.::,spitaJ. 'eases"s)1own in the ~eturn, ph~r~'~e~e
'ab,out forty-six men daily recei~g ,!lledical,'attenda}lce for slight'illnesses or complamts whICh 'clId not requi,re, exemp~ion fr:oil;t ~bor, 8Qme~'of who.m' w..~re, ,qonvalescents recently from hospital, an,d, neeaed,
; out.door air and exercise before their'firiid ree6verf: '" " ", ,',' f" "',' , " ", ' "," J ' ',. ,.,,' - ... , ' :JAMES B .. POU~DS, ' ,
21st March;' 1862; , ,,1 ,.,;", ,'" ", ',"'ReBidentMedical'Officer, Pentridge'St6ckade:
13~
COL LIN G WOO D S Toe K A D E.
REjTURN of DISEASES for the Year 1861.
Total " Averago Totn.! De&ths -
! per cent. DISEASES. Number of : durn;tion of Number of of_of
Case •• i each Case. Deaths, Sickness.
Days. . 1. ZYMOTIC DISEASES :-
Diarrhrea . .. ... . " ... ... 29 9 ... ... Dysentery ... ... ... ... .. . 4 10 .. . ... Influenza ... ... ... ... ... 1 5 . .. .. .
. Scurvy ... ... ... ... . .. ... 2 ! 24 .. . .. . Colonial Fever ... ... ... ... 1
I 4 ... . ..
Rheumatic Fev~~' ... ... ... .. . 15 14 .. . ... Syphilis , .. .. ' '" ... . .. 17 19 ... ... GonorrhOla ... . ,. ... ... .. . 18 11 . .. ...
Total, Class 1 ... ... ... 87 13 .. . ...
2. SPORADIC DISEASES OF UNCERTAIN OR VARIABLE SEAT:-
Hmmorrhage , .. ... ... .. . ... 5 15 ... . .. Hfcdrocele ... ... ... ... .. . 1 9
I
... ... U cer ... ... ... ... .. . ... 25 20 ... .. . Fistula ... ... ... ... ... . .. 1 3 . .. .. . Scrofula ... ... .. , ... ... 1 48
i .. ' .. .
Tumor ... ... ... ... ... ... ; . 1 11 ... ... Worms ... ... ... .. . .... 7 8 I ... . ..
Total, Class.2 ... ... . .. 41 17 ; ~ . ...
3. SPORADIO DISEASES OF SPECIAL SYSTEMS:-Monomania ... '" ... ... , .. 6 18 ... '"
Epi1iE:L ... '" ... .... . .. 4 6 ... ... Oph mill. ... ... ... . .. ... 26 14 . .. . .. Otitis ... ... . .. ... .., ... 4 6 ... ... Valvular Disease of the Heart ... ... . .. 1 7 .. . ... Bronchitis ... ... ... ... ... 53 8 .. . ..
RF1irqt~ Organs:-eurlsy ... ... ... .. . . .. 5 7 ...
D~estive Organs:-dontalgia ... '" ... .. , ... 2 8 ... .. .
Quinsy ... ... ... .. . ... 16 13 ... .. . Peritonitis ... ... ... .. . ... 2 7 .. . ... lieus ... ... ... .. . ... 9 6 ... .., Hernia ... ... ... ... ... '" 1 1 . .. ... Dyspepsia ... ". . .. ... ... 52 11 .. . ...
Urinary Organs:-Enuresis ... ... ... ... . .. 7 18 .. . ... Contractura Urethra ... ... ... '0" 17 30 . .. . ..
Generative Organs;- , Orchitis· .. : '" .... ... ~ ... 1 11 ... .. .
Locomotive Organs:-Chronic Rheumatism .. , ... ... ... 29 12 ... .. . Periostitis ... ... ... ... .. . 1 35
'" ... Caries ... ... ... ... '" 1 21 ... ... Necrosi~' ". ... ... ... .. . 1 4. ... ...
Integumentary System:-Eczema ... ... ... ... . .. 5 14 ... ... Herpes ... ... ... .. . ... 1 7 ... ... Impetigo ... .. , ... ... ... 1 13 .., ... Acne ... .. , ... ... . .. ... 2 24
i ... . ..
Psoriasis ... ... ... ... .. . 8 30 ... '" Phlegmon ... '" ... ... .. . 21 10 ... '"
Total, Class 3 ... ... ... 276 11 . .. ... ,
No. 112, c.
14.!
RETURN. of DISEASES; &C.j,.COLLINGWOOD STOCKADE~continued. , . :' • t .; • ., ! .. I" 1, _. '\._
".' ,~ ... _ ,. 1 • 'l~
DISEASES.
1. '
4. EXTERNAL CAUSES,'INJURIES, &c.:-·Cont.usions
Dislocations .:" ]'racture Subluxatio .Wounds
i ," ·Total Number of
.Cases •.
Average \ Total I p~:~t duration of Number of , of cases of el'oh Case., neat.)1s. Sickness. •
Day!!.
1---1--.,.----'-----1 __ 2_9 _1 __ 1_2 __ .;.. .. _. ~I_· _ .. _. -Total, Class 4
433 ·13 ::', I Average daily Numerical Strength of Establishment Number of Cases'of Sickness per cent. of ditto .". N.umber of Deaths per eent. of ditto .. .... . " ... )t
211 '.'l,"
205 Nil.
During.the year 1,861 the Collingwood Stoekade was ~lerably healthy, though the actual amount of sickness was, as compared with t~at of the .previous .y,ear, slightly greater, the number of cases in 1860 being 195 per cent •. of the average daily number of persons in the . prison, and 210 per cent. in 1861 ; the average duration of the cases was also two days more than in·the previou~· year, but the sickness was, as in 1860, unattendcd by any mortality. ,., . ,
" Zymotic Diseases.'" In this cl~ss there is' a great .decrease observable in the m~mber of cases, as compared with those in'the'return for the year before. zymotic disellses having been decidedly not 80 prevalent· in 18tH; the decreas~ is principally observable under the heads'" diarrhcea" and "influenza, .. the numb~r or' cases 'fro'm both these diseases being 167 in 1860, and only 50 last year. The number of eases of "dysentery "'was the f2ame ,as. in. the previo)ls year, viz., four in each; it fs a. fact worthy of relI).ark, that,; in the prisonrhibout Melbourne, "dysentery," althollgh unqu·estionably'i!. more severe disease than H:diarrhrea; " .. does not ·generally occupy a longer time in its cure; both diseases rlo'adily yield to treatment, and this is doubtless 6,ying in Ii great measure to the facilities with which prisonqrs can be confined. to a. suitable ,diet. "~curvy ""also was not so prevalent in the Collingwood Stockade as it was the previous year, and the subjects were generally Chinesc; one case was somewhiLt severe, and occ)lpied as many as thirty:.eight days in its cure. One ease'of " fev!"}'," of the typhoid or colonial type, occurr~d, but it was very slight and was soon subdued. The eases of H rheumatic fever" were just a~ numerous as in ~he previous year, (though the number of meu in the stockade was less), and their average duration was somewhat greater. In the last case which occurred, a ,new remedv, black snake, root, which of late has bcen extensively used in Ameriea for the cure of this disease, ,;a9 tried with' success; :this medicine seems to have an immediate effect in relieving the pains of acute rheumatism, without inducing the ·gastro.inti)stinal irritation usually attendant on the use of cholchicum, while the average durAtion of tlw cases. is not inereased .by its usc. The cases of venereal disease ''ljere much more numerous than in the .previous year; many of the syphilitic cases were" secondary, ',' and occupied a co~siderable period in their cure, while those of H primary syphilis .. were of the usual character, yielding readily to treatment. The cases of "gonorrhrea(, with one cxception which was complicatqd witli stricture, ,'\Vere readily cured, their time under treatment bcing generally less than ten days.
"Sporadic Diseases of Uncertai.n Seat." The number of cases in this class was more t,han double that shown in the previo,us year's return, and the cases themselves were of greater importance than those of 1860. One case of "hmmorrhage" was curious; the subject was a very tall and powerful half·caste Maorie, ;who had; while in: prison, bcen frequently brough~ before the Visiting Justice fO!,,'offences against ~iscipline,: his. tenrpe< being! bad; when on these occasions he' was sentenced ,to solitary confineTI\ent he u~ual1y cue himself pretty deeply across the veins of the forearm; causing extensive hmmorrhage, whic)1 would leave him in such a weak stale that lie would have to be removed to hospital, and kept 'there, often for a considerable time, till he recovered; he had pursued this practice for yoars, first on board the Hullq;, and then at thc Pentridge Stockade, and soon'after'liis arrival af'Collingwood, on his b~ing sentcnced to solitary imprisonment for some offence, lIe inflicted a severe wotind ~n his forearm, and was found in a pallid state, having lost·n' large quantity of blood; 011 this latter occasion, whilst the proper: means for his recovQry were being adopted, he was still kcpt in the solitary c\!ll to which he had been sentenced, and in a ·week afterwards he contrived to procure and secrete in his cell a sruall piece of a !knife, with which he re.opened the wound on his ·arm. In order 'to preveut another attempt of this sort his arms weresec,ured by putting him, in a canvas bag,· when after the lapse of a few days he' tJireatened to destroy himself; measures were, however, at once adopted to prevent the
,f '.'" - '., "
execution of this threat, and he was, kept, iIi the cell till he had abandoned all attempts of the sort l, eight months have since elapsed, during which he has evinced no disposition to injure himself, or \ attempt self· destruction. The other cases of "hromorrhage" were rea.dily cured; three of them were cases of hromorrhageof-the,boweIs, probably;,dependent on ,some obstruction,of.the"POl1taJ.~ci,JleuJ.atiGu:. and one was a case of "hrom6ptysis," in which there was no indication of phthisis or any chest disease. The case of ~'hydrocele:' was cured by a radical operation. Of" uicer ~. the cases were numerous, and several in, which the ulcers were on the inferior extremities occupied a long period in their cure. Tho case of ,,'scrofula" was one in which the glands of the 'neck were affected. ' The' case' of "tumor" waS of the "fatty" kind, the tumor, which was removed by the knife, being on the cheek, and causing disfiguration. 'The oases of" worms" which occurred were all " ascarides"; formerly in the prisons this disease was treated by turpentine, but the numerous applications made by the prisoners for that medicine excited suspicion, and it was discovered that they positively liked spirits of turpentine, and feigned the disease to obtain it.
"Sporadic Diseases of Special 'Systems." In this class, though the actual number of cases is less than that shown in the previous year's return, the proportion of sickness to the number in the stockade is greater than that which obtained in 1860. Of H melancholia", the subjects W.ere lunatics who were retained in the stockade; medical treatment slightly modified their complaints, but did not not produce much permament benefit. The cases of "epilepsy" were all slight, and were easily cured. The cases of '! ophthalmia," all of which were relieved by treatment, were mostly instances of inflammation of the conjunctiva, caused by the dust in summer, and in a few instances the deep tissures of the eye were affected. Of" otitis" the cases were few and of slight importance. The case of" valvular disease of the heart" was a chronic one in which both mitral and aortic valves were affected; the health of the patient was improved by alteratives and tonics, but no permament effect ~as made on the disease. The cases of" bronchitis," a considerable number of which occurred during a change of ,weather which took place in the first month of the year, were numerous, but, with one 'or two exceptions, slight, and were all readily cured. Of" pleuritis," the cases werl) generally acute, but in most instances, they yielded readily to treatment, the one of longest duration only lasting ten days. The cases of "odontalgia" were instances of carious teeth, causing abscesses and swelling of the jaw. Qf" quinsy" the cases were numerous, and were generally cured by astringent gargles and the application of caustic, but in some instances suppuration took place. The two cases of ,', peritonitis" which occurred were not severe, and both yielded easily to appropriate remedies. The cases of "colic" (ileus), most of which exhibited severe symptoms, were generally caused by over. feeding, ~nd were relieved by clearing out the bowels, and by external applications. Only one case of "hernia" occurred, and wall at once relieved by the use of a truss. There 'were many cases of " dyspepsia" during the year, and they were frequently attended with headache, as well as some ,amount of fever, being followed by a loss of appetite for a considerable period; they were generally treatcd successfully ~y emetics and tonics. Of" enuresis" the instances were numerous and unaccountable, but they were all readily subdued by small doses of sesquichloride of iron. The cases of stricture, which were all of old standing, and the result of" gonorrhcea" in former years, were allcUl"ed by the use of graduated bougies. The cases of "chronic rheumatism" were numerous, but, though in a few instances protracted, were not generally severe, the subjects not being thereby incapacitated for their usual labor. A cure was effected by the administration of iodide of potassium in the' case of "periostitis,': which was of syphilitio origin. 'The case of "caries," the subject of which was a. Uhinese, was one in which the bones of the nose were affected, and was probably the result of syphilis; the patient was greatly relieved by treatmcnt during his imprisonment. The ease of "necrosis" was one in which a small portion of the superior maxillary bone formed a sequestrum, and sloughed off in a few days without i'lConvenience. The cases of skin disease were,as usual, prettj numerous, but not severe, and were cause'd by over· eating, the prisoners consuming as much food in the summer as in winter; they were all ~reated suceessfnlly by sulphur, mercury, iodine, and arsenic, Of" phlegmon" ,the cases were, also, in my opinion, the result of using too much food; the proportion of cases to the number of prisoners was the same as in the previous year, though the actual number which 9ccurred was not so great as that shown i!J, the return for 1860.
"External Causes." . The accidents occurring to the prisoners were about as numerous as in the year before. The case of "fracture" was one in which the last phalanx of the right ring finger was broken. The" dislocation" was one of the shoulder joint, and was reduced at once. Only one of the "wounds" was of any consequence; it was in the scrotum, inflicted by a stone, and, did not heal till1Q5 days elapsed. The cases of "sprain" which took place were generally of the loins, and caused by lifting stone in the quarries.
21st Ma.rch, J862. W.McCREA, Chief Medical Officer.
\ \
. !
,
1.
2.
'3.
- ."\
IS
PENAt'HULKS, HOB:SON'S B'A.'Y;
RETURN of DISEASES for theY ear 1861. .
, \ I Total' Average Total DISEASES. Nwnber of duration of Number of
Cases. ,each Case., ,Dea.ths. "
i
ZYMOTIC DISEASES:-Days.
Scarlet Fever ... .., ... ... , .. 9 17 1 Diarrhrea ... ... ... .... . .. 39 12 .., Dysentery ... ... ... ... . .. 6 8 .. , Scurvy ... ... ... . .. ... 1 38 ... Remittent Fever ... ... ... . .. 1 10 .. . Colonial Fever ... ... ... ... 1 2 .. . Puerperal Fever ... ... .. . ... 1 21 1 Rheumatic Fever ... ... ... ... 3 16 .., Syphilis ... ... ... ... . .. 6 52 1 Gonorrhrea ... ... ... ... 1 1 .., Erythema ... ... ... ... ... I 12 .. . Scabies ... ... ... ... ... 1 49 .. .
Total, Class 1 ... '" ... 70 17 3
SPORADIC DISEASES OF UNCERTAIN OR VARIABLE SEAT:-
Hremopthsis ... ... ... ... .. . 1 17 .. . Hremorr oids ... ... ... ... .. . 2 13 ... Menorrhagia ... ... ... .. . ... 2 25 ... Abscess '" ... ... .. , . .. 5 6 .. , IDoor ... ... '" ... ... 9 26 ... Gout, Rheumatic ... ... .. . ... 1 ! 48 ." Debility ... ... ... '" ... 13
i 23 ... Total, Class 2 ... ... ... 33 I 21 .. ,
SPORADIC DISEASES OF SPECIAL SYSTEMS:-
Nervous System :-Convulsions ... ... ... ... . .. 1 30 .., Ophthalmia ... ... ... . .. ... 9 16 .. .
Respirator!! Organs:-29 12 BronchitIs ... ... ... . .. .,. .. ,
Pleurisy ... ... ... ... ... 2 9 .. . Phthisis ... . .. ... .. . ... 1 89 ...
])~6s.tive Organs:-7 5
\ Ulnsy ... ... ... . .. ... ...
Dyspepsia ... ... ... . .. ...
I 40 70 ."
(Jenm·(tiive Organs:-Orchitis ... ... ... .. . 1 31 ... Amenorrhrea ... ... ... ... . .. 1 1 . " Leucorrhrea ... ... ... ... ... 1 49 . .. Childbirth ... ... .. . ... ... 5 12 ."
Locomotive Organs:-Chronic Rheumatism ... ... ... ... 10 31 ... Caries ... ... ... ... ... .. . 2 31 ...
Integumentary S,ystem :-Ecrema ... ... '" ... .. . I 11 ...
Deaths per cent. '
of cases of Sickness.
11'1 ... ." .., ... .. .
100' ..,
16'6 ..,
...
. .. 4'3
... ...
...
...
. .. i
...
., .
...
...
...
.. . .. ,
."
.., .. .
." ...
.. .
...
.. .
."
... PSOI'laS1B
I_I_l: __ :~I ___ I __ ::_· ~ Total, Class 3
4. EXTERNAL CAUSES, INJURIES, &c.:-
t ~g i I Contusion Fracture Wounds
Total, Class 4
TOTALS OF ALL CLA.SSES
; __ 2 ___ 1,_4_1_-,--_
1-2-20-4-1 :: -1--3-~I--i-'3-
I
Average daily Numerical Strength of Establishment 174 Number of Cases of Sickness per cent. of ditto ... 126'0 Number of Deaths per oont. of ditto ... 1-7
, 17
REMARKS.
During the year 1861, the amount of sickn()ss which occurred on board the penal hulks was considerably less than in the previous year, the number of cases beiJ,lg 220 in 1861, against 360 the year before. In .J861, however, three deaths took place, while only one occurred in 1860; but even the higher mortality of last year iii small, being at the rate of about thirteen in a thousand, or about half the average mortality rate of the Colony; and when it is considered that a large proportion of the occupants of the hulks is comprised of women whose constitutions have been seriously injured by the most disorderly lives, and their ehildren, it cannot but be admitted that the hulks form very healthy prisons. The diminution of sickness in 1861, as compared with the previous year, is almost entirely observable in the two' diseases" diarrhrea " and'" influenza," the number of cases of the former disease in 1861, being only 39 against 68 in 1860; and no case of the latter having appeared in 1861, whilst "influenza" was epidemic in the previOUS year, and contributed 99 cases to the sick list.
" Zymotic Diseases." The most remarkable 'disease in this class last year was" scarlct fever," which broke out suddenly in l\iay, and terminated in the following month. As soon as the existence of the disease was reported, the hulks were visited by me, and every necessary sanitary precaution was adopted to prevent its spread. The number of prisoners Oll. board the female hulk" Success," where the disease broke out, was at once diminished by the Impector-Generalof Penal Establishments, at my suggestion, and no fresh prisoners werc sent on board while the malady lasted. The medical officer was directed to adopt a plan of treatment which has been found very efficacious, both in Europe and in this Colony, in the cure of this disease. This treatment consists in the administration of an emetic at the commencement of the sickness, ·and afterwards no medicine, but lemonade taken ad libitum; during the febrile stage of the disease the patient to have the greatest access of fresh air attainable, with the utmost coolness, and the lightest bedclothing; and as soon as the fever subsides, and desquamation begins, the clothing to be increased, and the exposure to fresh air avoided. All the cases thus treated recovered, whilst one of the first "which occurred, the child of a warder, not treated in this manner, was the only fatal one. One case of "puerperal fever" terminated fatally after an illness of twenty-one days; and a ease of "syphilis," combined with great debility, the subject of which was a female prisoner, 55 years of age, whose comtitution was perfectly worn out, alao ended fatally after 172 days' illness. The other principal diseases in this class were" diarrhrea," of which there occured 39 cases; "dysentery" 6 cases; and" syphilis." 6 cases. Of the last named disease, the long duration of the cases was even more observable than in the previous year, the average period occupied by each case being 52 days, or about four times the avera~e duration of this disease in the prisons about Melbourne.
"Sporadic Diseases of Uncertain Seat." The cases occurring under this head were somewhat more numerous than in 1860, the prineipal increase being observable under" debility," and" ulcer," to both of which diseases the female prisoners are, from their previous habits of life, peculiarly liable. .A ease of "rheumatic gout" occurred in one of the refractory seamen on board the" Sacramento," and occupied a considerable time in treatment, but terminated favorably.
H Sporadic Diseases of Special Systems." Here under the heads" bronchitis" and" dyspepsia," an increase in the number of cases, as compared with those of 1860, is observable, the former disease having been prevalent amongst the prisoners' children during the early part of the year, and having in a few instances resisted treatment for a considerable period. On the whole, however, the total number of cases occurring in this class is less than in the preceding year. One case of .. phthisis," the subject of which was a young woman, seemed for some time likely to end fatally, the lungs being seriously diseased, but at length, after an illness of 89 days, the patient recovered. One of the cases of" chronie rheumatism," a female prisoner 51 years of age, occupied the sick list 158 days.
" External Causes." The only case of any importance in this class was that of a female prisoner, 28 years old, whose ribs were fractured; after seventy days' treatment she was discharged from the sick list perfectly cured.
~ll!t March, 1862. W. McCREA, Chief Medical Officer.
No. 112, d.
18
" GAOLS, WATCHHOUSE8, AND' IMMIGRANTS' DEPOT, GEELONG.
RETURN of DISEASES for the Year 1861.
'DISEASES.
1. ZYMOTIC DISEASES:-Diarrhcea .. ; Dysentery: ,.." English Cholera ' Feve.r (slln£le c0D:~inued) Remittent -,!'ever ' ... Typhus Fever ... Rheumatic FeverJ
Syphilis .~, . Gonorrhcea Erysipelas Erythema ~o:rigo~ •
, .. I
.' ,11'"
. : .. : ~ ...
,',
'1
.",' ... ... ,. .... * , ... ,
Days.
( 8 3 , 9 4 I ... 1 2
6 22 1 21 .' '2 57
,', 5 , 12 , 5 .. 15
8 7 ,.1 6
If''-"
'1 3 1 2
Totai;"Class;I., ••. '43, 11
2. SPORADIC, ·DISEASES OFr UNElERTAIN:::,OR" ": . ", •.• ,.vARIABLE SEAT:-
Hremorrhall'e "1 HremorrhOlds Hrematemesis .. i Menorrhagia Abscess Ulcer .... ' Gout "',_ Depility Worms
Hj
,Totai, Class 2 ...
f··'
.' .
3. SPORADIC DISEASES, OF SPECUL',SYSTE-MS :'-' JYervous .system :....,.. i .' ! .,-
Apoplexy,. ..j . ~.~ "t ~ ••
Cerebral Congestion Paralysis ..... ,J' Delirium Tremens ' , "~:n
EpileRsLn Opht a ia Otitis , .. ,
01:e-a.ns of Oirculation:-alvular Disease of the Heart
Or~ans Qf. !lespiration:- " ronchltls' ... . "
Pleurisy Asthma
.. ! '1'1
Diestive O!'gans:-dontalgIa .•. r,··· , ..
Quinsy' , .. , ... Ileus ...
} ~ .::
,Hernia' . .. I, ~ , :": ,~ .. ...
Dyspepsia ,." ... Urinary OI'fJans :-
Contractura Urethra Dysuria
Generative Organs:-Orehitis , .. Leueorrhcea Amenorrhcea Childbirth
Locomot'ive Organs;-Arthritis , .. Chronie Rheumatism Necrosis
• Inm~m~ta-ry System:-rtlCarla .. ,
Mentagra 'Psoriasis Boils Whitlow
Total, Class 3
1 ' 1 2· ·4' 1 45 6 19
", 3 3 2 4 2 10
22 33 1 2
I~' 23
".1 1 2 6 10 2 3
"')'18 11 5 10
10 18 2 2
'3 '24
11 14 . 1 22
' .. 3 8
8 2 2 ()
'22 2 1 1
65 4
2 25 1 7
2 12 1 9 4 26 2 2
4 34 7 13 3 93
2 3 2 26 2 30 3 5 2 18
197 10
fIt· ••
....
, " .,'
" .......
•• f.
19'
RETURN" of DISEA.SES, &c., ·DISTRICT -oft GEELoN&:-conu1hied. ' ;:;.
I, I DISEA:sES.
4. EXTERNAL CAUSES; INJURIES, &c.':":"":: .'J: '.:-'
Poisoning Scalds ... Contusions Wounds Sprains Fr~ctures
i·"
I
Total, Class 4 ,.' ... .:. I ..'. i
TOTA.LS OF ,Ufi CLASSES_.:.
I •
,I, '
,',"
ToW I .. Average Total . Number of duration of Number of
Oases. I ,each Oase. Deatlls.
-~-'!':::r-··«- '."!:~-"-~,'" -:- ,.",~.
DaYB. L.' ,.; :l. !,,"~3'. \~~
1 3 1 ·10 4 .. 10 5 9 3 4 2 ~
, ,."
Average D!}ily Number of Immigrants arid, :Prisoners ... ' ~ 'Number,ofCases of . Sickness per cent. of "ditto ' ' .
, ! • ..:1 92
'322 :' .. : Nil. Numbe~ of Deaths.per cent. of ditto "'~.'.
REMARKS.
Deaths per cent. _
of eases of Sickness. -
',j
The prevailing character of the diseases which have come under my care amongst prisoners and: immigrants :at -Geelong, in the year ,1861,' has be.en ,inflammatory. 'In: general 'they have' required pretty active lowering treatment. Out of the number of 296 cases no death has occurred.
Malihgering is but seldom practised now. The only approach to simulation ~f disease is in the tendency of prisoners, when but slightly indisposed, to exaggerate their sufferings with a view to escape work for a time, and to get those comforts which they fancy accompany a transfer to the gaol hospital. Since, however, the new wing of the gaol has been completed-in which there is, as yet, ample accommodation, and spare cells always at command-my practice of placing a sick prisoner at once on low diet, and confining him to his cell until I have clearly made out his case, has proved quite effectual in stopping this. None will now report themselves ill for the sake of getting a "spell."
"Delirium Tremens." I have had but one case amongst the female prisoners. There have been a good many amongst males this year. AI.l have done 'well, without either stimulants or narcotics, by means of a simple purge or two of Epsom salts and the compulsory absence of every source of excitement.
"Dysentery," when it attacked prisoners, was always of the acute form connected with and preceded by functional derangement of the liver. I find it yield readily (owing I think to its being met at the commencement) to calomel, followed by castor oil and turpentine, the application of mustard poultices to the belly, cold brandy and wat-er being given as a drink; with (occasionally) the addition of a small quantity of the liquor morphi.a and rice diet.
H Dyspepsia" is common at all seasons of the year with the prisoners in the Geelong Gaols; change of diet and confinement appear to originate it; a brisk purgative and short rations invariably give relief in a very few days. H Dyspepsia" seems more prevalent in females than males.
"Fever (simple continued)." Of this there have been a few cases within the past year. The chlorate of potass is the remedy on which I place most reliance. This, with attention to the state of the bowels, low diet, cold water ad libitum, and plenty of fresh air, has brought my patients through the complaint satisfactorily, and I think quickly.
" Cerebral Congestion." Several cases of this kind since the commencement of the hot weather, one or two with fits. I observe that the subjects of cerebral engorgement have been stout, undersized· men, with thick necks and small bullet-shaped heads. I have repeatedly bled largely from the arm, and always with marked and immediate relief to the head symptoms.
" Sychosis," or " Mentagra." Two cases of this affection of the skin came under my observation. In the first instance the complaint was brought in by a prisoner; a second prisoner caught it from the first by being shaved with the same razor that was used in the first case. Both got well by destroying the morbid surface with nitrate of silver; sp.lphate of copper was first tried, but failed.
" Epilepsy," complicated with" Hrematemesis." A stout made but scrofulous young man, subject to epileptic fits from childhood, generally occurring in the night-time, and leaving him afterwards in a weak and low condition for many hours, was seized soon after entering the gaol with vomiting of blood; the vomiting takes place almost daily; blood, florid in color, and in quantity sometimes exceeding half a pint at a time, is ejected with considerable force, unmixed with food and without warning, except by a sensation of weight at the epigastrium. Hardly a day passes without some blood being vomited, or a night without an epileptic nt. Whether the hremorrhage comes from the general mucous lining of the stomach, from an ulcer, or -from an aneurism, I am as .yet unable to say. Large doses of morphire give more relief t~'aD:ythmgt:r, have-'yet tried' il'he ,is'Oll'tnili meti;!!!.;·' J.
20
",Necrosis", (diseased stump, after amputation). , A middle-aged man, thin and muscular, who had his left, band_amputated at the, wrist. joint some years ago, complained of a constant gnawing pain in the stump, depriving him altogether of sleep. On examination a tumor was felt under the cicatrix, close to the end ,of the ulua; this I removed by operation, and found it to be attached to the 'uluar nerve. Iti-'size was that of a small walnut, and on cutting into it, 'the structure W!J,S dense, white, and hard, bearing a suspicious resemblance to schirrhus. The removal of this tumor relieved the man for the time, but after a, few weeks the pain returned as bad as ever, if not worse. As the complaint grsdually spread up the arm, and the man's ccnstitution began to fail, amputation above the elbow was performed. On dissection the muscles of the forearm were found pale, flabby, and wasted, the
, integuments" tucked in," and closely adherent at several spots to the tissues underneath, which were (in a manner) drawn together by whitish glistening fibrous bands, crossing and interlacing with each other in all directions; from the intestines flowed· an oily looking fluid, without any particular smell ; the condition of parts just described extended more or less up to the bend of tge elbow. The removal of the arm was, I regret to say, soon followed by a· similar' morbid process in the stump, although the latter healed kindly and of a good shape. As the sufferings of this man became very great, he entreated
. that his arm might be amputated at the shoulder joint; I did not, however, feel justified in aeceding to his wish, after failing of relief by two operations. He was eventually sent to Melbourne, on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer, to whose care he was transferred.
Attempted Poisoning by Laudanum.-A woman from the bush, young and rather well.looking, married and abandoned her husband the morning afterwards, for a reason which she declined to state, but which may easily be guesseCl, at. She soon recovered the effects of the opium, and after a fortnight's detention was discharged, with a recommendation to rejoin her husband.
Compound fracture of ribs, in a black man, caused (he stated) by the falling of II tree. A space sufficient to admit two fingers between the fragments, and closed at the bottom by II strong membrane, apparently the pleura, thiekened; an extent of injury. which in II white man, must, I think, have proved fatal.
: The remaining, cases ,in the Return for 1861 are of an ordinary character, and do not present any features of interes't. •
3rd Febru.ari, 1862. CHARLES T. MACKIN, Surgeon.
/
By Aut.hority : . JOlIN FERRES, Government Printer, Melbourne .
•