The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Straits Settlements medical report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    55/108 (page 55)
    Of these 27 deaths however 17 occurred within 24 hours of admission and may fairly be excluded, giving a death-rate of only 2*85 per cent. 8. At the Gaol no admissions of prisoners suffering from Beri-beri were recorded and no case occurred among them during detention. At Jasin Hospital ill cases of Beri-beri were under treatment during the year with 18 deaths giving a percentage of deaths to total treated of 16*21. Of this number however 4 died within 24 hours of admission and 2 more were suffering in addition from other maladies. Deducting these the death-rate falls to 1142 percent. In 1904 there were 57 cases with 15 deaths—26*31 per cent. In 1905 before the Bengal rice was introduced there were 51 cases and 21 deaths—41'17 per cent. After the introduction 43 cases were under treatment of whom 4 died giving a percentage of 9-3 only. 9. Police Recruit Depot.—This building was opened on the 2nd October for the purpose of training boys for the Police Force. It is a plank and attap structure built on low lying ground and was undrained. A case of Beri-beri occurred among the recruits on the 1 ith November and was followed by two more on the 10th December. On examining the boys several others complained of numbness and feeling of weight in the lower extremities. The rice supplied was found to be of very bad quality, broken and dirty. Parboiled rice was substituted, and a drain was dug round the quarters. The health of the boys improved at once except in one case which was sent to Hospital early in January, and no further cases have occurred since. 10. Civil Hospital.—The total number of cases treated at the various Hospitals was 3,098 as against 3,455 in 1905. There were 236 deaths giving a death- rate of 7 61 per cent against 11*83 P r cent last year. There was further decline in the number of cases treated for simple ulcers, 442 against 777 in 1905 and 1,283 in I9°4- 11. Stajf.—Assistant Surgeon De SOUZA was in charge, without a second Assistant Surgeon, of the Durian Daun Hospital throughout the year. The post of second Assistant Surgeon was filled up by the appointment of Assistant Surgeon YOUNG, who was, however, stationed in Penang till his resignation in November, Assistant Surgeon Sen was in charge of Jasin Hospital throughout the year and Dresser Caldera of Alor Gajah Dispensary until March when he was relieved by Dresser HOSIE. Assistant Surgeon PENG Lock, who had resigned his appointment in the Government service in January, was appointed Deputy Registrar in October. Durian Daun Hospital. 12. Buildings.—The wards, latrine, etc. were limewashed and tarred and minor repairs were carried out. The buildings are in a very fair condition. General Hospital. 1. Patients :— European Ward— Remained 1st January, 1906 Admitted 1906 Discharged Absconded Died Remained 31st December, 1906 ... Average daily sick ... ... ... ••• ’7° 2. Native J Yard— Remained 1st January, 1906 ... ... ••• 5 Ad milted 1906 ... ... ••• ••• 220 Discharged ... ... ••• ... 201 Absconded... Died ... ... ••• ••• •** ~ Remaining 31st December, 1906 ... ... ••• 15 Ave age daily sick ... ... ••• ••• 7'1% Percentage of deaths to total treated ... ... 3'4°