✨ Provincial Hospital Medical Report
AUCKLAND
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
GAZETTE.
Published by Authority.
VOL. VII.] AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1858. [No. 5.
Superintendent's Office,
Auckland, February 11, 1858.
THE following Report and Returns, furnished by the Provincial Surgeon, are published for general information.
J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.
Provincial Hospital,
Auckland, January 25, 1858.
SIR,—I do myself the honour of forwarding, for your Honor's information, Annual Medical Returns for the year 1857, and beg to accompany them with a few remarks which appear to me deserving of your Honor's notice.
In drawing up my Report I have deemed it necessary, for the sake of distinctness, to comprise my observations under three separate heads, viz.: Provincial Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, and Prisons.
I.—PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.
Viewing the returns for 1857 in connexion with those of 1856, it will be observed that the number of in-door patients there is an increase of ten cases only, nevertheless, I have been forced to adopt the salutary practice of overcrowding the wards during the whole year, owing to the gradual increase in the number of old and infirm patients to whom the Hospital has hitherto afforded an asylum.
The number of out-door patients, chiefly aboriginal natives, who have received medical relief at the Hospital amounts to 151, showing a larger number by 25 than those treated during the preceding year.
Of those admitted, 123 were discharged cured, and 17 patients died during the year, of whom 13 were males and 4 females. The proportion of deaths to the whole number of patients is a fraction over five per cent.
Of internal diseases those of the heart, liver, and kidneys have been most prevalent among the Europeans, and I have been reluctantly led to the conclusion that among the causes of those diseases, intemperance is the most powerful, indeed a large per centage of the total admissions is plainly imputable to the baneful influence of intoxicating drinks.
Scrofula in its various phases and Rheumatism still prevail to a great extent among the aboriginal natives, and my every day experience fully confirms me in the opinion I have long since formed, that nothing but a thorough change in their habits and social condition will effect any permanent amelioration of their constitutions, and although much as has already been done towards their civilization, we cannot expect so desirable a result to the extent we
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Auckland Provincial Gazette 1858, No 5
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏥 Annual Medical Returns and Report of the Provincial Surgeon for 1857
🏥 Health & Social Welfare11 February 1858
Provincial Hospital, Medical Returns, Health Statistics, Auckland, Aboriginal Natives, Diseases
- J. Williamson, Superintendent