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classes was 368, so that they were affected in this period at the rate of 209 
per 1,000 or 501*6 per annum. 
In the middle grade, prisoners who had been over a year in gaol, 13 
were attacked in the last 2 months of the same period. The average 
strength of this grade is 284, so that the incidence was at the rate of 45 per 
1,000, or 270 per annum per mille. 
The upner grade prisoners escaped the infection. Two cases which 
occurred amongst them had only just been transferred from the middle 
grade. 
A reduction in the diet of the short sentence and lower grade prisoners 
was made on October 1st at the Singapore Gaol after the occurrence of the 
first case, but the change did not affect the middle grade prisoners who 
were also attacked. 
At the Pudu Gaol no changes were made in the diet during the whole 
period. The food was procured in the same manner from the same 
contractors, and no alteration was made in the method of cooking with one 
exception, and that was that from October 20th the morning rice, kangi, was 
| cooked at 3.30 a.m., and kept hot till served out at 5.30 a.m., instead of as. 
before being cooked at 5 p.m., and not prevented from cooling before being 
served out in the morning. 
In the distribution of the food a change also was made, as all meals but 
the evening one, at 5 p.m., were served and eaten in the corridors instead of 
in the cells. 
Another important change was effected in that confinement in cells was 
considerably reduced, and as much as possible the prisoners were employed 
in extra-mural work in open sheds from September 23rd, 1902. Early in 
1903 the cell ventilation was greatly improved but was not completed till 
May. A few cells, as an experiment, were altered between November, 1902, 
and January, 1903. 
It is difficult to believe that the cessation of the outbreak and the 
important changes effected in September and October are mere coincidences. 
The long spell during which the gaol was free from the disease exceeds any 
of the previous but shorter periods which have occurred, and the present 
position of affairs is not unlike the condition in 1898 when there were from 
January to September inclusive 42 cases with one death only. 
Dr. Travers informs me that during this period the prisoners were kept 
at extra-mural work. 192 cases with 34 deaths occurred during the previous 
seven months from June to December inclusive. During that time the 
prisoners were working inside the gaol. 
It can be claimed as a result of the careful attention paid to details of 
sanitation by the State Surgeon, Dr. Hamilton Wright, Dr. Durham and 
others, aided by the active and cordial assistance of the gaol officials and 
the support of the Government, that the gaol is as free from sanitary defects 
' as possible, and that the condition of health of the prisoners is the highly 
! satisfactory result of such attention. 
The actual total mortality for the gaol in 1903 was 8 only, or 16 per 
i 1,000 as compared with a general mortality of over 30 per 1,000, and a town 
' mortality, including institutions, of rarely less than 60. The Indian prison 
mortality, 24.85, is 6.6 less than the general mortality. As in India the 
| general mortality includes a far larger number of children than in this 
country a greater difference would be expected there than here. Our 
results therefore when compared with India are even more satisfactory than 
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