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[[preprinted]] 518 [[/preprinted]] the homes of freedmen during the year. The various camps and settlements have been frequently inspected, and measures of improvement employed when necessary. In May last a circular was issued by the Asst. Commissioner, containing instructions in reference to the sanitary condition of camps &c. and each Asst. Supt. in company with the Medical Officer on duty in his Sub-District, was directed to make an inspection of all camps and houses of freed people under his jurisdiction, once every week. This circular also directed offers stationed in cities or towns, to co-operate with the civil authorities in all matters pertaining to the public health. Lime in considerable quantities has been distributed during the last six months to those unable to purchase it, at the expense of the Bureau. The health of the freedpeople generally has been much better during the summer and fall, than in the corresponding seasons of 1865. There has also been a great difference in the small amount of mortality among the sick, compared with that of the same months, for the year previous. Except from small pox, from which this State has not been entirely free for several years, there has been no epidemic of any sort. Of cholera, so much dreaded, during the Spring and Summer, there has not been a single case reported. Although the restrictions in regard to the admission of the colored insane, into the State Insane Asylum, was removed last July by the action of the Supervisors of that institution, only one case out of six properly applied for has been admitted. The difficulty arises from the State law requiring they shall be admitted from some county which is taxed for their support, but the county is not required to become responsible unless the person has been a resident thereof one year, and it is extremely difficult, and in many cases impossible, to determine where the parties belong. The best disposition in such cases seems to be, to have them admitted to the State Asylum as paying patients, and the Bureau becoming responsible for their expenses for the time being. There are now five insane colored people under the charge of the Bureau, three in hospital at New Berne and two at Salisbury. The following tables will show in detail, the operations of this Department of the Bureau during the year ending Oct 31", 1866. [[end page]] [[start page]] [[preprinted]] 519 [[/preprinted]] [[underlined]] Hospitals [[/underlined]] Average No. of beds during year | Average No. Attendants 1865 | occupied | vacant | 1865 | Male | Female November | 155 | 182 | November | 10 | 22 December | 200 | 200 | December | 16 | 28 1866 | -- | -- | 1866 | -- | -- January | 238 | 195 | January | 21 | 32 February | 237| 228 | February | 23 | 34 March | 280 | 260 | March | 20 | 33 April | 284 | 214 | March | 20 | 33 May | 225 | 318 | May | 16 | 30 June | 171 | 268 | June | 18 | 20 July | 209 | 345 | July | 16 | 18 August | 212 | 343 | August | 16 | 19 September | 234 | 321 | September | 15 | 20 October | 233 | 292 | October | 14 | 17 [[underlined]] Births and Vaccinations [[/underlined]] Births | -- | -- | Vaccinations 1865 | Males | Females | No. of persons November | 5 | 6 | 511 December | 27 | 39 | 378 1866 | -- | -- | -- January | 7 | 11 | 829 February | 30 | 50 | 1779 March | 26 | 31 | 3580 April | 29 | 32 | 1642 May | 28 | 31 | 560 June | 31 | 41 | 407 July | 26 | 28 | 361 August | 27 | 22 | 597 September | 18 | 23 | 646 October | 15 | 15 | 235 Total | 269 | 329 | 11,525
