About ten years have elapsed since the formation of the Central Association, and since that date the actual number of persons convicted on indictment with _six or more_ previous convictions has fallen by 80 per cent. In 1910, there were 1,066 prisoners convicted who had previously served a sentence of penal servitude, while in 1918 there were only 297. A great reduction has also taken place in the number of male convicts classified as Recidivist after reception into prison. Prior to 1911, the number frequently exceeded 900 annually, while in 1918 it was only 191. * * * * * The following tables show (a) the actual fall that has taken place in the numbers sentenced on indictment who had been previously convicted, and (b) the decrease in the number of male convicts classified as recidivist:-- (a) -----+---------------+----------------------------------- |Total convicted| Number previously convicted | +---------+---------+--------------- Year| on indictment |1-3 times|4-5 times|6 times & over -----+---------------+---------+---------+--------------- 1910| 11,317 | 3,954 | 1,215 | 3,828 1913| 10,165 | 2,459 | 998 | 3,462 1918| 4,694 | 1,153 | 287 | 786 +------------+ Decrease per cent.| since 1900 |59| 71 | 76 | 80 ------------------+--+---------+---------+---------------- (b) Classification of Male Convicts received into Convict Prisons. ----------------------+---------+-------------+-----------+------- Year |Star, or |Intermediate.|Recidivist.|Total. | First | | | |Offender.| | | ----------------------+---------+-------------+-----------+------- Average for five years| | | | ended 1910-11| 99 | 245 | 948 | 1,292 " " 1915-16| 104 | 160 | 579 | 843 For year 1916-17| 18 | 55 | 279 | 352 " " 1917-18| 63 | 49 | 298 | 410 " " 1918-19| 40 | 70 | 191 | 301 Decrease per cent. | | | | since 1910-11| 60 | 71 | 80 | 77 ----------------------+---------+-------------+-----------+------- CHAPTER XV. THE MEDICAL SERVICE.