THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD MARCH, 1872.
Appendix I.
Report on the Small Pox Hospital at Stone Cutters' Island.
139
This Hospital was established on the 25th January, 1871, an epidemic of Small Pox having broken out in the Colony in December, 1870, and during the month of January, 1871, attained such a height that the temporary mat-sheds erected in proximity to the Civil Hospital, were found insuffi- cient or inconvenient, for the treatment of the numerous cases, both Civil and Military, that were of daily occurrence.
The Convict Gaol at Stone Cutter's Island having been fitted with beds and Hospital appliances for 50 patients, was found very well adapted for the purpose of an Hospital for infectious diseases, being situate on a small Island in the harbour of Hongkong, about 1 miles from the town of Victoria. The building faces East and West and in consequence of its situation enjoys the full benefit of the monsoon winds; of course, it is perfectly isolated, there not being another habitation on the Island; this has been an immense advantage to the convalescent patients, as they could wander about on the sea- shore, and small hills in the vicinity, enjoying the pure air, daily sea breeze, and even sea bathing.
For the conveyance of patients to the Hospital, a good sized boat, manned by (6) six European Sailors (prisoners,) was lent by the Gaol Autho- rities, which passed over daily to the Wharf nearest to the Civil Hospital, where the patients suffering from Small Pox were, in the first instance, received, and thence transmitted as early as possible to the Island Hospital, the patients protected, as required, by blankets provided by the Civil Hospital. This plan was very successful, not a case, I can confidently assert, having suffered throughout the epidemic from the voyage across the harbour. The portions of the Gaol used as the Hospital, were the right wing, the chapel in the centre, and two wardens' rooms over the gateway for fe- male patients and children.
The wing is a 3 storied building, about 160 feet long by 45 feet in width, divided down the centre from roof to ground floor, an open gallery running entirely round the inside on each floor, and from which the doors of the wards opened, these of course were built as cells for prisoners, but being large double cells made very fair wards for 3 beds each, giving a cubic space of 880 feet and a superficial area of 73 feet 1 inch per bed.
Of these wards, there were on the 1st floor or corridor 8, 4 on either side of the centre gallery.
A larger ward at the Eastern end of the gallery, was large enough to contain 5 beds, giving a cubic space of 1,231 feet and a superficial area of 102 feet
per
bed. Two small separate cells on this floor made admirable sleeping room for ward orderlies.
Four wards on the upper corridor of the same size as the 8 cells on the 1st floor. One warden's room at the Northern end of each gallery was used as a separate ward, 1 bed in each, for better class patients.
each bed.
The chapel of the Gaol made a most excellent ward for 13 beds, affording a cubic space of 2,751.5 feet and a superficial area of 100.3 feet for The ventilation of all the wards was excellent and thorough, in cach cell ward there were two openings on the level of the floor, 1 foot 6 inches by 10 inches, in addition to the door, and 3 windows 2 feet 6 inches by 1 foot 6 inches, 8 feet from the floor, shaft ventilators running along the ceilings, with openings through the external walls.
No warming was required for these wards. In the separate warden's rooms, fire was made, as required, to keep the temperature at a proper and comfortable degree to the patient.
The chapel during the very cold weather in February was found too cold, being so large a room and containing so many doors and windows, and having no fire places; but as the weather became warmer in March, nothing could be desired better as a ward, than this portion of the Hospital.
The arrangements for opening the Hospital having been completed on the 25th January, the day of my arrival to take Medical charge, patients were admitted on the 26th January and continued to arrive as follows:
No.
No.
No.
No.
Jan. 26,
15
Feb. 8....
a
Mar. 2,.
2
27, 28.
9
9.
3
5,
2
>"
Mar.18, 19,
1
1
25
"1
55
>>
10,
4
6.
2
25,
1
"
30,
1
12,
3
23
7,
1
29
26,
1
"1
31,
3
13.
2
8.
1
፡፡
"
27
27,
1
Feb. 1,
2
14,
1
9,.
1
55
Apr. 11,
3
2
1
18,
1
10.
2
>>
""
14,
1
''
3.
1
21,
1
11,
1
21.
1
"
*
57
4,
3
23,
1
12,
1
May. 3,
2
*
"
ō,
4
24,
1
14,
1
"
15,.
1
""
6,
»
7,
û
25. 27
1
15,
2
→
}
17,
I
Total, 101
"
The greatest number of admissions on any one day, setting aside the two first days, when the cases that had been uuder treatment in the mat-sheds at the Civil Hospital were sent over to the Island, was on the 7th February, when 6 new cases were admitted, the epidemic being then apparently at its height.
The greatest number of cases in Hospital on any one day, was on the 14th February, when 57 cases appeared on the state for that day. The following tables will show :-
1st. The characteristics of the disease.
2nd. The classes from which the cases were drawn. 3rd. The state of vaccination amongst the Fatients.
Conduent cases.
25
Of these died,
7
TABLE 1.
Semi-confluent.
11
1
Making a total of 9 deaths to 101 cases treated, or a mortality of 8.91 per cent.
Modified.
65
1
TABLE 2.
(4) CIVIL CASES.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
30
2
4
1
7
10
2
2
4
1
2
3
2
1
4
1
3
Total Civil Cases 73
Seamen,
Police,
Europeans,
Destitute,
Others, including 1 Child,
Seamen,
W. Indians,
Police,
Others,
Seamen,
E. Indians,
Police,
Others, Destitute,
Men,
Chinese,
Women, Children,
Men,
75th. Regt.,
Women,
Children,
Sepoys,
13th, M.N.I.,
Gun Lascar Co., R.A.,
Camp Followers,
Men,
Women, Children,
(b) MILITARY CASES.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
1
21
4
1
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