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24. The temporary quarters of the Water Police in Crosby's Store were very unwholesome, but the new barracks at Tsimshatsui were at length occupied in September, and improved health and increased efficiency may now be looked for in consequence.
25. The temporary quarters occupied by the Police at Stanley since August 1883, appear to be productive of a severe form of remittent fever complicated with paralysis of the extremities. It would be well to have the Police Station there repaired and re-occupied.
26. Whitfield Station furnishes a large number of cases of remittent fever, some of them severe. The condition of this neighbourhood is capable of improvement.
27. The Police suffered principally from malarial diseases, fever and dysentery, bronchial affections, and surgical injuries.
28. The total number of days spent in Hospital in 1884 by members of the force was 5,157; in 1883 it was 5,990. About half as many more days were spent off duty on sick leave.
29. Ten patients were admitted from foreign ships of war; one officer and two seamen from American vessels, three Russian and three Spanish seamen, and one seaman from an Italian Corvette. 30. Table V shows the varieties of disease among the patients generally, with the Mortality from each.
31. Malarial diseases, fevers and bowel complaints, are prominent in the list and though not many were fatal, in a large number of cases there ensued severe anemia and serious deterioration of health. A number of cases were complicated with paralysis of the extremities and none of these had quite recovered the use of their lower limbs when discharged.
32. Enthetic disease was slightly diminished but the numbers treated in Hospital are no criterion of the amount of the disease in the Colony..
33. Twenty-three cases of Alcoholism and Delirium Tremens were admitted; at one time no fewer than four being under treatment. This was rather trying to the resources of the Establishment, for there was no proper accommodation for them, and they not only disturbed the other patients, but some of them, being powerful men, required the whole strength of the nursing staff day and night to keep them within bounds.
34. In the course of the year a number of lunatics were sent to the Civil Hospital for observation before being admitted to the Lunatic Asylum. As there is neither accommodation for such cases in the Civil Hospital, nor a sufficient staff to detail special nurses to watch them, the Government might consent to supposed Lunatics being sent to the Asylum for observation. While insane persons are under observation, prior to being placed under restraint, there is always a risk of homicidal or suicidal impulses being developed, and if this were to happen in the Civil Hospital the consequences would be disastrous.
35. Eye diseases were about the same as last year.
36. Bronchial and pulmonary complaints were not more numerous.
37. Hepatic affections were as usual.
38. At the end of July a German seaman was admitted with choleraic symptoms, and died in 4 hours. He had recently arrived from Swatow in the steam-ship Glücksburg.
39. Three Chinese women in labour were brought to the Hospital for assistance; they had all been in labour for several days, and required instrumental aid. Two were successfully delivered, one of whom died of puerperal fever three weeks after. The third died undelivered half an hour after arrival at the Hospital.
40. If the Chinese sick poor are to depend for medical treatment upon the so-called Doctors of the Tung Wah Hospital, a room might still be set apart in that Establishment for women in labour requiring assistance, and European aid called in when necessary.
41. The Chinese know nothing whatever of midwifery, and at the Civil Hospital there is neither proper accommodation for such cases nor a sufficient staff to attend to them.
42. Only a few days ago a woman in labour sent to the Hospital by the Police was found to be dead on arrival.
43. Twenty-eight cases of debility were received in which no special symptoms were observed. 44. Twenty-seven admissions were set down to privation, this appearing to be the exciting cause of the mischief present.
45. Drunkenness sent 25 men to Hospital, most of them with broken heads, &c.
46. There were 98 cases recorded as having been under observation, and these constitute a troublesome class of patients, which includes Police constables and merchant seamen, prisoners in Police Custody, and complainants in the Police Court, with a considerable number of loafers.
Some of them were really sick but a large number were impostors. The discipline of the Police Force, and the ends of justice, as well as the economical administration of the Hospital Establishment, require that these cases should receive special attention.
47. Only three cases of opium poisoning were admitted to Hospital, but a number were taken by the Police direct to the Mortuary.
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