328
much in excess of the previous nine years, and the number of deaths has only been exceeded three times as is shown in the following table :—
1881,
1882.
1883,
1884,
1885,
1886,
1887,
2
1888.
Admissions,
Deaths.
.1,116...
4
.1,019...
9
..1,105..
...10
.1,097.
.12
.1,190.
..24
..1,607
9
..1,749.
.14
.1,485..
.21
..1,732..
.....16
.1,915.
...15
1889, 1890,
Table IV gives the average strength, rate of sickness and mortality amongst the Troops for the year 1890.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
The Superintendent furnishes a very able report on the working of this Institution and too much credit cannot be given to him for the many improvements he has carried out and for the very efficient and energetic performance of his arduous duties.
I have much pleasure in saying he has now a really good working staff to assist him. Dr. Lowson, the new Assistant Superintendent, has proved himself to be a very able, energetic and willing Officer in the performance of his duties.
The arrival of the new Nursing Staff has also proved a great boon to the Hospital. Miss EASTMOND, the Matron, with five trained Sisters do the greatest credit to the Hospitals from which they came and by their skill and kindness have earned the good-will of all with whom they came in contact ; they have all been most diligent and willing in the performance of their duties so far.
The new Senior Wardmaster, Mr. STEVENSON, and two trained Wardmasters all of whom were obtained from the Military Department stationed in this Colony, have proyed themselves thoroughly capable Officers. This portion of the staff has been a source of considerable trouble in past years, but is now, I hope, established on a satisfactory basis.
With the above supervision we have had much less trouble with the Chinese portion of the Nursing Staff.
Mr. CROW, Senior Apothecary and Government Analyst, has ably carried out his duties and assisted by Mr. LUCAS, the new Assistant Apothecary, effected many improvements in the Hospital Dispensary. It has been a source of great satisfaction to me that we have so capable a successor to Mr. WA
WATSON, the late Assistant Apothecary. The two Chinese Student Apothecaries have worked diligently and will be and are now of very great assistance in this Department.
Mr. ROGERS, the Steward, has returned from a well-earned leave. His place was not easily filled and his absence very much felt. His substitute, the late Mr. WYLIE, whose unfortunate death was much regretted was a most willing and energetic, trustworthy Officer and in spite of his inexperience carried out the duties very well, with the help of the two Chinese Clerks who are thoroughly good at their work.
The quarters for the European Nursing Staff are not yet finished and that for the Chinese is only just being handed over. All of them have suffered considerably from sickness during the past year due to the want of proper accommodation. I hope the end of this year will see us out of these troubles. The admissions to Hospital show a very considerable increase this year, and this is nearly entirely due to the great increase in private paying patients and the demand is greatly in excess of the capacity of this portion of the Establishment. To supply very many who would have been glad to be in the first class of paying patients have had to be content with second class accommodation, and many have had to be turned away. The thoroughly efficient trained Nursing Staff has greatly increased this demand. Many people, who under the former system of half-trained European and Chinese Nurses would never have thought of applying for accommodations, are now anxious to be received.
The following Table shows the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the past nine years :-
Police,
Board of Trade,
116 110
60
1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. .549 599 486 495
100 132
602 619
657
590 582
103
153
135
110
Private paying Patients,
.268.
260
259
283
381 324
313
402
527
Government Servants,
88.
105
96
124
144
147
159 135
191
Police Cases,***
.207 227
231
238
142
208
242
252 264
Destitutes,
..230 201
222
270 222
255 248
279 283
1,458
1,502 1,354 1,510 1,623
1,656 1,772 1,793 1,957
The percentage of deaths to total admissions (5.00) is a little above the average of the past ten years and is due to the number of cases of fatal injuries received and moribund cases.
The total amount of fees received was $16,115.32, an increase of $4,670.83 as compared with last year (1889).