[vi]
We consider that a small charge should be made for drugs supplied to Chinese, this being the practice of the Medical Missions in China, and from the results shown by those societies we have every reason to anticipate that the dispensary would prove a financial success. The necessary checks, in view of the native character, should of course be exercised over the Chinese practitioner in charge, who should in our opinion be secured for a certain amount.
As regards the cost of the proposed dispensary, we understand that a sum of $1,500 a year would be sufficient to cover the expenditure for rent, drugs, and salary of the officer in charge, the latter to be fixed at $60 a month without private practice.
In addition to his duties in the dispensary, we consider that the Chinese dispenser should be required to make himself acquainted with and give early information of the existence of any epidemic disease, to enquire into the causes of suspicious deaths for the information of the Registrar General, and to act as public vaccinator for the district of Kowloon.
If the experiment proves successful in Kowloon, we recommend the general extension of the scheme to other parts of the Colony, but would point out that the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals would appear to meet the requirements of the native population in the districts in which they are locate.
Question 7 (b).In the event of a recurrence of the plague what medical arrange- ments should be made for the removal of patients from the Colony?
Answer.—We are of opinion that all persons, wishing to do so, should be allowed to leave the Colony subject to the following arrangements for and conditions of removal :--
(1) Patients to be removed at least 20 miles (as the crow flies) from the
Colony.
(2) Special junks, fitted up to the satisfaction of the medical authorities, to start at statel times from certain wharves, provided for the purpose in the Eastern and Western Districts.
(3) Such junks to proceed to a place more than 20 miles (as the crow flies) from the Colony under escort of at least one European before discharg- ing patients.
(4) Matsheds to be erected adjoining the wharves, for the temporary accom-
modation of the sick prior to their removal.
(5) One European Police officer and one medical officer, if possible, to be
on duty at each of the matsheds.
(6) Patients, wishing to be removed from the Colony, to report to the officer on duty at the matshed, who should arrange for their temporary accommodation and early removal in the manner prescribed above.
In this connection we would further suggest that dead bodies might also with advantage be removed from the Colony, provided that such removal is carried out speedily, and the limit of distance from the Colony is strictly adhered to.
Having now dealt with all the questions submitted to us for enquiry, we beg leave to add one or two suggestions which have occurred to us in connection with the subject under review.
It has come under our notice in the course of our enquiry that the present obser- vation ward at the Government Civil Hospital is wholly unsuitable for the purpose for which it is intended. Being a wooden structure, it is necessarily very inflammable in the dry season, and we learn that it has been more than once partially destroyed by