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THE PRESIDENT. Do you think it would be a good thing to get the assistance of Chinese licentiates ?
Dr. ATKINSON.-Yes, to act as interpreters, but not to give medical advice. Of course, at present we have always an interpreter when dealing with Chinese.
THE PRESIDENT.-Are out-patients seen every day?
Dr. ATKINSON.-Yes, every morning. They have to wait until we have been round the wards.
THE PRESIDENT. -Do you think if you had a third medical officer at the Hospitad it would be one of his duties to see out-patients?
Dr. ATKINSON.—It would be a matter for arrangement. If it is to be carried to any great extent it would necessitate another Government Medical Officer. There is quite sufficient work for two medical officers at the Civil Hospital, at present. If we had another medical officer we would have plenty of out-patients; they used to flock there.
THE PRESIDENT.-Do you think the present accommodation for cases under observation is sufficient?
Dr. ATKINSON.-No. I think it is one of the most urgent reforms of the Medical Department to have a permanent building for the observation wards. It was set on fire fifteen months ago. It is only a wooden shanty at the best, and every year I have recommended that a substantial building should be put up with accommodation for twelve beds, in order to isolate cases of erysipelas, plague, cholera or small-pox if any cases were to occur. The present matshed has accommodation for four beds only. The wooden building has taken fire on four occasions since I took charge. I think the Hygeia should be retained as at present. I think it has proved its utility. I would keep it where it is now; it saves time.
THE PRESIDENT.-Are you aware that Dr. Lowson has written a letter suggesting a scheme for training nurses?
Dr. ATKINSON.—Yes. His idea was that Eurasian girls should be trained at the Hospital. I do not think we could make any reduction in the staff of Sisters. I do not think it would be advisable to put these Eurasian girls on the same footing as the trained European nurses. They are not only trained European nurses but ladies, and these Eurasians would lower the status of the nursing staff. They would require to be simply probationers, under the European trained nurses; I would never appoint them on a level with the European nurses.
Mr. THURBURN.-The idea, I think, was that these Eurasians would assist when the Sisters went on leave. There are nine Sisters, and now that leave begins there will always be two away?..
Dr. ATKINSON.—Yes; at any rate there will always be one away for six months. I understand that the idea was to get these girls to assist, so that there would be no necessity for getting out two more Sisters.
THE PRESIDENT.-It is proposed to get four Eurasians to see how the scheme would work?
One does not know yet how always be subordinate to the
Dr. ATKINSON.-I think the scheme is feasible. adaptable these girls are for nursing, but they would European Sisters who are all trained nurses and ladies. It is not to be supposed for a moment that the Eurasians would be able to take the place of the Sisters.
Mr. THURBURN.-It would never do to reduce the number of nurses?