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Meeting held on Friday, April 10th, 1836.
Present:-Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary (President).
Honourable C. P. CHATER.
Honourable Dr. Ho KAI.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Absent: Honourable A. M. THOMSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
KU FAI-SHAN, of the Pó Lung Hong, and Chairman of the Tung Wa Committee
for 1896.
Mr. CHATER-What I particularly wanted to know from this witness has been explained to us by Dr. Ho KAI and Mr. THOMSON, who visited the Hospital and ascertained exactly what was done with the patients when they are taken into the Tung Wa Hospital. Perhaps you would be good enough to put some questions to this witness on the point?
THE PRESIDENT Supposing a sick man is taken to the Hospital what steps should be taken with regard to him?—The doctor on duty for the day receives the case.
There may
be four or five doctors in the Hospital and there are four or five tickets put in a box and the sick man is told to draw one of these tickets, and then the doctor whose name is on the ticket he draws attends to the man at once and examines him to see what disease he is suffering from.
Mr. CHATER--Then virtually the patient draws for the doctor who is to attend to him?—Yes.
What is the next step ?--The doctor makes out a prescription for medical tea, and one of the attendants prepares the tea at once and gives it to the man. He is then carried into the receiving ward and placed on a bed. Dr. ATKINSON comes that night or the next day and examines the patient, and if he says it is not a case of plague then the patient is sent to one of the large wards.
And the patient is looked after day after day by his own doctor?-Yes, but if after a day or two the man does not get better we ask him if he would like another doctor, and if he expresses a desire to be treated by another doctor then we ask another doctor to see him.
Is the patient put on any special diet ?—He is given rice morning and evening as usual, but vegetables or meat are given to him according to the doctor's orders.
Is the diet for all patients alike?-They all eat the same rice, but may have different vegetables or fish according to the doctor's prescription.
Dr. Ho KAI-Don't you give them congee?—Yes, if they cannot take rice. Some- times they get Chinese sweet potato or other diet according to the doctor's orders.
Mr. CHATER-After this change of doctors, what happens supposing a patient continues ill ?--If that doctor is not suitable perhaps the patient is changed again to a third doctor; but if the patient does not choose to change his doctor the doctor is not changed. We (the Managing Committee) do not dare to change the doctor if the patient does not wish him to be changed.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Can the patient have as many changes as he likes?—Yes. Mr. CHATER-When the patient gets well and leaves the Hospital is his name entered in a book?—Yes.
Are these doctors qualified in any Chinese way for administering medicine?
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