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Once in 1895 when I demonstrated the use of a catheter to them in a patient suffering agonies from distension of the bladder they smiled complacently and seemned highly amused, but it did not seem to occur to them that such a knowledge would be useful. Similarly, they appeared amused at the ease with which a dislocation was reduced under chloroform.
During the year 1895 and 1896 I was assisted by the late Mr. U I Kar and frequently endeavoured to interest them in the different methods of surgical treatment especially enforcing the absolute necessity of cleanliness and of incising abscesses, etc., instead of covering them with pitch- plaister as is their wont, and thus exposing the patients to retention of pus and the dangers of septicemia.
Seeing how futile my efforts were I reported to the Government every case which, in my opinion, was being mal-treated.
I stated in my evidence before the Commission that from a medical point of view I considered that the hospital should be abolished, and I still think so.
The object and purpose of the institution was the proper treatment of the indigent sick amongst the Chinese population, sec Ordinance No. 3 of 1870, sections 3 and 16.
As an Asylum for Destitutes and a resting place for the dying, I think it does very useful work and would recommend its maintenance and continuance for these purposes; but as a hospital for the treatment of the sick I maintain that it should not he recognised in a British Colony.
It corresponds more to a workhouse at home with the exception that it is not maintained out of the rutes.
For the indigent Chinese sick I would suggest the advisability of the Government's establishing :--- A hospital similar to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital at Singapore, which is open to all nationalities but in which the great bulk of the patients treated are Chinese.
The medical staff at this hospital consists of both Europeans and Asiatics. the Asiatics being employed only as dressers, under the direct supervision of the Colonial Surgeon in charge, and of two qualified European or Eurasian apothecaries.
European methods of treatment are insisted on. No opposition is or, as far as is known, has been experienced to European medical treatment. The patients voluntarily present themselves there for treatment as they do at the Government Civil Hospital and the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals in this Colony.
The experience at Singapore is similar to that here, viz., that the number of Chinese who seek admission to the General Hospital, which corresponds to our Government Civil Hospital, where they have to pay, has increased of late years. (See Report of Tung Wah Hospital Commission, page LXVI and LXVII.)
To return to Dr. THOMSON's report "Each patient is on admission asked by a head coolie whether he prefers Chinese or Western treatinent."
The method of ascertaining the causes of death cannot be considered scientific as Dr. THOMSON says "after cross-examination of the friends and relatives as to the symptoms and duration of the deceased's illness and a consideration of the appearance of the body a fairly accurate idea as to the cause of death for purpose of the Honourable Registrar General's statistics is obtained."
It would be better in all doubtful cases, where the cause of death is uncertain, and might be due to diseases such as plague or typhoid fever, that the facts of the case be reported to the Police Magis- trate so that an order may be obtained from him for a post-morten examination.
Now that the bye-laws for the compulsory reporting of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases are in force in this Colony, it is more important than ever, if the public health is to be safeguarded and maintained that notification of all such diseases should be made.
From Dr. THOMSON's report I gather that very few, if any, post-mortem examinations have been held during the year.
Much good has been done and numerous minor improvements have undoubtedly been effected, e g.:~
(1) The abolition of sandal-wood burners in the wards.
(2) Backs put in the lockers.
(3) Substitution of tin trays for wicker baskets.
(4) Iron screens to fire-places.
(5) Removal of commodes, as far as possible, from the wards.
If the Tung Wah is to be retained as a hospital I advise from a sanitary point of view :—
(1) The substitution of a water-closets system in place of the present plan of removal of
excreta, etc.
(2) Erection of suitable and roomy wards in place of the Ko Fong wards.
VACCINE INSTITUTE.
This remained open until the 31st May when it was closed for the summer months.
In my report for 1896 (Appendix B) is given an account of the working of this Institute.
In the winter it was, after repeated experiments, found impossible to obtain healthy calves owing to the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease amongst the cattle in the Colony, accordingly arrangements were made whereby calf lymph was regularly supplied from the Institut de Microbiologie at Saigon.