397
Injuries.-There is a slight diminution to record in this class of cases, the number being 373 with 18 deaths as against 377 with 21 deaths in the previous year.
Surgical Operations.-There were 168 operations during the year with 9 deaths, as against 146 with 3 deaths in 1896.
Amongst the most important operations were :—-
Two abdominal hysterectomies.—One recovered, the notes of the case being published in The Lancet, and the other died from shock,
Femoral Aneurism. In the case of an American cured by ligature of the external Iliac Artery.
A case of Splenectomy.-A Chinaman was admitted in a state of collapse said to have been injured by a blow to the abdomen. As there were all the evidences of rupture of the spleen, laparotomy was performed, and on opening the abdomen it was found to be full of blood, there being a tear 4 inches long through the capsule into the substance of the spleen. The spleen was removed after ligaturing the splenic vessels and the abdomen einptied of blood.
The man never rallied, although transfusion was performed, but died 15 minutes after the operation was completed.
Hepatic abscess.This was the case of an European Policeman following Dysentery, although one abscess was opened and drained there was another larger one in the dome of the right lobe, the apex of which had just been reached but not sufficiently to drain it; this had burst into the pleura.
The operation was performed on the 12th December, 1897, and the patient died on 6th January, 1898.
Gun-shot wounds of both feet.--This was an accidental injury occurring on board a Chinese Revenue Cruiser, a Chinese boy being shot through both feet with a charge of duck shot.
It happened at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of 14th January and the man did not reach the hospital until 1.45 a.m. the following morning as the accident had taken place some hours' distance from Hongkong.
In the left foot the metatarsus was sinashed by a wound passing right through the foot from the dorsum to the sole.
In the right foot there was a huge gash, the charge passing across the sole of the foot from the outside to the inside tearing up the muscles and tendons but not injuring the bones.
Fortunately, efficient first aid had been rendered by the application of tourniquets, etc.
The case was a tedious one, but the man ultimately recovered with very good use of his feet considering the extent of the injuries.
Gun-shot wound of the thigh.-This patient was sent down from Fatshan by Dr. McDONALD; the Lullet, which had been in his thigh for over 2 years, was located by means of the Röntgen Rays and
extracted.
Non-malignant tumour of face.-An enormous tumour occupying the left side of the neck of a Chinese woman which had been growing for 18 years was removed on the 12th June, and the patient was discharged cured on the 9th July very much improved in appearance.
Suppuration synovitis of the knee joint with septicœmià. Amputation of thigh.-This man was sent in from the Tung Wah on the 21st June and as the only chance to save the man's life was amputation, the patient having consented to the operation, the limb was removed in the upper third of the thigh on the 29th June; after a rare struggle he ultimately recovered and was discharged on the 20th September; during the last 5 weeks in hospital he put on 22 tbs.in weight.
Lithotomy. This was a Chinaman who came down from the country to be operated on. The calculus was a somewhat large one and weighed 445 grains.
FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS.
The following fractures and dislocations were treated during the year :-
Skull.
Skull (base),
Femur,
Tibia,
Humerus,.
Ulna,
Patella,.
Lower Jaw,
Clavicle,
Ribs...
Foot,.....
Dislocation of Humerus,.
Femur,
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