508
There were sixteen deaths amongst the members of the Force during the year, three less than in 1898; four of these occurred in the Hospital, viz., three Europeans and one Indian, the latter was a Police recruit and died of Phthisis; of the Europeans one died from Acute Peritonitis, one from Delirium Tremens and the third from Hyperpyrexia occurring in the course of fever.
Table I gives the admissions to the Hospital and the mortality during each month of the year; from this return it will be seen that August and September were the months in which the greatest number of admissions occurred.
Table II gives the average strength, rate of sickness and mortality.
Table III shows the admissions to the Hospital from the different stations and districts in each month of the year; to this return have been added the various stations in the New Territory.
Of the old Stations Aberdeen continues much healthier, there being only half the number of admissions there were in 1898.
Tsim Tsa Tsui (Water Police) Station contributed more than double the number of cases in 1898; this increase, which occurred chiefly amongst the Chinese, was due to the prevalence of beri-
beri.
In the New Territory Un Long and Táipó contributed the largest number of admissions. The following table gives the total admissions to Hospital and deaths in the Force for the last ten years :-
Year.
Admissions.
Deaths.
1890,
582
7
1891,
570
7
1892,
496
7
1893,
522
6
1894.
505
15
1895,
466
8
1896,
588
14
1897,
526
7
1898,
488
19
1899,
692
16
TROOPS.
The number of admissions to the Hospital was 818 in excess of that in 1898, whilst the average. strength of the garrison was only increased by 125.
The rate of mortality was increased in both the European and Indian Troops, that in the latter being more than double the rate in 1898; the number of deaths was 29 as compared with 21 in the previous year.
The following table gives the sickness and mortality among the Troops for the past ten years :--
Year.
1890,
1891..
1892,
1893,
1894,
1895,
1896,
1897,.....
1898.
1899,.
Admissions,
Deaths.
1,915
15
1,851
17
2,844
31
2,927
28
2,905
39
3,099
28
4,274
19
4,455
15.
3,896
21
4,714
29
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
The number of admissions is the greatest yet recorded in the history of the Hospital.
The increasing demand for hospital accommodation is likely to continue, as I have already pointed out the addition to the Colony of the New Territory has already contributed a large increase in the numbers of sick Police. there have also been many serious surgical cases admitted and several Chinese from the New Territory have availed themselves of the benefits to be derived from an institution of this sort.
I would here reiterate what I stated in my last report that it will be necessary for the Govern- ment to seriously consider the question of either considerably enlarging the present hospital or better still of erecting an entirely new hospital supplying increased accommodation and arranged more in accordance with the best modern practice.
During the year a scheme for training European female nurses has been inaugurated three pro- bationers-one from Shanghai, one from Macao and another from Manila-have been appointed and there are already several naines of applicants for vacancies on the Matron's list.
In the winter months lectures on elementary anatomy and physiology and on nursing were given to the probationers, and a course of lectures on midwifery to the Sisters.