536
In addition to the above, 457 dead bodies (326 male and 131 female) were brought to the Tung Wah Hospital mortuary to await burial. Of these, 108 (76 male and 32 female) were removed to the Public Mortuary for post mortem examination, as suspected Plague, Typhoid fever, poisoning, etc.
Some of those who die in the Hospital and of those brought to the Hospital Mortuary are buried privately by their relatives, but a majority are buried at the expense of the Hospital funds. Large number of poor people who die in the Government Civil Hospital, and abandoned dead bodies found by the Police and taken to the Public Mortuary, are also buried by the charitable funds of the Tung Wah Hospital. During the year free burial was thus provided for 1,464 persons.
The Hospital Staff remained the same as in the previous year. On account of the high price of every necessity, Dr. CHUNG has at the end of the year taken the opportunity to recommend an increase of pay by 20 per cent to all employees working under him, hitherto the pay has been almost the same ever since the opening of this Hospital.
THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS.
The Ko Fong Wards for the accommodation of female patients will soon be out of use as the Tung Wah Hospital extension scheme should soon be in active progress. The Foundation Stone for same was laid by His Excellency the Governor on the 25th November, 1899, amidst great éclat. The chief improvement during the year has been the erection of an Incinerator for destroying all condemned clothing, beddings, etc.
The wards and the ward work practically remained the same as in the previous year.
OPERATIONS.
The following operations were performed during the year :-
Amputation through the forearm,
of fingers......
Plastic operation for harelip,
Lateral Lithotomy for Verical Calenlus,
Operation for extraction of Bullets,.. Reduction of Dislocation of Shoulder-joint, Circumcision,..
1
2
1
4
1
Removal of necrosed bones,
Operations on eye,
Excision of Tumours,
Paracentesis Abdominis,
2
....17
(1 Lithotomy case died 4 hours after operation from Secondary Hemorrhage. ) During the year 8 administrations of chloroform inhalation were given to cases in which a general ancesthesia was required; solution of conaine being chiefly used for minor operations.
Two midwifery cases were received into the Hospital attended by Dr. CurNG, one of which required the use of forceps. Both cases did well.
In the Dispensary, attached to the Receiving Ward, the following minor operations were done by the Resident Surgeon on out-patients :---
60 Incisions for opening of abscess.
10 Removal of needles lodged under the skin.
+ Tapping for Hydrocele.
3 Urethral calculi.
20 Catheberization for metral Stricture and Retention of urine.
50 Tooth extraction.
Dr. THOMSON was in charge of the hospital at various times for about four months of the year and during the remaining months I have acted for him. Dr. CHUNG continues to carry out his duties with great tact and discretion, and it is largely due to him that Western Medicine is making the progress it is in the Tung Wah. It is especially gratifying to me to report on the great improvement in the Tung Wah Hospital administration of late years, as my previous criticisms have probably had most to do with such improvement, bringing official pressure to bear on the authorities responsible for the administration to a sense of what should have been done long ago.
I hope in the near future to see a scheme finished for improving the nursing in the institution, but the difficulty of procuring suitable female help has postponed a commencement, as also the want of accommodation for same. However, it will soon come if we get a little assistance through our Chinese Directors.