( 29 )
Dr. BELL. Yes, that is doing away with the present system.
Colonel HUGHES.-Two at the Hospital; how many have you now?
Dr. BELL.-Two-the Principal Civil Medical Officer and myself.
Colonel HUGHES.-What is Dr. Lowson ?
Dr. BELL. He is away.
Colonel HUGHES.-- Say they are all here, except one on leave?
Dr. BELL. He would be at the Gaol.
Colonel HUGHES.-You have one at the Hospital and one at the Gaol.
Dr. BELL.Now.
Colonel HUGHES.--Supposing they are all here?
Dr. BELL.-One assistant surgeon at the Hospital, one at the Gaol and for the subordinates, and one at the Mortuary and Kennedy Town.
Colonel HUGHES.-Who would that be?
Dr. BELL.That would be Dr. Thomson.
Colonel HUGHES.-There is no work at Kennedy Town.
Dr. BELL.-No, there are no patients there.
Colonel HUGHES.-Is there much work at the Mortuary? Dr. BELL.-Oh, yes.
Colonel HUGHES.-Sometimes !
Dr. BELL.--Well, there is a good deal of work.
There were about 1,970 bodies to
examine up to the end of October, and at the present rate there will be another 300, which will make about 2,200 to the end of the year.
Dr. STEDMAN.-That is about six a day. They are not all post mortem examina- tions I take it,
Dr. BELL.-Almost every one of them.
decomposed are not opened.
}
Of course the bodies which are too
Dr. STEDMAN.—Do you say there is an average of six post mortems a day ?
Dr. BELL. Yes, almost every one is a post mortem.
Colonel HUGRES.-I think I am right in saying that at the present time there is
one assistant surgeon at the Hospital, one at the Gaol, Tung Wah Hospital, and for the subordinates, and one for the mortuary and Kennedy Town. Your present one who does the Gaol is away and a substitute does the work. Who pays him ?
Dr. BELL-The Governinent.
Colonel HUGHES.-And the one for the Mortuary and Kennedy Town is absent?
Dr. BELL.-Yes.
Colonel HUGHES.-So you are working the place with two and the Principal Civil Medical Officer ?
Dr. BELL.—Yes. I am doing the Mortuary.
Colonel HUGHES.-You are working now with two men and the Principal Civil Medical Officer ?
Dr. BELL. Yes.
63