528
6.
From this the reader may gain a fairly true impression of public opinion prevailing at the time. Hygiene was regarded as a fad: anti-septic and aseptic treatment was unknown. Cases of septicaemia were inevitable...
OVER $3,000,000 EXPENDED
The materials extracted from the "Ching Shun Luk" (annual reports) from 1895-1928, printed as appendices to the re-print, provide some interesting figures. From the commencement of the Tung Wah up to and including 1898, all accounts were kept in taels: but converting them into dollars at the arbitrary rate of $1.40 to the Tael, it appears that the expenditure of the Hospital in 1895 amounted to $47,500 only. By 1928 this figure reached $273,150. The expenditure of the hospital for the period 1895-1928 amounted to the huge sum of $3,914,893:
The increase in the number of outpatients is not so striking. In 1895 the number of out-patients was 171,761: in 1928 this figure was increased to 177,288. The total number of out-patients for the period in question was 3,793,430. But the increase in the number of in-patients is remarkable. In 1895 the number of in-patients was 2,323: in 1928 this figure was increased to 11,486. The total number of in-patients for the period in question was 178,701.
INCREASE IN STAFF
The number of the staff in 1895 was 85, involving salaries amounting to $6,400: in 1928 the staff consisted of 217 persons, involving salaries amounting to $49,762.00.
After years of continuous efforts and improvements, what is the position of the Tung Wah, Kwong Wah and the Tung Wah Eastern Hospitals to-day?
THE POSITION TO-DAY
These hospitals now possess operation theatres, with modern and efficient instruments, including shadowless lamps. They possess maternity wards, eye clinics, infant welfare clinics, women's diseases clinics, antenatal clinics, tuberculosis wards, etc. The Tung Wah is equipped with an up-to-date X-ray apparatus, of which full use is made in both diagnosis and treatment.
The report of Mr. Ngan Shing Kwan, Chairman of Directors, for the year 1931, covering, for the first time since the coming into operation of the Tung Wah Hospital Ordinance 1930, the administration by the Tung Wah of all the three hospitals, was published sometime ago. The report of Mr. Chan Lim Pak, Chairman of Directors, for 1932, has been sent in to His Excellency the Governor and will soon be published. I have been privileged to read a typewritten copy of this Report. I can assure you that both Reports are fascinating reading, and they give a better idea of the tremendous amount of good work that is being done than I can possibly do. I will, however, give you a few figures.
DECREASE IN EYE-CASES
Take the eye clinics. Dr. S. To Wong has been the Hon. Eye Specialist Consultant to the Tung Wah since 1929, and Dr. A. de Castro Basto has been, for about the same period, Hon. Eye Specialist Consultant to the Kwong Wah Hospital. The number of eye cases attended by Dr. Wong at the Tung Wah, with