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take charge of Small Pox Hospital.
The question naturally arises, can one medical officer with justice to those whose lives are committed to his care and a due regard to his mental and physical condition, necessarily strained by professional anxiety and climate, be expected to fulfil these multifarious duties unaided.
We are of opinion that it is not advisable, with a due regard to the interests at stake, to allow the whole responsibility and charge to devolve on one Medical Officer.
1878
There is no doubt, that had the recommendation of the Colonial Surgeons, referred to in his report with regard to the appointment of a properly qualified Apothecary, been acted upon, two qualified medical men would then be attached to the institution, and much of the care and anxiety of the Superintendent would have been relieved. We remark that the present Apothecary is only a member of the Pharmaceutical Society and consequently not a qualified medical man, as he would be if a licentiate of the Apothecaries Hall.
It might not now be deemed advisable to alter the arrangements entered into with the present Apothecary, but if so, the want of a second qualified medical man is felt and reported, which in 1878 is a great, if not greater, evil.
The question of the Appointment of an European Wardmaster has been brought to our notice. There can be difficulty in procuring the services for such a responsible position. With reference to Mr. Carneiro, in which he is spoken of, he appears to be deserving of favourable consideration.
With reference to the site proposed for the Small Pox Hospital, we consider it sufficiently isolated for the purpose, and containing sufficient space for the building of adequate accommodation together with sufficient airing ground for convalescents, without encroaching too much on the ground intended for convalescents from the General Hospital.
We have also examined the sites proposed for the Lunatic Asylum and do not hesitate to recommend the one marked 803 in the Surveyor General's plan, as from its distance from European and Chinese residences, it enjoys the advantages of seclusion and tranquility.
The final question, upon which we have been requested to give our opinion is that of payments for patients in Civil Hospital. We are of opinion that the scale forwarded to us appears equitable, but suggest that if it be not already the rule, Police admitted from cases distinctly arising from the execution of their duty, be admitted as non-paying patients.
It appears to us very doubtful that such an inducement in other positions in the Colony for Europeans of sober and steady habits would be exceedingly desirable, but it would be difficult.
We have done,
Thomas Breen
Deputy Inspector General
W.A. Thomson
Deputy Surgeon General
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