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Board and much has to be referred to me.
Government Civil Hospital. When I arrived I found a correspondence had been going on nearly three years about a new Hospital.
The building then occupied was an old Mission Bungalow, two stories high, having five rooms used as dispensary and wards, one as a store room and one for the Superintendent's quarters, the latter and one being on the ground floor. There were five wards, which were made to hold fifty beds but with proper regard to space ought not to have had thirty beds.
Five untrained men were working as Wardmasters; two European Wardmasters were continually changing, either resigning or being dismissed for drunkenness. A Chinese Head Nurse, who had been well trained and had been twelve years in the Service, and a staff of ignorant Coolies as nurses, were available. The Hospital was literally run by three—the Superintendent, the Apothecary, and the Head Chinese Nurse—the rest of the staff were more trouble than worth.
The medical comforts were also some small verandah rooms needed for separated patients, such as small-pox cases.
The staff, except for the Superintendent who had been appointed before my arrival, a Portuguese Apothecary who was Steward and Storekeeper and had to act as Clerk, were of the worst quality and the cheapest that could be got.
Commission of enquiry
On my reports, a Commission was headed by the Senior Magistrate, Mr. May, and the system of supply of provisions and medical comforts, wines, and spirits was condemned and much improved. There was not a single decent instrument in the Hospital Armoury; it was absolute cruelty to use those in it. I had to lend my own instruments, of which...