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Tung Wa Hospital, and are used for the housing of women and children and for purposes of isolation of patients who for any reason require it. I have approached the Directors on the subject of pulling down two more tons of these wards and erecting two airy wards similar to the new Surgical wards on their site, but while the proposal was favourably received, and may ere long be carried into effect, I cannot yet speak definitely on the subject.
In the hospital a number of improvements have been effected during the past three months which, taken together, greatly improve their condition. The sandal wood burners, the smoke from which used to be so suffocating to Europeans entering the wards, have been removed. The purpose of the smouldering sandal wood was to cover foul odours. I at first caused less sandal wood to be used, then directed them to be allowed to stand un-used and eventually, pointing out that their purpose was now served by the prevention of such odours, had them taken away altogether. The sets of lockers off the West Block have been completed by having the back boards, omitted in their original construction, put in and now all wardrobes have been removed from the wards in that block. The filthy wicker baskets formerly used for the reception of soiled surgical dressings have been replaced by tin trays. Iron screens have been made to close in all fireplaces in the wards. Ventilators have been cut in the wooden partition to the East side of the ground floor surgical ward in the North Block, making it more airy; and fixed wooden venetians completely closing in the