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above the old coolie house, formerly used as a waiting room for mourners in connection with the old mortuary, has been added to the coolie quarters, thus doubling the accommodation for servants. The old mortuary itself is used as a store house.
In the mortuary as in the Receiving House, I consider Dr. Chung's reports regarding all cases. In case of persons who die in the hospital, we have the diagnosis made during life to go upon. In the case of dead bodies brought in, the standing order is that the friends shall be retained until they have been interviewed by Dr. Chung, and delivery of a dead body is not taken until this has been done. He examines and cross-examines them as to the symptoms and duration of the illness that preceded death and reports to me, and as a general rule, one can from such report along with the general appearance of the body arrive at a fairly accurate idea as to the cause of death.
On account of the very strong prejudices the Chinese have to any interference with the dead body, I consider it well as a matter of policy to make as few post-mortem sections as possible, and in order to secure the continuation of the cordial support and cooperation I have enjoyed from the Directors in other matters thus far, I propose to limit such post-mortem internal examinations to specially obscure cases, cases accompanied by suspicious circumstances, and cases in which the interests of the public health seem to require it. The arrangements for the burial of the dead are, I think, proper and sufficient, and I have tried to have them carried out with due respect.