recommendatione SP Wiliam Robinson
shows how wing on are to adopt improve- ments that have been suggested by trained medical men of large experience. I had read these saggestions before visited the hospital and was gratified by seeing how much had been dons. How widespread is the interest in the working of the charity is shawn by the large number of 500 contributore took part in the election of the directors his year. I read with especial, pleasure the good relations that exist between thptors, the Chinese medical staff, and Dr. Tom the visiting surgeon, whose exhaustive art shows how thoroughly! and sympathetically be has done his work dur ing the year. You are good enough to invite me to suggest gans of removing defects which my inque and my visit of Friday last may have disclosed, and I have thought over the matter with a hearty desire to assist you as far as I can. The principal defect appanently is the structural condition of: the Ko Fong Wards. Those wards, immediately? below the level of the mortuary, are quite un- suited for the treatment of disease. I recom- mend you to remove them and to erect properly. ventilated wards instead. The accommodation for women patients is, I am informed, insufficient. It should be increased, and over the entire hos- pital it would be improvement if a water carriage system recommended by Sir William Robinson last year could be adopted. These improvements will jävolve expenditure, but such. expenditure is quite within the reach of the wealthy Chinese residents in Hongkong, who will, I hope, come forward and supplement thes funds of the charity by increased contribu- *Lious. For my part I am prepared to assist you pn the part of the Government by granting a site on the resumed lands of Tai- pingshan for the erection of the necessary wards when you, Society has found the funds to įpild bills, is purpose I hope thatý you will allow make a small beginuing in the list of subscribers by a contribution fifty dollars. (Applause.) My attention has been called to the apparent difference in the propor tionale mortality of patients who have been treated by the Chinese and the European methods, the returns shewing results greatly in favour of the European method of treat- ment. I know how fallacious statistics may be if overy factor be not taken into account, and I refrain from saying more on the subject than that it is worthy of your most careful consideration, remembering that the object of your society is to save life; and alleviate suffering. I recognise the difficulty Jof securing that change that means progress and improvement among a people so tenacious of their customs as the Chinese; but with the intelligent leading gentlemen like you, pro- gress may be steady, if slow, and I hope that each recurring year will show improvement in the working of the Tung Woh Society that se nobly hes out of the soft hand of charity for the reliff of the destitute and the assuagement! of the sick and the dying. Gentlemen, I am glad to have had the pleasure of meeting you, and I wish you every success in the coming year in the prosetion of your good work... (Applause),
Mr DYER BAL interpreted the speech into Chinese.
Mr. Ho To Your Excellency, we have listened with yok great attention to the remarks which your Excellency has so kindly mado to us just now. We can assure your Excellency that nothing that can be done will be loft undone to carry out your kind sugges tions and good advice. We are well aware that, like most people, we are liable to make mistakes, and when we happen to have made such mistakes and when they are brought to our betice, we will not hesitate to gome forward and freakly admit them, aud do our best to have them rectified. We hope, however, that when we are brought to the recognition of our error, your Excellency will; give us every alloance auth consideration so that we may be still further encouraged to pro- mote the interest of the Tung Wah Hospital to the best of our ability. In conclusion, allow me and my colleagues to thank your Excellency most heartily for the kind reception which you have accorded to stay. I think that all that now remains for s to do is to endeavour to do! our utmost in the charge of our duties a directangkas tofustify r nomin tiga lng ne antry the kind approval of Your Exodency of outlection.
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