OP Y.
Enclosure No. of Governor's Despatch No. 364 of 1901. 485
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No.254.
C.O.
From the Principal Civil Medical Officer. 36049
REC
To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary.
RECE 14 OCT 01
Government Civil Hospital,
Hongkong, 24th August, 1901.
Sir,
I have the honour to report that when at home I observed the wonderful advances that have been made in aseptic surgery at the London Hospitals since my last visit.
The operating theatre here is simply a disgrace to the hospital and the patients have not a fair chance, from the structure of the building it is impossible to keep it free of dust and the light is very deficient.
I have taken the opportunity of consulting with Mr. Tooker concerning this matter whilst he has been in hospital and I would suggest the erection of a new operating theatre on the site of the present hospital kitchen. This would be in direct communication with the main building as there is already a passage between the two.
If this is sanctioned I would recommend that Mr. Ram, who is now at home on leave, be requested to draw up plans for this addition. I ask this, as I know he is making a study of hospital construction and this is a special and new departure.
It is necessary for the theatre to be dust proof, so that no germs can obtain admission, that the walls be tiled and the roof made of glass.
The hospital kitchen might be erected opposite the present Dispensary where there are some buildings now