1841-1886
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
Table I. shows the number of admissions into, and deaths in, the hospital, of members of the Police Force, during every month of 1870. The greatest number of admissions took place in August, but the greatest number of Europeans were admitted in June.
Table II. shows the rate per cent. of sickness and mortality of the Force during the same year.
Table III. shows the state of the health of the troops serving in Hong Kong during the year 1870 not to have been so good as in 1869, nor to compare as favourably with that of the police as it did in the previous year.
II-THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
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There is no institution in this Colony with which I am connected that I have less satisfaction in referring to. I do not complain of the management, or the staff of the hospital, for under Dr. Young's vigilant superintendence the results are most satisfactory, but the building is quite unfit for the purpose to which it is applied, both in regard to size and construction. During the past year no less than 1,296 cases have been treated in the present structure, which is neither large enough for, nor adapted to, the treatment of one-third of that number. There is, therefore, great reason for thankfulness that the rate of mortality has been less than in the previous year, although it exceeded that of 1868.
Table V., which gives the rate of mortality during the last twelve years, distinguishing that of Europeans from coloured persons and Chinese, shows at a glance that the general mortality has not reached the average, except in the case of coloured persons; that the rate of mortality is still much higher than it was in 1868 among Europeans, somewhat lower among coloured persons, and about the same as it was that year among Chinese.
By examining Table IV., which gives the number of admissions into, and the mortality in this hospital during the year 1870, it will be seen that the admissions have increased under the heading of small-pox, diarrhoea and dysentery, fevers, gonorrhea, vertigo, pneumonia, pleuro-pneumonia and pleuritis, hepatitis and splenitis, drunkenness, and lastly impostors. The increased mortality resulted from small-pox, remittent and typhoid fever, dropsy, pneumonia, hepatitis and abscess of the liver, anaemia, fractures, and gun-shot wounds. There have been fewer admissions from phthisis, paralysis, and delirium tremens, bronchitis, colic, and notably both fewer admissions and deaths from jaundice and from all forms of wounds, except gun-shot wounds. There have also been fewer moribund persons sent to hospital, many, doubtless, having been taken to the "Tung Wah Hospital" (previously referred to as "I-tze").
Table IX. shows the number of admissions into, and deaths in, the Government Civil Hospital during every month of 1870.
During the year six invalids were sent home by the Harbour Master and the United States' Consul, and I understand they all arrived in safety at their destination.
Table VI, A, B, and C., kindly sent to me by the Resident Surgeon, Dr. Adams, gives similar information in reference to the Seamen's Hospital as the preceding Tables give for the Civil Hospital.