HKG-CAR1844-1886

440

104

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

PAPERS RELATING TO

There has been a slight increase of venereal disease among the troops, the number admitted to hospital being 71 as compared with 65 in 1874, but in 1873 the number was 223, and greater in previous years, so that even in this respect the health of the troops may be said to be very good.

Government Civil Hospital.

The building at present used as a hospital has done fairly well as a makeshift up to this time, but it is very defective in its accommodation and sanitary arrangements.

The latrine arrangements are as bad as they can be for a hospital, and admit of no improvements in the present building. There are no yards or open ground attached to the building, which is in the heart of the town, and, as a consequence, the ventilation is very defective, especially in the lower stories. Windows that would otherwise be kept open in hot weather have to be kept closed, and the light obstructed by their being painted to prevent annoyance to the neighbours, and these, as all must acknowledge, are serious evils to the well-being of a hospital.

As it is, the working of the establishment has been as good as it can be under the careful superintendence of Dr. Wharry, who has had much extra trouble during the past year.

The number of admissions to the hospital has greatly increased, being 1,010, as compared with 829 in 1874; of these cases, ten were moribund when brought in. Exclusive of police, the number of admissions was 564, as compared with 431 in 1874; this number represents seamen, destitutes, and paying patients.

Table IV. shows the varieties of disease. The mortality was chiefly owing to diseases of the lungs, fever, and accidents. There were no deaths from typhoid fever, and only four cases admitted, three of which came from up the coast; none were brought in from the brothels. Only five cases of small-pox admitted, these were seamen, European and coloured.

The coloured destitutes, as usual, form a large proportion of the mortality, three of the deaths among them being from absolute privation.

Table V. shows the rate of mortality in the Government Civil Hospital for the last ten years, and that in this respect this year is the best of the ten.

Table VI. shows the admissions and mortality of each month of the year.

Table VII. shows the number of dead bodies brought in for examination in the different months. European, coloured, and Chinese, the total is 92, as compared with 150 in 1874.

The amount paid into the Treasury on account of paying patients was :--