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434. The number of children admitted continues to increase and there is now a new children's ward of 14 beds.
435. The number of cases in the private wards, which showed a decrease after the raising of the fees from $2.50 to $4.00, showed signs of improvement after the rate had been reduced to $3.00. The fee includes both food and medicine.
436. There is improvement in the health of the general staff, and there are now very few cases of Malaria, since prophylactic doses of Quinine were instituted and mosquito nets supplied to the nurses.
437. The deaths in 1982 numbered 1,163. A large number of these died within 24 hours after admission.
438. At the end of the year thirteen nurses were about to sit for the Midwives Board examination after a period of three years training.
THE TUNG WAH SMALLPOX HOSPITAL
439. The Tung Wah Smallpox Hospital, erected in 1902 for the herbal treatment of smallpox cases, consists of six wards arranged in three two-storied blocks and faced by another group of three two-storied blocks intended for staff quarters and for administration purposes.
At a distance and separated by a yard are the kitchens, the servants' quarters and the mortuary. The whole is contained in a large compound.
All the blocks are connected by covered ways.
440. This hospital at the time of its construction was considered to have all the requirements necessary for the proper treatment of smallpox cases by Chinese methods.
441. There was room for 60 cases without overcrowding but there was no arrangement for heating the wards and no water carriage system.
442. For some years this institution has been neglected with the result that the fabric is now in a very dilapidated condition.
443. Four years ago an attempt was made at renovation and various rooms in the service blocks were labelled respectively doctor's office, record room, laboratory and dispensary, but no use was made of any of the rooms and they remained unequipped and empty.