C. 25
THE TUNG WAH SMALL-POX HOSPITAL.
49. The Tung Wah Small-pox Hospital, erected in 1902 for the herbal treatment of small-pox 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.
50. 7 cases of small-pox were admitted during the year. There was one death.
THE WANCHAI OR EASTERN MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
51. This hospital is run in conjunction with the Eastern Dispensary. It is in charge of a Western-trained Chinese Doctor and continues to provide most satisfactory and efficient service for this densely populated district.
52. The total number of beds is 31, and the number of admissions 863. There was one maternal death during the year.
THE CHINESE PUBLIC DISPENSARIES.
53. The origin of the Chinese Public Dispensaries was a movement made in 1904 by certain leading Chinese citizens, especially Messrs. Fung Wa-chun, Lau Chu-pak and Ho Kom-tong, with the help and encouragement of Mr. A. W. Brewin, then Registrar-General. This movement began in the hope of coping with the scandal of the abandonment of dead bodies in the streets.
54. In 1905 two depots were established, the Western and the Eastern. In immediate charge of each depot was a Chinese doctor qualified in Western medicine who was assisted by an English-speaking clerk.
55. In 1909 the Government gave the movement public support and encouragement and the Committee became the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee under the Chairmanship of the Registrar-General, now the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
56. It was declared at the time that the work of the depots or dispensaries was not hospital work and that the Chinese doctors employed were simply to diagnose disease and not to treat it. However, treatment centres were needed, and treatment, commenced in a small way, gradually developed until now the principal function of the dispensaries is medical relief. But in addition to the ordinary work of the clinic and dispensary these institutions serve as depots where the poor may apply for assistance in matters connected with:---