CO885-(20-21) — Page 645

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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a string and pulley arrangement which prevents both doors being opened at the same time, and the opening of one door shuts the other.

A

D

C

A and B are the doors.

the

C is a weight hanging loosely and running on E are pulleys (fixed).

rope D. When A on opening pulls the rope D, C is drawn up against the pulleys and B cannot then be opened. As À shuts C falls and then B can be opened.

Manaos.

31. There are here two large hospitals which, however, are not as good as those at Para.

The Government Hospital, which takes both paying and indigent patients, situated in the town with no open space around it, is the less satisfactory. It makes no special pro- vision for the isolation of the yellow fever patients and pro- vides no mosquito-nets. At one time one of the wards was screened for the accommodation of the above patients, but later the wire gauze was all cut down. The other hospital (Societate Beneficente Hospitale) is admitting its members free, and paying patients only if there "Society" hospital be room. It is in a better and much more open position than the former institution, but behind it is a swampy area with much rubbish. It has screeped wards for male yellow fever patients and for those sent in as suspects with the diagnosis unconfirmed, The beds in the general wards are provided with nets which, however, are not all used.

Female yellow fever patients are placed in the general female ward.

All the nursing is done by the religious orders in the town. 32. Small-pox and Leprosy.—The small-pox hospital is a mud erection situated a short distance up the river. When it is not required for small-pox patients it is used by lepers who only go of their own free will and are turned out if accommodation is so required,

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S.S. Ambrose.

33. This steamer of the Booth Line has a small hospital with two rooms (each having two beds) and bath and lavatory accommodation in connection with it. A nurse is carried who takes charge of sick patients. The beds are about the same size as bunks, but are movable, and the nurse is able to get all round the patient as may be required.

Ancon Hospital.

34. This is the Headquarters Hospital.

It is a hospital of many pavilions raised off the ground (mostly of two storeys). These are situated on the side of Ancon Hill, Panama, and are on a much higher level than the flat ground near at hand. All are completely mosquito- proof (including the verandahs). used and all open outwards.

Only single doors are The wards are wide, lofty, light, and airy, and are, together with everything in them, painted white. side tables are made of metal framework with a glass top, The bed- and the beds are placed two feet from the walls.

There is a General Superintendent over the whole administrative part. An officer directing the medical work and another that appertaining to surgery, who have a staff of 25-30 medical officers under them, are in charge of the various wards. The nursing is done by 100 white nurses who have trained coloured attendants to assist them.

There are isolation wards for infectious diseases and an insane asylum with 300 beds in the grounds.

In it a

Each ward building has a laboratory attached where routine examinations are made of the blood, urine, and the fæces of every patient, in addition to other work.

The operating theatre, originally built by the French, is a large, well-equipped structure, with various rooms. large amount of the work is done and several operators are kept busy every day, working at the same time.

Electric lights are kept burning continuously in the glass instrument cases, which, in the moist atmosphere, greatly assist in keeping their contents in good condition.

The married medical officers have separate bungalows, the others occupy rooms in a large three-storied building.

A well-appointed mess-room for the use of doctors and nurses is also provided.

There is a large laundry in connection with this hospital where the washing from all the hospitals and dispensaries in the Canal Zone is done.

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B