193
Table XVIII shows the work done by the Sanitary Inspectors or rather all that they have been permitted to do. They are rendered helpless by a Government order issued 13th July 1881, couched in these terms. "With reference to the prosecutions at the Magistracy under Subsection I of Section "II of Ordinance 14 of 1845, I have the honour by the direction of the Governor to acquaint you for the information and guidance of the Inspectors of Nuisances that some actual annoyance to some
· bond fidde passenger or inhabitant should be proved." What Chinese or European passenger is likely to trouble himself and waste his time hanging about the Courts, to prove a nuisance or what Chinese inhabitant is likely to trouble himself about a nuisance? even Europeans will submit to a great deal before they risk being brought into Court to waste an hour or two. So that this is tantamount to an order that no prosecutions should be made and is one of the things referred to in Mr. PRICE's letter paragraph 11, No. 45 published in the Return of Restrictions upon the Chinese, Hongkong.
I wish to call attention to the numbers of stalls now permitted to occupy the foot-ways, side channels, and also a considerable portion of the roadway even in the principal streets. Many of these are cooking stalls, vegetable stalls, &c., and are not only great obstructions to passengers but also to the working of the side channels; much garbage animal and vegetable is thrown about indiscriminately obstructing the channels and being ground into the mud of the foot-ways and roadways by the general traffic, The drain traps are also defiled by this cause and also the use of them as urinals; the stench at the corners of some of the principal streets where the traps are is sometimes unbearable for these reasons. The jinrickshas also require much looking after though of late there has been a great improvement in them. The owners should be held strictly responsible for their cleanliness as they are likely unless strictly looked after to be the means of communicating diseases of a contagious nature, the runners of them also require attention as regards their cleanliness. Hanging clothes out to air or dry on long bamboos across the streets is also very objectionable for the same reasons, Ordinance No. 14 of 1845, provides for these and many other things in Section II, and I am not aware that it has been repealed though apparently it is not carried out.
The enclosed report of Mr. H. MCCALLUM of the analytical work done is interesting both as regards the milk supply and also the water supply, but does not form very agreeable reading for those that advocate teetotalism. But as Mr. McCALLUM has had very hard work lately at the different water analysis for the information of Mr. CHADWICK, it is perhaps likely that we shall have some improvement in the supply in the course of a few years.
I regret this report has been so much delayed, but it has been on account of illness which has prevented me from finishing it as soon as I could wish.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
Honourable F. STEWART, LL.D.,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 22nd February, 1882.
SIR,I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital.
During the year the buildings which constitute the hospital have been found fairly adequate for general requirements. There are however a number of improvements which ought to be carried out as early as possible, viz. :----
A zymotic ward. At present there is one very small room available and only capable of con- taining one patient, in the event of two or three admissions at one time, it would be impossible to accommodate the cases.
A strong room is very much required for patients suffering from Delirium Tremens. This is a frequent cause of admission, often several patients being at one time under treatment, and much incon- venience and annoyance is caused to the other patients located in the same ward.
A lying-in ward is much required. At present cases admitted have to be treated in the female ward among the other patients.
There is only one small room available for second class patients; the number ought to be in- creased, as frequently patients have to be placed in the first class wards, owing to want of accommoda-
tion.
I would suggest that the first-class wards be made more comfortable and private, and that a first or second class should be provided for females. At present there is no accommodation for women able to pay for admission.
The public mortuary ought not to be situated within the precints of the hospital, neither should Coroner's inquests be held at the hospital. Both are a source of much inconvenience and discomfort. to the Staff and patients, and their speedy removal is greatly to be desired. After the typhoon of October last, owing to the accumulation of dead bodies in the mortuary, the smell was most offensive and could be distinctly perceived throughout the hospital.
The present system of sending the bedding, &c., to the Gaol to be washed, is much to be depre- cated, as there must always be a certain risk of contagion being conveyed to the inmates of that esta- blishment. A wash house and disinfecting room are urgently required, and a site found for them within the hospital grounds.
Considerable inconvenience is caused by the want of efficient control over the egress from and ingress to the hospital. The servants can go out and in at their pleasure, strangers can enter at any The remedy time without being observed, and it is a wonder that none of the stores have been stolen. for this is to erect a gate and a lodge for the gatekeeper at the entrance from the Queen's Road.
The placing of the quarters of the Staff in the main building is decidedly objectionable; it renders them liable to the extreme annoyance and inconvenience of being disturbed at all hours by delirious On the other hand, patients and those suffering from great pain or by the arrival of some accident.
the patients are liable to be disturbed by the occupants of the quarters, as it is impossible to expect that any man in his own rooms is constantly to be remembering that he is practically in a sick room, and that the slightest noise is to be avoided. It would therefore be advisable to erect a separate building within the hospital enclosure for the use of the Staff.
The present Superintendent's quarters would give all the extra wards above alluded to. The Staff, so far as numbers are concerned, is ample. However, the great number of the men, employed as nurses, are of a low class and not reliable. This is in some measure due to the manner in which they are entered, but more ou account of the nature of the duties and the way in which they are paid. A man on being taken on as nurse, draws the same amount of pay as another man who may have served in that capacity for ten years. This ought not to be. It is strongly recommended that they should be divided into three classes and that promotion from a lower into a higher grade be made The pay of the third class might remain dependent on efficiency, good conduct and length of service.
as at present, viz.: $8 per month, the second to be $9, and the first $10. There can be little doubt but that such a method would in the first instance secure better men, and, what is of more importance, after they have been trained, tend to retain them.
The dry earth closets in use in the lower building seem to answer fairly well; however, the self- acting kind should be substituted for the present ones, as it is difficult to get the patients to make use of the earth in a proper manner. These closets ought to be emptied, at least twice in the twenty-four Great care should be taken to prevent the utilising of this fecal matter as a manure seeing it is frequently liable to be infected with the specific germs of disease. It would be advisable either to have it burned or buried at a considerable depth with quick lime.
hours.
Tables have been provided for each ward, so that patients are now able to take their meals in comfort. New filters are being provided for each ward as well as for the kitchens. They are designed by Mr. MCCALLUM and are much superior to those ordinarily in use.
The admissions during the year were:—
Police,
Board of Trade,
Private Paying, Government Servants,.
Police Cases,. Destitutes,
Total Admissions,..
498
117
193
67
139
222
1.236
This shows an increase of 181, compared with last year, and is the greatest number admitted in
any one year during the last decade, except 1878, when the number was 1,289.
Very few Chinese private paying patients sought admission. This may be that they do not yet appreciate western scientific medical treatment, but it is very probable that the fees charged have more to do with it. The lowest charge for a patient of this class is $1 a day which is a considerable sum for an ordinary Chinaman to pay, and very likely acts as an effective preventative to their seeking ad-
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