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THE WANCHAI OR EASTERN MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
454. This hospital, which is connected with the Eastern Dis. pensary, is in charge of a Western trained Chinese Doctor. It was closed during the greater part of 1931 for extensive altera- tions and repairs. Greatly improved it was open during the whole of 1932. The total number of beds was 31. The number of admissions was 842. There were no maternal deaths. There were 37 still-births.
THE CHINESE PUBLIC DISPENSARIES
455. The origin of the Chinese Public Dispensaries was a movement made in 1904 by certain leading Chinese citizens to stop the practice of dumping dead bodies by providing receiving houses for the sick and for the dead which would act also as information bureaux where the poor could obtain advice and assistance in matters connected with:-
(a) the removal of patients to hospital.
(b) certification as to cause of death.
(c) removal of corpses to mortuaries.
(d) supply of coffins and arrangements for burial.
(e) the registration of births.
(f) vaccination.
456. In 1905 two depots were established, the Western and the Eastern, under a Committee, consisting of the Chairman of the Tung Wah Board of Directors and the two unofficial Chinese members of the Sanitary Board.
457. In immediate charge of each depot was a Chinese doctor qualified in Western medicine and his staff consisted of an English-speaking clerk and a number of subordinates.
458. In 1908 the movement ceased to be connected with the Tung Wah and the Committee became the Chinese Public Dis- pensaries Committee under the Chairmanship of the Registrar General, now the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
459. It was declared at the time that the work of the depôts 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 treat- ment, commenced in a small way, gradually developed until now the principal function of the dispensaries is medical relief.
460. It is worthy of note that as far back as 1896 a Com- mission appointed by Government to advise regarding the Medi- cal Department recommended the establishment under Govern- ment control of dispensaries in different parts of Victoria and Kowloon. However, none were built and the Chinese Public Dispensaries today occupy the positions which under other cir- cumstances would have been filled by departmental institutions.
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461. There are now nine Chinese Public Dispensaries, five on the island of Hong Kong and four in Kowloon. The two original institutions have Chinese maternity hospitals adjacent to them. the Tsan Yuk Hospital and the Wanchai Hospital.
462. Two of the Dispensaries are still housed in roonis attached to temples. Another, that at Aberdeen, consists of two rented shops temporarily adapted for the purpose. Gradually up-to-date buildings are taking the place of the temporary ones. The Dispensaries at Shaukiwan and Wanchai are excellent build- ings of their kind. The Western Dispensary has been renovated and nuch improved.
463. During the year new buildings were completed at Yau- mati and Kowloon City to take the place of the temporary accommodation hitherto in use. They are both great improve-
ments.
464. This year has been marked by a general increase in the patients of all the dispensaries. Equipment has been improved and new instruments purchased. Besides instruments for small minor operations two of the institutions have their own micro- scopes. It is hoped that in the near future all will be provided with microscopes which are very necessary for diagnosing and differentiating the malaria cases which form such a large per- centage of those attending.
465. Sick toc serious for outpatient treatment were trans- ported to hospitals by means of ambulances.
466. As mentioned before, once a week at each of the Dis. pensaries a gynaecological clinic is held by one of the Government Lady Medical Officers. In some there are two clinics a week.
467. Situated in the most thickly populated districts they fulfil a most useful purpose, not only in the treatment of disease but also as foci for the spread of knowledge concerning the cause of disease, and as the means of spread of the value of Western drugs and methods both in prevention and cure. During the year very good propaganda work was done by four street orators appointed by the Committee.
168. Last but not least, each dispensary has a room attached to it where dead bodies can be received for transport to the mortuaries preliminary to burial. Coffins are provided free.
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