640714-1896-Report-Tung-Wa-Hospital-Commission- — Page 16

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH DECEMBER, 1896.

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"European Doctor...... ...A European attendant is necessary to

see that cleanliness is properly observed....................

Over and over "again I have made recommendations to the various Registrars General ......In conference with the different Registrars General I "have objected to many things, but in certain cases I was told I could “not interfere..........

I have always conferred with the Registrar “General for the time being, and he has brought my views to the notice "of the Tung Wa Committee."

17. In his report dated 8th April, 1877, Dr. AYRES said:-.

៩៥

.....The Tung Wa Hospital is to be looked upon as a work house "is at Home; it is the last resort of the poor and destitute, &e., &c.”

18. In a letter dated 22nd June, 1896, Dr. AYRES remarks

...then

The surgical ward is only fit for a store room... "There is ample space for the construction of a new ward... "better arrangements could be made for surgical cases........... "As both plague cases and small-pox cases are now subject to removal "from the Tung Wa Hospital, I would also recommend that typhoid cases should not be permitted to remain in that institution, or any other "infectious disease which is a serious danger to the community generally. "The quilted bedding which cannot be washed or cleaned should be. "replaced by blankets. Now that they have a good washing house, "bedding as well as clothing can be easily cleaned. If these things

could be arranged much would be gained.

.....At Macao,

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similarly situated to ourselves, they have a native hospital similar to "the Tung Wa, but kept much better and cleaner than it."

19. And in a letter dated 9th June, 1896, Dr. AYRES says:-

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........................................... Soon after my arrival in the Colony in 1873 I inspected the Tung Wa Hospital and in an interview with the Colonial Secretary "concerning this institution. I was referred to the Registrar General for 66 instructions."

20. Dr. ATKINSON, Acting Colonial Surgeon, in a letter dated 20th August, 1895, says:-

(

"I have the honour to report that on my daily visit to the Tung Wa Hospital on the 18th instant, I found a man barricaded in one of the cells above "the mortuary. It appears that this patient was admitted on the previous day, and as he seemed to be mad he was fastened up in his cell. This "is contrary to all instructions; if the man was insane he should have "been at once sent to the Government Chinese Lunatic Asylum; if he

was not mad he should have been kept in the Receiving Ward until my "visit the next day. I was not even informed on the 18th that the "case had been admitted, and had I not inspected every ward of that "institution that day he would probably have been under restraint

and

"still.

"

21. Dr. ATKINSON, in his evidence on 6th March, 1896, states:-

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......The Chinese Doctors admit that they have no surgical know- ledge, and I cannot be responsible for the surgical enormities which "have been and still will be carried on there if they are allowed to (C treat such cases. I consider that nine-tenths (of the surgical cases) "lose their lives by being treated in the Tung Wa...............I think "the Tung Wa is grossly mismanaged. There is a want of cleanliness. "The clothing is dirty; they have not a large enough staff and cannot