Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 561

42.-Table XId. shews those Opium smokers who were admitted to the Gaol Hospital for treatment. The numbers given them on Table XIc. are given here for the sake of comparison. I do not find that any

of the troubles they suffered from can be attributed to Opium smoking. There were no deaths among the Opium smokers.

43.--If Morphia is being imported wholesale into China for the cure of Opium smoking, the sooner Dr. KERR calls the attention of the Anti-opium League to the matter, the better. The habit of eating Morphia. or Opium is more easily acquired, more fascinating, very much less easily given up, much more deleterious to mind and body, and very much less trouble than Opium smoking, all of which I can testify from personal experience.

44.-I would particularly impress upon the attention of all Medical men that its use is not required at all in the treatment or cure of a confirmed Opium smoker.

45.-I must here draw attention to the fact that the Opium smokers on Table XIc, who have not been placed in Hospital have to go through the ordinary Gaol Diet, which consists of five days' penal diet twice during the month, the penal diet being rice and water only, and besides that the eleven days interval of full ordinary diet differs in quantity according as they are long or short term prisoners, which in some cases sufficiently accounts for the rapid rise and fall between the different weeks, which otherwise might be put down to the deprivation of their Opium.

46.--From the facts here given it would appear that even if Morphia is inhaled with the smoke from the pipe, it cannot be absorbed into the system through the lungs, as it is when taken hypodermically or by the stomach, for none of all the Opium smokers who have been in Gaol have suffered any shock from being deprived of the use of the drug, as is amply proved I think by the special observations I have made during the past three years.

47.--I am certain that no Opium eater, or any one accustomed to the use of Morphia by the stomach or hypodermically, could have been suddenly deprived of the use of the drug in this way, without shewing some effect, more or less serious.

TEMPORARY LUNATIC ASYLUM.

48.--Table XId. shews the number and nativity and diseases of the patients confined in this establishment during the year, and the length of their detention.

49.-One remained, admitted in 1882; eight were admitted during the year. Seven of these were discharged cured or relieved, and sent to their own country.

50.-The Temporary Asylum still remains in the wretched building described in previous reports. The new Asylum is however rapidly progressing and I believe will be finished before the end of the

year.

TUNG WA HOSPITAL.

51.-The total number of patients admitted to this Hospital in 1883 was 1,479. The total number of cases treated in the Hospital this year was 1584; of these 759 died.

The number of out patients during this year was 91,497.

The number remaining in Hospital at the end of the year was 84.

The number of moribund cases received was 358.

The number of cases admitted to the Small Pox wards of this Hospital during 1883, was 39, of whom 22 died.

The number of vaccinations successfully performed by the travelling Vaccinators of the Tung Wa Hospital during the year was 1,797.

LOCK HOSPITAL.

52.-One small house, and part of another near to the Civil Hospital are now occupied for the purposes of this establishment.

The new Lock Hospital, as I have already said, is occupied for the present as part of the Civil Hospital, pending the alterations being made in the old Lock Hospital to convert it into the Civil Hospital.

The houses thus occupied are the best obtainable, but it is unfortunate that there is no ground attached to them for the patients to get air and exercise.

Nevertheless, despite the inconvenience of these buildings, Dr. MARQUES the Superintendent has managed to render his patients as comfortable as possible, and there have been no complaints.