Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 363

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afflicted with contagious and infectious disease cannot be too strongly represented. The wooden house used for this purpose for over ten years is not only wanting in proper accommodation, especially for private paying patients, but it has been damaged by fire and is in such a state of decay that it is not worth repairing. Sanction has been given for a permanent structure and plans drawn up, and I hope by next year it will be in use.

An operating theater is also another great want and this has also been sanctioned, this also I hope will be in use before the end of the year.

There was an increase of 70 in the admissions from Malarial Fevers as compared with last year. In 1892, 286 were admitted, in 1893, 356, but last year as in 1892 all were of a mild type compared with previous years; there have been no deaths among these cases for two years.

This year 13 cases of Typhoid Fever were under treatment the largest number admitted for many years; however only five of them were contracted in this Colony, of the 13 cases 2 died.

There were 50 cases of Dysentry under treatment, of that number one died.

Of 153 on whom operations were made six died.

Of the 67 deaths that occurred in the Hospital, 32 of the patients were brought in in a moribund condition, 23 dying within 24 hours and 9 within 48 hours.

The following table shews the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the past 10 years:—

1884.

1885. 1886.

1887.

1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893.

Police,

486

495

602

619

657

590

582

570

496

522

Board of Trade,

60

100

132

103

153

135

110

135

157

132

Private paying Patients,

259

283

381

324

313

402

527

464

378

467

Government Servants,

96

124

144

147

159

135

191

179

168

205

Police Cases,

231

238

142

208

242

252

264

240

232

247

Destitutes,

222

270

222

255

248

279

283

279

284

262

1,354

1,510 1,623 1,656 1,772 1,793 1,957 1,867

1,715 1,835

There is a slight increase in the number of admissions from the Police Force, a large increase in the number of private paying patients, and a considerable increase in admissions among Government servants. Of the 205 admissions from the last class 84 were Gaol Officers, in the other classes the difference is but slight. The majority of the subordinates in Government employ are compelled to live in houses built for Chinese owing to high rents charged for more suitable accommodation. class of house is entirely unsuited for the use of Europeans, very draughty and cold in winter with no means of heating the rooms, as the only fire-place in a Chinese house is in the kitchen. With Chinese living in a crowded state in the other stories of the building, as is frequently the case, it is no wonder in this class the cases show a pretty steady increase of late years. There is no other accommodation obtainable in the central districts of the town for any single European drawing pay of $50 or under, or any married man with a family drawing $100 or under per mensem.

The percentage of deaths to admissions (3.65) is the lowest in the last ten years. See Table VI. The following table gives the admissions and deaths in this Hospital for the past ten years :--

1884,

1885,

1886,

1887,

1888,

1889,

1890,

1891,

1892,

1893,

Admissions.

..1,354...

.1,510...

.1,623..

1,656..

1,772.

.1,793..

..1,957..

1,867....

..1,715..

...1,835...

Deaths.

...50

.76

...79

.89

.80

..77

.98

.84

.68

67

Only in one year has the number of deaths been smaller, but in that year (1884) the admissions were nearly 500 less.

Only in two years have the numbers of admissions been larger, 1890-91, and in those years the number of deaths in proportion to admissions was much larger.

Fees from paying patients in the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum amounted to $18,239.73, the largest sum ever taken in fees in one year. All of the staff have worked well and the services of the Matron, Miss EASTMOND, and her staff of Nursing Sisters have been invaluable. Dr. ATKINSON has gone home on a well earned leave, and I regret that the histories of certain patients he alludes to as being in his appendix are not given, as Dr. Lowson now acting for him, owing to the great amount of work entailed by the epidemic of Plague, has not had time to write them up for him.