475
Hospitals. Too much praise cannot be given to these gentlemen who came to our assistance when we were reduced to extremities, and whose work during the time they were engaged was hard and heavy. Every member of the Hospital staff went heartily into the work required. Our staff of Nurs- ing Sisters headed by the Matron, Miss EASTMOND, insisted on joining in the plague work although I felt compelled to assure them they, by the terms of their agreement, could not be compelled to assist. They would not be denied. One of them had learnt to speak Chinese, another spoke Japanese and others German and French, and so they were enabled to communicate freely with our foreign patients, and it was pleasing to see how much their presence in the Plague Hospital wards was appreciated by all the patients and the invaluable assistance they were able to render. The Steward, Mr. CHAP- MAN, was invaluable in the assistance he rendered in distributing the stores, assisted by the two Chinese Clerks. Mr. Crow, the Apothecary, just convalescent from a long attack of typhoid fever, and Mr. BROWNE, Assistant Apothecary, bad hard work distributing medicines and medical comforts to the Hospitals and in assisting in the disinfection of the contaminated houses in the City. Chinese Apothecaries, Mr. U I KAI and Mr. CHAN KAM-TSUN, were detailed to the Kennedy Station Plague Hospital and Hygeia to superintend the dispensing and administration of the medicines to the plague patients, and all went heartily into the work. Wardmaster CUMMINGS, of the Lunatic Asylum, was detailed Wardmaster to Kennedy Station Hospital, and Police Constables J. MCKILLOP and T. T. GIDLEY as Wardmasters to the lygeia, and well and heartily all of them worked. Men also from the Army Medical Staff Corps and Sick-Bay attendants from the Navy gave us great assistance. Six petty Officers from the Navy were detailed to assist in the revolting work of the removal of the dead from the Hospitals and though they had much temptation within their reach, were always alert and helpful and exceedingly orderly and well behaved. On June the 24th Surgeons MEADON and BEARBLOCK, R.N., arrived from the North to our assistance and were detailed to the examination of all junks entering the harbour to detect any plague patients among their passengers and crews, a disagreeable duty especially in the stormy season with heavy rain. Notwithstanding the enormous amount of extra work entailed upon the staff the work of this Hospital went on without a hitch, and very fortunately none of the staff fell ill though after the excitement was over many felt the after- effects. Dr. Lowson and Mr. Crow then went away on a month's leave. Some of the Sisters also had to take a month's leave as they could be spared, and one has been since invalided home.
The Hospital fees have since my remarks in last year's Annual Report been raised for private patients, and no decrease in the demand for accommodation has taken place.
The Superintendent's report shows the great increase in the number of cases to be attributed to alcoholic excess, and also the increase in venereal disease; both of which are generally noticeable in any place suffering from an epidemic scare.
The following table shows the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the past 10 years
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
1889. 1890.
1891.
1892. 1893. 1894.
Police,
495
602
619
657
590
582
570
496
522
505
Board of Trade,.
100
132
103
153
135
110
135
157
132
100
Private paying Patients,..
283
381
324
313
402
527
464
378
467
491
Government Servants,
124
144
147
159
135
191
179
168
205
168
Police Cases, Destitues,
238
142
208
242
252
264
240
232
247
272
270
222
255
248
279
283
279
284
262
427
1,510
1,623 1,656
1,772 1,793 1,957 1,867 1,715 1,835 1,963
There is a slight decrease in the numbers admitted from the Police Force; a fair decrease from the Board of Trade; an increase in the admission of private paying patients, the largest number in the year with the exception of 1890; a considerable decrease in the admissions of Government servants; an increase in the number of Police cases brought in; and a very large increase in the number of destitutes; this being the largest number in the ten years. The total number of admissions exceeds that of any of the nine previous years. The increase in the number of destitutes may be attributed to the stagnation of work all over the Colony in consequence of the epidemic.
The following table gives the admissions and deaths in this Hospital for the past ten years:-
1885,
1886,
1887,
1888,
1889,
1890,
1891,
1892,
1893,
1894,
Admissions.
Deaths.
1,510
76
1,623
79
1,656
89
1,772
80
1,793
77
1.957
98
1,867
84
1,715
68
1,835
67.
1,963
101
As this year has been the largest in the number of admissions so also is it the largest in the number of deaths, a number of which are due to plague patients received into the Observation Wards during the night.
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