274
From Table IV. it will be seen that there was a decided increase in the sickness amongst the Black Troops, admissions to Hospital being 1,003 as against 871 in 1894, whilst the total had only increased from 1,309 in 1894 to 1,315 in 1895; the rate of mortality was, however, decidedly less in both the White and Black Troops, this being more markedly the case with the latter.
It is hoped that the improved accommodation recently provided for the Hongkong Regiment quartered at Kowloon will materially increase the health of the troops.
The following table gives the sickness and mortality among the troops for the past ten years:--
1886,
1887,
1888,
1889,
1890,
1891,
1892,
1893,
1894,
1895,
Admissions.
Deaths.
1,607
9
1,749
14
1,485
21
1,732
16
1,915
15
1,851
17
2,844
31
2,927
28
2,905
39
3,099
28
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
The most noteworthy fact has been the great increase in the number of Asiatics admitted, as compared with last year the figures are 1,054 for 1895, as compared with 787 for 1894.
This class forms now by far the greatest number of any nationality treated. At times there has been great difficulty in accommodating such cases and many have been refused admission owing to the wards being already full.
Endeavours are always made to admit such as seem to require hospital treatment, but if it is the intention of the Government to provide accommodation to meet the increasing demand additional accommodation must be provided either by erecting an annexe in the locality of the present buildings, or a "Pauper Hospital," as in the Straits, in some locality, unless the project proposed in the Superin- tendent's report of 1892 is adopted.
STAFF. The Colonial Surgeon left on the first of May on 12 months' leave, and I took over the duties of his office during his absence with the exception of the two months from 18th June to 15th August during which period I was absent from the Colony on sick leave and Dr. Lowson relieved me.
Dr. CLARK was appointed Assistant Surgeon in this Department on 15th May, and on his arrival in September made himself generally acquainted with local conditions and attended cases in the Government Civil Hospital and Tung Wa. In November he was seconded to the Sanitary Board and since then he has been engaged in work under the Board.
The following table gives the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the past 10 years:-~~
Police....
1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892.
1893. 1894.
1895.m
602
619
657
590
582
570
496
522
505
466
Board of Trade,
132
103
153
135
110
135
157
132
100
129
Private paying Patients,...................
381
324
313
402
527
464
378
467
491
498
Government Servants,
144
147
159
135
191
179
168
205
168
203
Police Cases,
142
208
242
252
264
240
232
247
272
319
Destitutes,
222
255
248
279
283
279
284
262
427
668
1,623
1,656 1,772
1,793 1,957 1,867
1,715 1,835 1,963 2,283
From this it will be seen that there is a diminution in one class only, viz., the Police, all the others showing an increase; this is specially noticeable in the return of destitutes who are mainly Chinese. Undoubtedly many more Chinese now avail themselves of the benefits of the Hospital than formerly, the return of out-patients treated also shews a large increase.
The Hospital, I understand, was originally intended for the medical treatment of officers and sailors of the mercantile marine, members of the Colonial Government Service and those suffering from accidents brought in by the Police.
Of late years the increase in the number of officers and sailors of the mercantile marine and in the numbers of the persons in the employment of the Colonial Government has materially increased the demand for hospital accommodation. It must further not be lost sight of that officers and men of Foreign Navies and officers of the troops garrisoned here not infrequently avail themselves of this institution.
As previously pointed out under the above circumstances the admittance of a number of Chinese has to be refused owing to lack of accommodation.
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