Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 707

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Have you talked the matter over with the other members of the Committee ?— We have spoken about it.

Would you yourself be in favour of such a change?-When this Hospital was started it was said to be for the healing of Chinese according to Chinese methods.

That I understand. What I want to know is this, whether it would be possible or practicable to make the change I have suggested. Would you consider it desirable to make such a change?-Whether it is right or not depends upon you. If you want it, then we would not dare to say anything about it.

What are your own views about this proposed change? Would you be at all disposed to favour giving the change a fair trial ?—Well, Chinese healing is carried on at the Hospital now, and if a man were introduced to practise Western medicine one doctor might say the case ought to be treated in one way while the other doctor might wish to treat it in another, and that would lead to disputes.

THE PRESIDENT Suppose a patient was allowed to choose whether he would be treated by a Chinese doctor who practises Chinese medicine or by a Chinese doctor trained in Western methods, would that not get over the difficulty?—The Hospital then would be changed. It would become a hospital for treatment according to Chinese and Western methods.

But does that not overcome your difficulty?—At present a patient is sometimes asked if he would prefer to remain in the Tung Wa Hospital or would like to be taken to the Civil Hospital.

Mr. WHITEHEAD-Would you not be willing to have a Chinese doctor with a knowledge of European medicine in the Tung Wa Hospital, so that the patient, if he so desired it, might be treated in the Tung Wa Hospital?-Our Committee would have a difficulty about that because the patients would not come to be cured, and money would not be subscribed if the change were made.

Dr. Ho KAI-Is it not a fact that you pay $15 a month to Mr. U I-KAI, who is educated in Western medicine ?-U I-KAI was appointed when Mr. Lo CHI-T'IN was Chairman of the Tung Wa Hospital Committee.

Is he still employed there ?--Yes.

Mr. WHITEHEAD--Does his presence lead to any trouble ?--He does not attend to the sick patients; he attends to the register.

THE PRESIDENT-Have the numbers of patients fallen off in the Hospital since Mr. U I-KAI was appointed?-No.

Mr. CHATER-Is it all Chinese medicine that is given to the patients in the Tung Wa Hospital?—Yes; there are no European medicines at all.

THE PRESIDENT-Is not quinine used?-Perhaps it is; I have not made inquiries about it.

Mr. CHATER-Is Mr. U I-KAI's name put into the box from which the patient draws the ticket with the name of the doctor who is to attend to him?—No.

Is the patient ever asked whether he would like European treatment or Chinese treatment?-Not particularly when he enters. When I go round the wards sometimes I ask a patient whether he prefers Chinese or Western doctors, and if he prefers a Western doctor then he is taken away. He is not asked when he comes in.

Do you know of your own knowledge whether any patients have asked to be treated by Western methods in preference to Chinese ?-It is not put in that way, but if they like to go to the Government Civil Hospital then they can go.

Then he is never asked ?—It is not put to him in that way. If a man says “I would like to go to the Government Civil Hospital," then he is sent there.

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