Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 727

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idea which I doubt we will never see carried into effect here, but the scheme as I have proposed it is the furthest point to which one can go. The scheme might be modified. I think at the present time a very distinct advance would be made if the Tung Wa Hospital were put under a medical man who would not drive the Chiense but would have it in his power to say "Well, unless you are going to be treated according to European ideas you are not coming into this Hospital." The following are a few of the cases which should not be treated in the Tung Wa Hospital:-Hernia, Fractures, Ascites, Prolapse of Rectum, Stricture of Urethra, Dislocation, Orchitis (fungating), Laryngeal cases, Bullet Wounds, Head injuries, Opium poisoning, Tumours. If a man goes to the Hospital suffering from any of these diseases and refuses ordinary treatment, the doctor is quite entitled to turn him away and tell him to get his advice elsewhere. You will probably find then that he will be quite willing to take European treatment. If you do that it will go a long way towards putting the Tung Wa Hospital under control. At the present time the control is chimerical. If left to a man who did not want to "rush the Chinese altogether and did not want to make it appear that he desired to clear out the present management and staff', root and branch, you would have less interference with the management. I know the Tung Wa Committee raise funds for carrying on the Hospital at present, but they have a great deal too much to say and are too much about the place. Mr. WHITEHEAD-In this scheme which you have just suggested, you propose to have only one European superintendent or doctor in charge. Would he be able to cope with the work ?--I think so.

What assistance would you propose to give him; any Europeans ?--He must have some European assistance--a couple of wardmasters at least. To start with, he would not require much more European assistance, because the cases of operation would be very few indeed. Not only that, but they could be removed to the Civil Hospital in many cases. I presume you would keep on the present staff of boys and helpers. They would have to be replaced latterly by better trained men, but the change could be made gradually.

How would you regard the appointment to the Tung Wa Hospital of those Chinese students trained in Western medicine at the Alice Memorial Hospital and the Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese ?--To a certain extent they would be thrown away upon the Tung Wa Hospital, because they do not know enough to take charge and they know too much to act as mere dressers.

How would you view the appointment of one of these students to take charge of the Tung Wa Hospital under European supervision ?--I do not like the proposal.

Dr. Ho KAI—Under the supervision of the Colonial Surgeon when he inspects the Hospital? If you give a better definition of how the Chinaman is to be in charge I may be able to answer the question.

Suppose the student was in charge of the Hospital and the Colonial Surgeon inspected it daily, and if anything were wrong gave instructions to the Chinese super- intendent ?--That would be putting the Colonial Surgeon in charge. At present, the Colonial Surgeon has no power to give instructions or directions to those in charge of the Hospital. All directions must be given to the Tung Wa Directors through the Registrar General, but it doesn't follow they will be obeyed.

Mr. THOMSON-He can only make recommendations. I do not think there is any use putting a Chinaman in charge if you are to have Western supervision. It would be better to put a white man in charge altogether.

Mr. WHITEHEAD--What would be the effect of putting a European medical man in charge of the Hospital?--The consequence would be a big row. The Tung Wa Committee and doctors would create a tremendous amount of trouble, but in a few years this would die ont and the Hospital would be conducted quietly and satisfactorily.