Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 739

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Is there any one there now qualified to detect infectious cases when they are brought to the Hospital?—I understand the Colonial Surgeon goes there, and that U I-KAI is there a good deal.

THE PRESIDENT-All cases are now always taken on arrival into a receiving ward, and are not distributed amongst the general wards until seen by the Colonial Surgeon; but this system has been introduced comparatively recently. During the seven years · you have been in the Colony, during which time you have visited the Tung Wa Hos- pital several times, have you found the Tung Wa in a filthy condition?-When I first visited it, it was in a bad condition.

But I wish to emphasise filthy?—Yes; it was filthy. (See Letter attached, modifying this answer.)

Was that on the occasion of your first visits?-During my visits previous to my return to England, which was in the beginning of 1894. I had not visited the Hospital since then till yesterday.

Do you consider it has been greatly improved?—Yes. I think the removal of the cubicles has been a great advantage in that respect, in securing both cleanliness and better ventilation.

The Commission then adjourned.

ALICE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL,

HONGKONG, 15th May, 1896.

DEAR MR. STEWART LOCKHART,

Towards the close of my examination before the Tung Wa Commission yesterday, I was asked whether the word "filthy" was applicable to the Hospital in my experience of it.

With a vision of surgical dressings I have seen on occasion of my earlier visits before my mind, I consented to the use of the word, but on calm reflec- tion I feel that to allow my answer to stand in its general form is unfair to the Tung Wa, and I beg leave, if such be possible, to modify my reply as follows:-

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"I have seen surgical dressings that to my Western notions seemed decidedly filthy, and clothing and bedding were not so clean formerly as they are now, but the building itself I never saw in such a condition as in any sense to merit such description.'

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I am,

The Honourable

Yours very truly,

JOHN C. THOMSON,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman, Tung Wa Hospital Commission.