Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 743

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steps have never been properly cleaned, as you would clean a house, since the Hospital was opened, and I think, it would be a very valuable thing to have these granite steps renovated. The dirt is ingrained in them and unless they are holystoned it is impossi- ble to clean them.

dix XIV.

Has your attention been directed to an account or description of the present condition of the Tung Wa in the Hongkong Telegraph of the 13th inst., which purports See Appen- to have been written by a member of the staff of that paper, who seems to have been escorted over the Tung Wa by Dr. ATKINSON, and do you regard the description referred to as in any sense correct and accurate ?—Yes, except that it exaggerates a good deal. I think it has been over-stated, but the description of the surgical ward is certainly not over-stated. It is a very dark and dreary ward, unless it has been very much improved since I left. My memory of it is that it was the worst ward in the whole Hospital.

So far as I can remember, he describes it as "a chamber of horrors "?---That is in regard to the treatment of disease.

Do you consider that a correct description in any way of that ward?-Well, we always considered it so. There are things collected there which you would only see in Europe in isolated cases. You might make a similar collection in Europe, only there they would not admit them into the Hospital.

What would be done with such patients in other hospitals ?-If they came in we would say if you won't submit to our treatment you must go away, and they would have to go to their homes.

Have you at any time found it necessary to recommend in writing any reforms at the Tung Wa?-Over and over again I have made recommendations to the various Registrars General.

Can you supply us. with a copy of any such report ?-Only the 1874 report-I daresay you will find my reports in the correspondence of 1874.

You recommended the removal of lunatics as an improvement, and they were removed?--Yes.

And the taking of small-pox patients away from the hospital?—Yes, and that was improved to a great extent.

Have you ever received any written instructions from the Government as to your duties and powers in connection with the Tung Wa?-Never further than as stated in my original instructions, and there is no time given for my visits.

Will you please give us your views and opinion in regard to so-called Chinese doctors practising at the Tung Wa ?-They are kindly disposed, but as you know Chinese treatinent is tantamount to no treatment at all in the majority of cases. In lots of the smaller cases they have got simple remedies which all natives understand.

Dr. Ho KAI-These simple medicines are successful as a rule ?--They are such as everybody gets acquainted with with experience.

THE PRESIDENT—What are their qualifications to practise medicine, if any ?— There are no qualifications recognised in China, and these so-called doctors have none according to our European ideas.

What would be the effect of placing the Tung Wa under the supervision and control of a Western medical practitioner ?-The Tung Wa would then be done away with.

Dr. Ho KAI-Do you have a large number of Chinese patients in the Government Civil Hospital?—Yes.