Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 421

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in the Hospital for $10 per diem, and an ordinary seaman receives similar attendance, food, medical comforts with stimulants in all respects similar to a first class patient with better accommodation in a general ward, than he can procure outside for $1, less than he would have to pay in the lowest class hotel for accommodation only. While destitutes of all classes receives the same for nothing.

For the Nursing Staff of Sisters whose services are generally acknowledged and so much appre.. ciated, ladies who are received with pleasure into the best society, the Colony is indebted to Dr. ATKINSON whose knowledge of the nursing institutions at home enabled us to procure them soon after his appointment as Superintendent. They have earned the respect and good-will of the whole Colony and with a slight increase to their Staff have, through the Matron (Miss EASTMOND), undertaken the tuition of nurses for the public benefit. I cannot speak with too high respect of the untiring and noble work they have done during the heavy troubles that have lately fallen on this Colony, and I am happy to think that it has received suitable recognition by the Government and special recognition by the general public.

I would also mention the services of Mr. ACKERS, the Matron of the Venereal Wards for Women, formerly the Lock Hospital, whose services date back 13 years, who has been untiring and very kindly in the performance of her duties in many cases of a disagreeable and also dangerous nature and who has earned the respect and good-will of the poor creatures-her patients. She also has gone through very hard and fatiguing work, being in sole charge, and this year was compelled to go on sick leave.

Mr. BROWNE, Government Analyst and Apothecary, has also had arduous work this year, being in sole charge, with such assistance as we have been able to give him, Mr. Crow being absent on his first long and well-earned leave after over 10 years' service.

He

We have lost the services of Mr. U I-KAI, Chinese Apothecary, assistant in the Hospital. obtained the Diploma of the Hongkong Medical College and has now been appointed House Surgeon of the Nethersole Hospital. During his 9 years of Government service he gave the Medical Staff great satisfaction in the performance of his duties and his loss is regretted.

As I am now retiring on pension I take this opportunity of thanking the whole Hospital Staff for the kindness, courtesy and untiring assistance I have always received from them and most gratefully acknowledge.

The Superintendent's report on the Hospital is so full that it would be needless repetition for me to say anything more.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Table VII B shews the admissions and deaths in the Government Lunatic Asylums during each month of the year.

There is an increase of admissions compared with last year of 49, and the deaths have exactly doubled. The total admissions are 128 and the deaths are 16. Sixteen Europeans were admitted, of whom one died. Four coloured lunatics were admitted, none died. One hundred and eight Chinese were admitted, of whom thirteen died and twenty-eight were discharged to Canton.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.

Table VII C shows the admissions during every month of the year to the hulk Hygeia. From January to June 15 small-pox cases were admitted, among whom there were 3 deaths: 1 European, 1 Coloured and 1 Chinese. There were no admissions in July, August, September and October. In November 31 Chinese suffering from cholera, from S.S. Cheang Hock Kean from Singapore, of whom 19 died. A full account of the outbreak is given in the Superintendent's appendix on Cholera.

The wooden building in the Government Civil Hospital compound used as a temporary small- pox Hospital was pulled down and a new building to be used as a Lying-in Hospital has been built in its place. This is a well constructed building of brick and granite and admirably suited to the purpose.

It was no longer needed for small-pox cases.

KENNEDY TOWN HOSPITAL.

This building has now been permanently handed over to the Medical Department as an Infectious Diseases Hospital, and with it and the bulk Hygeia there is no longer a necessity for a Temporary Small-pox Hospital. In the year 412 plague cases were admitted, of whom 306 died; a full account of which is given in Staff-Surgeon WILM's Report.

This Hospital was thoroughly disinfected and colour-washed in November.

18 Small-pox cases were admitted during October, November and December; of whom 2 died. The number of admissions and deaths from all causes for each month of the year are shown on Table VII D.

PUBLIC MORTUARY.

Table VIII gives the Return of Dead Bodies brought to the Mortuary and as far as possible the cause of death to this table is attached. A letter from Dr. BELL, now in charge, gives the reason for the unusual number under "unascertained causes."