Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 381

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

377

During the last year the increase in the number of Chinese admitted has been maintained, 65 more having been adinitted than in the previous year although the total adinissions of all nationalities is 153 less.

The figures for the last four years are :—

Year.

1894,.

1895,.......

1896,.....

1897,.....

Chinese.

Totol.

657

1,963

921

2,283

928

2,598

993

2,445

Notwithstanding that an extra ward was opened for them many have had to be refused admission owing to lack of accommodation.

This is the more remarkable as less patients have been admitted from the Tung Wah, the numbers being 42 in 1897 as against 102 in 1896.

More Japanese were admitted than has been the case in former years; this is accounted for by the establishment of large Glassworks at Hunghom, the employees all being Japanese.

STAFF.

The Colonial Surgeon left on the 29th April on two months' leave and I took over the duties of his office.

He retired on pension on the 28th June and I was appointed in his place; the title of Colonial Surgeon being altered to that of Principal Civil Medical Officer, the despatch stating "that I should continue to be responsible for the medical charge of the Government Civil Hospital." (C.O. Despatch No. 77 dated 12th April.)

Dr. Lowson was away for the whole of the year, his services having been placed at the disposal of the Indian Government in connection with the Plague at Bombay. The duties of his office were performed by Drs. BELL and SWAN.

Dr. BELL was unfortunately "warded" on 3rd February, suffering from an attack of Typhoid fever; he left for Japan on the 17th March on two months' sick leave in order to recuperate, his duties being performed by Dr. H. L. PENNY, R.N., whose services were kindly lent to this Government by His Excellency Admiral BULLER from 12th February to the 8th April; after this date Dr. SwAN was employed up to the 19th September as Assistant Surgeon; his services were lent to the Army Medical Staff Corps from that date at the request of the Principal Medical Officer.

Dr. THOMSON was appointed provisionally, subject to the sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to be an Assistant Surgeon in the Medical Department on the 1st January, his duties being those of Visiting Surgeon to the Tung Wab Hospital with the privilege of private practice. (C.S.L. No. 1982/96 dated 24th December, 1896.)

On the 1st August he was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in this Department, his letter of appointment stating that he should as part of his duties continue to visit the Tung Wah Hospital.

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

The following table gives the number and classification of those admitted during the past ten years:-

Police,

1888.

1889. 1890.

1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897.

657

590

582

570

496

522

505

466

588

529

Board of Trade,

153

135

110

135

157

132

100

129

87

45

Private paying Patients,

313

402

527

464

378

467

491

498

632

603

Government Servants,

159

135

191

179

168

205

168

203

269

227

Police Cases,.

242

252

264

240

232

247

272

319

244

299

Destitutes,

248

279

283

279

284

262

427

668

778

742

1,772 1,793 1,957 1,867 1,715 1,885 1,963 2,283 2,598 2,445

From this it will be seen that the number of Police cases increased by 54, the other classes all showing a diminution, this being the most marked amongst the Police bearing out my former state- ment that 1897 was a more healthy year at any rate as regards the Police Force.

Undoubtedly, more Chinese year by year avail themselves of the benefits that this Institution offers, and if the Hospital is to keep pace with the requirements in this respect the accommodation will have to be considerably increased.