Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 269

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The number of patients in the wards at the beginning of the year was 154; 2,981 were admitted during 1900, making a total of 3,135 cases treated; 1,743 were discharged; 1,267 died; leaving 125 in the Hospital on the evening of 31st December.

The admissions during the past ten years have been as follows:-

1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895.

1896.

1897,...

1898, 1899,..

1900,.

2,514

2,455

2.255

2,354

2,732

2,041

2,776

2,898

2,542

2,981

Of the 2,981 admissions, 1.720, or 57.7 per cent., were under Chinese native treatment; 953, or 32 per cent., were treated by Dr. CHUNG according to European methods; and 308, er 10.3 per cent., were transferred to other institutions for treatment, as follows : 14 to Government Civil Hospital, 63 to Kennedy Town Infective Diseases Hospital, 220 to the Tung Wah Plague Branch Hospital at Kennedy Town, 8 to the Lunatic Asylum, and 3 to the Italian Convent.

In the previous year Dr. CHUNG treated 556 out of a total of 2,542 admissions, i.e. 21.8 per cent. ; so that there is in 1900 a marked increase in both the number of patients admitted to the Hospital and the proportion of patients availing themselves of European treatment.

With reference to the large mortality, it is necessary to have in mind the fact that the Tung Wah Hospital is used as a sort of dying house by the lower orders of the Chinese community. 347 of the fatal cases were already in a dying condition at the time of admission, and many others were hopeless from the first, including such conditions as advanced phthisis, heart disease, the general debility of old age, and cachexia due to malaria, the opium habit, or neglected wounds and abscesses.

505 dead bodies were brought to the Hospital Mortuary to await burial. 80 of these, and also 96 bodies of persons who died within the hospital itself, were sent to the Government Public Mortuary to be submitted to internal examination.

Free burial was provided by the Hospital for 2,134 persons.

The number of visits to the Out-patient Department was 94,755.

887 destitute persons were temporarily sheltered and fed.

131 Surgical Operations were performed by Dr. CHUNG, including 4 cases of Lithotomy, 1 Litho- trity, 2 Cataract, &c. He also attended three obstetric cases received from the Po Leung Kuk.

A good microscope has been obtained from London, and is now in daily use for purposes of diagnosis.

The incinerator for the destruction of infected materials and refuse has been rebuilt, and is in efficient working order.

During the Plague Epidemic of 1900 the Tung Wah Hospital was again used as a convenient centre for the inspection and diagnosis of all enses found by the Police or officers of the Sanitary Board, Dr. CHUNG forwarding pronounced cases without delay to the Infective Diseases Hospitals, and detaining suspicious cases for further examination by myself.

The Matshed Hospital at Kennedy Town was re-opened for the reception of Plague cases, and was in use from 16th May to 15th August. I have in a previous report (1898) described in detail the organization of this Branch institution, with the arrangements for isolation, disinfection, and due supervision. The number of admissions was 224, of whom 21 recovered and 200 died. No employée of the Hospital contracted the disease.

The site for a permanent Infective Diseases Hospital at Kennedy Town in connection with the Tung Wah Hospital is being levelled.

The scheme for enlarging the Hospital itself has not made much progress, but preparations seem now being made for commencing building.

I append the following Tables :-

I. A Return of Diseases and Deaths during the year 1900;

II.-Showing General Statistics relating to the Tung Wah Hospital during the year 1900; III.-Showing Vaccinations at, and in connection with, the Tung Wah Hospital during the

year 1900,

I have the honour to be,

Sir.

Your most obedient Servant,

JOHN C. THOMSON, M.D., Mode,

Inspecting Medical Officer.

THE ACTING PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER,

$c.,

$c.,

fc.