Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 820

721

No. 37

1902

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER, FOR THE YEAR 1901.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government,

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL, HONGKONG, 15th April, 1902.

SIR, I have the honour to submit, for the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, the following Report on the working of the Medical Department for the year 1901.

I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. BELL for much of the information contained in this Report.

MEDICAL STAFF.

I returned from leave on August 4th, up to that date Dr. BELL had been acting as Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Dr. J. A. Lowson returned from leave on the 26th of December last. I regret to say that he had on arrival to be admitted to Hospital, his health not having improved during his absence.

He has since been invalided from the service.

Dr. Lowson was first appointed to the Medical Department in 1889, from that date until March, 1894, he performed the duties of Assistant Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital and Lunatic Asylums and took charge of the Hygeia when occasion required.

During my first absence from the Colony on leave in 1894 the plague epidemic broke out, at this time he rendered yeoman service, sparing himself no labour or trouble in his efforts to combat this disease; his services at this anxious time will never be forgotten by the Colony, for these he was awarded the Plague Medal and received the thanks of the Government,

When at home on leave in 1896 his services were requisitioned by the India Government as an expert to advise re plague administration in that country.

It was during this work in India that is health broke down and he was under treatment in the Madras Hospital.

He returned to the Colony in 1898 and resumed his duties in the Department.

In 1900 he was appointed Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer when I left the Colony for the second time on home leave, and in August of that year his health again gave way and lung trouble developing he was ordered by Prof. KосH, who happened to be in the Colony, to South Africa, from there he proceeded to Australia.

Since his return in December last he has improved considerably in health and he finally left the Colony for home on April 12th, undoubtedly his plague services here and in India have undermined his health and predisposed to the causation of the disease from which he is now suffering.

I take this opportunity of bearing testimony to the able services rendered by this Officer since his appointment in 1889, his work has always been marked by great ability and his cheery presence will be missed not only at the Hospital but in the Colony generally.

Dr. G. P. JORDAN left for a year's leave on the 15th March, arrangements having been made for Dr. SWAN to perform his duties as Health Officer of the Port, Dr. GIBSON acting as Deputy Health Officer.

Dr. J. C. THOMSON proceeded on three months' leave on the 31st of October,

The services of Lieutenant STEWART of the Indian Medical Service were available until the 27th July, he ably assisted Dr. BELL in the work of the Hospital, and we are much indebted to the Military Authorities for granting us the services of this officer.

We are also indebted to Dr. LAMORT, who was employed from the 1st June to the 31st July whilst Dr. THOMSON was on special duty at Kennedy Town Hospital, he again acted for him from the 1st November to the end of the year.

ANALYTICAL STAFF.

Mr. F. BROWNE, Government Analyst, returned from leave on the 27th March, Mr. T. J. WILD returning to his duties as Assistant Analyst.

50-30.7.02.