Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 826

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Room for outdoor exercise has been obtained by enclosing the vacant ground to the South of the European Asylum.

Staff-Wardmaster LEE proceeded home on leave.

MATERNITY HOSPITAL.

Table XI gives the admissions and deaths in the Hospital during each month of the year, there were 54 admissions, the same number as in 1900.

The two fatal cases were Chinese, one came in with retained placerta and died of septicemia, the other died from malarial coma (see note of the case in the Appendix).

Eleven were wives of Government Servants, 27 private paying, and 16 free.

PRIVATE NURSING INSTITUTE.

The term of engagement of the private nurses having terminated in May the Government decided to discontinue their services.

Stowford."-

."-Stowford is still rented in order to find accommodation for three of the Sisters and the two probationers. It is to be hoped that the much needed extension of the Nursing Quarters will soon become practicable.

GAOL.

The following Table gives the number of admissions to the Gaol and the daily average number of prisoners for the past ten years:-

Total No. of Admissions

to the Gaol.

Daily Average

No. of Prisoners.

1892.

5,046

515

1893..

..4,010

458

1894,

+

.3,913

455

1895,

..5,014

472

1896,

1897.

哆

1898,

".

.5,582

514

.5,076

462

5,427

511

1899,..

1900, 1901,.

.4,789

434

•

.5,432

486

.5,077

499

Undoubtedly the Gaol is not now large enough for the Colony's requirements.

The new Warders' Quarters is rapidly approaching completion, when finished the new Hospital will be available for patients.

TUNG WAH HOSPITAL.

There were 21 less cases treated than in the previous year.

It will be noticed also that the number of those under so-called Western treatment has not in- creased but diminished, e. g.:-

1900, 1901,

Western Treatment.

.32 % .30·4%

Chinese Treatment.

57.7 %

69-6 %

It must also be remembered that those attending the out-patient department are not seen by the European doctors but by the so-called Native doctors.

PUBLIC MORTUARY.

An interesting report by Dr. BELL on the post mortem examinations during the year is attached. Two thousand two hundred and fifty (2,250) bodies were brought to the Mortuary as against 1,702 in 1900.

In 1,035 of these plague was the cause of death and as is pointed out 36-6% occurred in bodies found in the streets or harbour whose addresses were unknown and I agree with Dr. BELL that some radical measure must be taken to stop this surreptitious deposition of plague bodies in the streets.

KENNEDY TOWN INFECTIOUS HOSPITAL.

The building has been thoroughly painted and colour-washed throughout and the verandahs on the top floor enclosed with iron railings.

Two hundred and sixty-seven (267) patients in all were treated during the year, 42 being cases of small-pox, 15 cholera, which all came in February from Bangkok by the s.s. Cheung Chau, and 204 were suffering from plague.

The report of the visiting medical officer is attached.

Evidently the presence of plague bacilli in the blood of those affected must vary in different epidemics as in 1896; in 81% of the cases plague bacilli were found and this by such an experienced bacteriologist as Dr. WILM.