$70
THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS AND
hospital treatment, but if it is the intention of the Government to provide accommodation to ❘ meet the increasing demand additional accom. modation must be provided either by erecting an annexe in the locality of the present build- ings, or a "Pauper Hospital," as in the Straits, in some locality, unless the project proposed in the Superintendent's report of 1892 is adopted. The Colonial Surgeon left on the 1st May on 12 months' leave, and I took over the duties of his office during his absence with the exception of the two months from 18th June to 15th August, during which period I was absent from the colony on sick leave and Dr. Lowson relieved me.
Dr. Clark was appointed Assistant Surgeon in this Department on 15th May, and on his arrival in September made himself generally acquainted with local conditions and attended cases in the Government Civil Hospital and Tung Wa. In November he was seconded to the Sanitary Board and since then he has been engaged in work under the Board.
The hospital, I understand, was originally intended for the medical treatment of officers
and sailors of the mercantile marine, members of the Colonial Government service, and those suffering from accidents brought in by the Police. Of late years the increase in the num- ber of officers and sailors of the mercantile marine and in the numbers of the persons in the employment of the Colonial Government has materially increased the demand for hospital accommodation. It must further not be lost sight of that officers and men of foreign navies and officers of the troops garrisoned here not infrequently avail themselves of this in- stitution. As previously pointed out, under the above circumstances the admittance of a
number of Chinese has to be refused owing to
lack of accommodation.
Public Mortuary.-150 bodies were received at the mortuary during the year.
VIOTⱭ RIA GAOL.
admissions to the Gaol and the daily average The following table gives the number of number of prisoners for the past ten years --
Total number admitted to Gaol.
1886.
Daily average no. of prisoners.
4,600
674.00
1887.
4,302
584.00
1888.
3,627
531.00
1889.
.3,705
581.00
1890.
3,444
566.00
1891.
5,291
507.00
1892.
.5,046
515.00
1893
4,010
458.00
455.00
.3,913 .5,014
1894. -1895.
472 00 These figures show a considerable increase in the number of prisoners, 1,101 more being admitted than in 1894; in only two years in the last ten is this number exceeded. The number of prisoners admitted to the hos pital was less than in 1894, the figure being 231 as compared with 271. Of those treated in the hospital 45 were suffering from malarial fever, 24 from anæmia; whilst there were fifteen con- tused wounds from flogging and 12 gluteal abscesses the result of flogging.
I would submit for consideration the advisa- bility of more frequent floggings of a smaller number of strokes at a time; there was only one case of gluteal abscess the result of flogging. in 1894; therefore either the punishment must have been inflicted more vigorously or the subjects were of poorer physique.
Of the 948 cases treated in the cells 508 suffered from contusions the result of floggings, two of which were Europeans. The total number of floggings was 535 as compared with 208 in 1894. Of the others not treated in the The percentage of deaths to the total number hospital venereal and cutaneous diseases, chiefly of admissions (4.99) is less than that of the pre-scabies and ringworm, formed the greater per vious year, but, as in 1895, it is above the average of the last ten years. This is due to the fact that many almost hopeless cases have been during these years transferred from the Tung Wa Hospital, as shown by the increased mortality amongst the Chinese admitted, viz., 8.35
per cent. as against 2.47 per cent. in the European. The admissions are by far the largest in any year of the hospital's existence.
centage.
There were seven deaths from natural causes, one Chinaman committed suicide by hanging himself in the cell, and two were executed.
TUNG WA HOSPITAL.
The number of cases treated in this hospital during the year was 2,732 compared with 2,354 in 1894; of these 1,457 were discharged, 145 being transferred to the Government Civil Hospital.
the percen with 2.53 in 1804. Lam afraid
statistics the Chinese is pract
deaths
it is only necessary to the last two years; the
July222-1896.
are due to simple continued
on Sakwent in this respect An improvement
cipated in course of next few passing of the new Births and Deaths 1 tion Ordinance.
Plague made its appearance again at of April, but did not obtain a footin colony. How far this was due to clim ditions and how far to the prompt which were taken to deal with the diseas impossible to definitely say, but it is sati to be able to report that though isola accurred practically for the rest of there were only 44 cases in all; in ever excepting one, which was under treatment end of the year and afterwards recover disease proved fatal, so that the type ly evidently of a virulent nature. 31 cases were admitted alive to Kennedytown Hospital; these one recovered. With the exception of three Portuguese all were Chinese.
Canton was reported practically free of the disease during the year, but Macao was with a severe epidemic in the months of April aited
and May.
those attacked by the disease at Kennedytown The system employed was -(1). . Isolation of Hospital. (2). Disinfection of the infected posed to the infection in large house-boats to houses. (3). Segregation of the people ex the north of Stonecutters' Island for a limited period. That this latter is a most important plague occurred amongst those so segregated. measure was proved by the fact that cases of The period of segregation was fixed at ten days, as the maximum incubation period in the 1894 epidemic was found to be nine days. The carried out is limited in the event of a large tent to which isolation of this nature can be
number of cases occurring.
Nearly all the Chinese houses are ❝ tenement houses," every floor consisting of three or four cubicles, each with a family residing therein; the people segregated have been generally those
The total amount of fees received from pay. There were 1,210 deaths, 494 occurring within | living on the same floor as the person attacked.
ing patients during the year was $15,395.48.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
There is & decided diminution to report in the number of Europeans under treatment and a marked increase in the Chinese, 76 having been admitted during the year as against 37 in 1894. During the year there were eight deaths. Twenty were transferred to Canton.
INFECTIOUS HOSPITALS.
Kennedytown Hospital-This building was
handed over to the Department in April, 1895, and is a most valuable adjunct for the treat ment of persons suffering from infectious disease. It is situated at the extreme western
limits of the city and consists of one two-storeyed block, containing accommodation for 36 patients, together with attendant's room, office and dis- pensary within the premises, and approached by a covered way are situated the necessary kitchen, stores, mortuary, and out-offices. The concrete yard surrounding the buildings provides suitable sites for the erection of temporary matsheds, which, during the pre- valence of epidemics, will be found most useful. There were five cases of smallpox treated there during the year, one of which, that of a man who was admitted in a moribund condition, ter- minated fatally three hours after admission.. There were in addition 40 patients admitted to this hospital during the year; 31 of these proved to be bubonic plague; the remaining nine were reinoved to this hospital under observation.
*
Temporary Smallpox Hospital.-In addition to the foregoing cases treated at the Kennedy. town Hospital 20 patients suffering from small. por were treated here, three of which terminated fatally. The fatal cases were those of Chinese foundlings who had not been vaccinated. Two cases of cholera removed from H.M.S. Rainbow were treated during the year; neither case ended fatally
Hospital Hulk Hygeia. The hospital ship was maintained during the year in a satisfactory condition.
forty-eight hours of admission. Five cases of smallpox were admitted prior to May; of these one died and four were discharged. 1,939 vaccinations were performed by the native doctors, 188 of these being in the outlying districts. 1,939 vaccinations were performed by the native doctors, 188 of these being in the outlying districts. Many improvements have been effected during the past year. Smallpox cases are no longer admitted for treatment, but
Notwithstanding all that has been done during the year, with reference more especially to cleaning basements, removal of cocklofts and cubicles, licensing of lodging-houses, and the increased number of Sanitary Inspectors, no one acquainted with the elements of sanitation and the conditions of filth, 'overcrowding, and ignorance that exists amongst the majority can hope to see for some years to come those con- ditions necessary for the maintenance of the Public health satisfactorily established in this
city.
are sent to one of the infectious hospitals at tached to this Department. The wooden cubicles and the obstructions from the verandahs terially improve the present unsatisfactory con I am of opinion that the only way to ma have been removed, thus promoting cleanliness and admitting more light and freer ventilation dition of the town is by the introduction some such Act into the Ordinances of the to the wards. The patients have been pro-lony as the "Housing of the Working Class vided on admission with hospital cloth- Act. 1890." The following ext ing, their own being disinfected. mortuary is in course of erection at the ex- Health gives the general scope of th
A new Whitelegge's "Manual of Hygiene a treme southern limit of the hospital premises, provided with quarters for an attendant. Monthly meetings have been held with the Com- mittee attended by the Registrar-General and myself; various recommendations have been made, some of which have been carried out; much, however, still remains to be done.
VACCINE INSTITUTE.
This has been satisfactorily, maintained and during the winter was in working order. Lymph was obtained early in October under my superin- tendence, Mr. Ladds, the Superintendant of the Institute, being away ou leave. The stock from which we started our supply was obtained from Dr. Nakagawa in Japan. Owing to Messrs. Watson & Co. having informed me that no further supplies were required early in December last, I have received applications from various medical practitioners and firms, to which I have responded. The results obtained by the civil medical practitioners and public vaccinators have been very, satisfactory.
HEALTH OF THE COLONY* There has been a slight diminution in the number of deaths among the foreign residents,
|
"Part I. deals with unhealthy area applicable to urban sanitary districts
"It is the duty of the Medical Officer-i Health to make an official representation to the Sanitary Authority whenever he sees o do so, that within a certain area, either. houses or courts are unfit for ha the bad arrangement or condition or houses, or the want of light vent per conveniences, or any other are dangerous to the health of and that the evils cannot be effe died otherwise than by re-arran construction of some or all houses, r
ed of
the
Tho Sanitary Authorities must com representation, and if thereof, and of the must declare the and frame an improven
With regard sanitary important Acts that have been the year are
1.—By-laws reporting of certain communic
during
the compulsory
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