24th Feb.
'Tae Report of the Shanghai General Hospital for 1890, which' we reprint in extense in another column, omitting only the detailed list of diseases treated and the results of the treatment, is a very satisfactory one in many ways. We do not, of course, mean to congratulate the public on 512 patients having been admitted during the. year, against 430 in 1889 and 410 in 1888; but as some sickness is inevitable in such a) population as that now gathered on this mud flat, where the sanitary arrangements: are still far from perfect, it is very satisfactory that there should be so convenient and well-provided an institution, so thoroughly well equipped both in' personnel and materiel, and in such an' excellent situation.
That it is well managed is shown is a constant annoyance and danger to by the fact that, though the inclusive the sane patients in the hospital; where-charges to patients are undeniably as in the gaol there is nobody whom he moderate, the expenditure was nearly can annoy except the warders. To build "Pls: 4,000 less than the income; though a lunatic asylum, as well as for the it was, it must be owned, a very favour-other purpose mentioned, considerably able year, the total cost of repairs bein; more ground is required, and for this under 'I's, 48, and there being no hi the trustees have succeeded in making debts to write off; indeed a sum of an admirable arrangement. They have $10 was received on account ofa bad debt acquired for the sum of £10,250, includ-previously written off. As the hospital ing commission, the block of land lying pays no rent or interest on capital, this on the east side of the hospital, which 'T's. 4,000 may be looked on as rent, and will make the Chapoo Road their east-is available for improvements. Of the em boundary. It is leased at present, 540 patients under treatment during the and for six years more, at T's. 1,400 a year only 49 died, and 17 of these were year, which helps to make the sum they cholera cases. It is reassuring to see will have to pay as interest on the Tis. that of the 18 cases of small pox ad-34,000 which they have borrowed to admitted, 16 were discharged cured, make up the purchase money. Thus only one dying, and one remaining in the land will have cost them six years hospital on 31st December last, and hence, when the lease falls in, about having since been discharged cured.
Ts. 5,000 a mow, "a price which," as "The results achieved by the hospital, they say, "it is not unreasonable to medically and financially, since it was expect will then be less than its value." removed to its present situation, entirely Meanwhile they can negotiate at once justify the course taken by the Trustees with the present lessee for the necessary in placing it where it is. The ideal strip required for new outbuildings, situation for it was the site originally and for the better protection of the main intended, where the German Consulate building from the danger of fire, and now stands, but Mr. Seward, the U.S. they have plenty of time before them Consul-General, who affected to fear for the consideration and preparation of that it would injure his health if it plans for enlarging the hospital itself; were built near his then residence, had or for building a lunatic asylum if the influence enough to oblige the Trustees Municipal Councils should decide on to abandon that design. A vigorous the necessity of this step, and are pre-attempt was made to get the hospital pared to find the funds required; for it removed to what was then the farther is obviously impossible for the hospital extremity of the Broadway, Hongkew, trustees to establish such a building beyond Wayside, and the Endicott and provide the necessary staff without Gurden site was actually purchased. It the assistance of the Municipal was urged, however, that to move!
A perusal of the Report, to which we the hospital to such a distance have thus briefly referred, must result in would be most inconvenient for the the conviction that of all the institutions patients in the second and third of the settlements, there is none better classes who form the large majority, as or more satisfactorily carried on in well as for the doctors; and that, failing every way than the Shanghai General the site east of the Astor House, no-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.