Ist A ist, We have received the Report for 1889- 1890, of the Peking Hospital which is carried on in connection with the London Mission: Society, and all cou-cerned in its management are to be heartily congratulated on the ster success which has attended their ar duo labours.
The hospital suiters under the serious disadvantage of not possessing com-odious quarters wherein to receive and attend patients, so that it is all the more creditable that year after year the managers should be able to report so much valuable work done, The reports show that during the last three years the number of i -patients treated has gone on increasing to a very large extent. In 1886-7 they umubered only 82; in 1887-8 they were 270, and 1888-9 they rose to 319, and this Last number reaches the limit of accommodation that can, under the present condition of affairs, be afforded to those seeking relief. It is satisfactory to find that two good friends to the institution, on ascertaining how cramped and inconvenient the hospital buildings are to meet the demands made "upon them, each promised Tls. 500 towards extending and impro-the wards. But radical and very extensive alterations are needed to render the buildings properly fit for the purposes to which they are put, so that even the sum offered as above is not sufficient, and though the managers deprecate any direct appeal to the public for help they are yet desirous that their pressing needs should become known, so that the sympathy of friends and well-wishers may be directed ina practical way to the carrying out of the necessary reforms. This is not to be looked upon as an appeal for charity, but the managers of the hospital can with confidence refer to the good work they have done in the past, the steadily increasing demand that is made upon the accommodation of their existing establishment, and the limited means at their command for meeting this, But the great work of the hospital lies in the dispensary and the treats ment of out-patients, the number attended to during the year under review amounting to 19,243, which does not, include visits paid to out-patients in their own houses. In addition some attendance has been given to foreigners, and in some instances long journeys into the country have been undertaken by special request. All this shows how important an institution this hospital is at present, and petits value might be greatly increased if there were suitable commodation for a larger number of patients, They are drawn chiefly from the lower classes of the Chinese community, but the benefits of western medical science through this hospital reach the wealthy as well as the poor, and the work done will go farther to remove prejudice against foreigners than any other means that could be adopted for the purpose. The Peking hospital is supported by the voluntary contributions of residents at the capital, and it is little short of marvellous that the expenses for the, considering the immense mumber of patients treated, amount to a trifle over 'I'ls. 500.
The notes of the cases met with during the year are very interesting reading. Under the hea ing of Brace tures and Dislocations " i that the history of the attending an injury is sometimes of more interest than its surgical treatment, of which the following instance is given. One of the patients whose fractured collar bone had just united, but not quite firmly enough to dis: pense with the use of his bandages, was reclining leisurely against the hospital gateway. Attracted probably by such an unusual arrangement of bandage, a Chinaman passing by was led to make enquiries from him about the nature of his injuries and concerning the institution where he was staying. Satisfied with these particulars he went on his way, but had not proceeded very far when he fell and broke his own collar-bone at a spot corresponding most exactly with that of his recently formed acquaintance, to whom he at once returned, shared the same ang, and underwent similar treatment.
It is satisfactory to learn that there has lately been a marked change in the attitude of Chinese patients towards amputation, for many have been willing to place themselves unreservedly in the foreign doctor's hands, and several major operations having been submitted to and carried out successfully. One of a soldier whose right hand had been the most interesting cases was that of
blown to pieces by a eamon on the Emperor's yacht at the summer palace. The man, after consultation with his friends, consented to amputation of the forearm, but fortunately for him the surgical skill of the operators not only rendered this necessary, Lut they succeeded in saving one finger and a fraction,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.