At the annual meeting of the Shantung Road Hospital, which is to take place this evening at 2 Shantung Rosd, a question of some importance is to be decided.
The medical work in connection with the London Mission, which vatually developed into this Hospital, was begun by Dr. Lockhart, the first medical missionary to China, who had charge from 1843-1857. By the original trust the work was established on a purely charity able basis, but with freedom to change. It is now felt that the time has come for this medical work to fall in line with other similar works in Shanghai, and with most foreign hospitals in China, so that in future the basis be semi-charitable semi-self-supporting, " small fee being charged to all out-patients, The advantages of this system are: (1) that it brings in considerable support, (2) that it keeps away those who have nothing the matter with them, (3) that it causes those who receive treatment to appreciate it and take their medicines.
Taking into consideration the fact that during 1904 over 96,000 out-patients were treated, the charge of a fow cash, which ij reposed to establish, would bri in a considerable sum, and experience has proval that the Chinese are quite willing to pay.
It is needless to say that the very poor, accident cases, and those sent up with letters from subscribers, will be seen free as in former years.
By arrangement with the London Mission, Dr. Davenport, one of their medical missionaries who has practised for fifteen years in China, has now been appointed have medical charge of the Hospital, and an effort is being made to increase its usefulness and efficiency.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.