Page 53 - วารสารแสงธรรม เล่ม 9
P. 53

52  แสงพระธรรม กรกฎาคม 2563 ถึง มิถุนายน 2564



















             Hornbill on the Taphao Yai and Taphao Noi   First period of Vachira Phuket Hospital


              permitted to continue on to Phuket. If         With wealthy merchants funding,
              anyone was found to be sick they stayed  Phuket’s first hospital was built during
              on the island until well again and a fine  the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V,
              was issued to the “recruiter” responsible  in 1906 by Phraya Ratsadanupradit
              for bringing the person from China. The  (Khosimbee Na Ranong), lord lieutenant
              Phuket historian described the cost of  of Phuket. The public health hospital
              this coin as 25 ringkit cents (at that time  was located on Komaraphat road. With a
              though, Phuket used the Malaysian  British Dr.Mac as caretaker until later,
              ringgit in for foreign trades), The recruiter  when Phra Wetchakitphisarn (Jerm
              would then charge the mining cartel this  Dilokphat) became the first director. This
              fine who would then deduct that  hospital had an examination room,
              amount from the minor’s first pay.        surgery, wound dressing room and a
                   Taphao Yai Island, about 900  pharmacy, one ward for VIP and three
              meters from Phuket, is now a natural  general wards.
              and peaceful tourist destination and is         In 1907, the wealthy Chinese
              home to the rare hornbill bird. The  merchants set up the Loxiankok Fund
              Taphao Noi Island is a lighthouse under  Society for charity (which is now the
              the supervision of the Navy Region 3. It  Kusonsongkloh Phuket Province
              lies to the north of the island.          Foundation) in order to help the Chinese
                                                        with sanitation and the education of
                                (3)                     their children. In 1913, the Fund built
                The Origin of Phuket Hospital           Sehua-ei Hospital on Wichitsongkhram
              This last section discusses the origins  road (currently the site of, Phuket
              of the early clinics on this island and the  Thaihua School). As an aid for them to
              link to the Chinese people who arrived,  go out to work and support themselves,
              mostly for the tin mining. The same  Khitjea-ear Home for the poor and/or
              important factors, linking the previous  homeless was built, located on
              two episodes.                             Wichitsongkram road too. Both the
   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58