Wilson served as Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets from 1841 to 1843 onboard the Minden, a British hospital ship deployed in China at Chusan and Hong Kong at the end of 1841 to treat casualties in the First Opium War (1839-1842). By deploying the Minden in China, the British Admiralty provided state-of-the-art facilities and significant resources to curb the huge casualties caused by tropical diseases - in particular fevers - infecting the rank-and-file. Wilson had under his command a surgeon and five assistants, while the ship was fitted out with the latest heating and ventilation systems, lavatories, medical equipment, and beds for 150 patients needing around-the-clock care.  
Digital facsimile from wellcomecollection.org at this link.