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particular should be most carefully disinfected as the ways of the "heathen Chinee are just as peculiar in the matter of clothing as they are in some other things. The risk of the introduction of the disease by other immigrants (the ordinary first and second class passengers) is practically nil.
ADMINISTRATIVE.
On May 10th when the epidemic was first discovered the Government Medical Staff available for service was composed of the following Europeans :
Colonial Surgeon, Acting Superintendent Government Civil Hospital, Messrs. CROW and BROWNE, nine Sisters, Mr. CHAPMAN, Steward- Wardmaster BRETT, Government Civil Hospital, Wardmasters CUM, MING and BAYLEY, Lunatic Asylum.
On the discovery of the outbreak on 11th May, the hospital hulk Hygeia was moved from behind Stonecutter's Island to West Point, within easy reach of the shore, and every preparation was made for receiving a large number of patients on board. These patients did not arrive on that date as was at first arrange l owing to difficulty with the Tung Wah Hospital authorities, but early on Saturday, 12th May, all the plague-affected Chinese in the Tung Wah were removed to the ship, after a prolonged interview between the Colonial Surgeon, Mr. MAY and myself, and the Chinese Committee of that hospital. On this day Police Constables GIDLEY and MCKILLOP were seconded for service in this Department.
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On the evening of 13th May, Surgeon PENNY, R.N., having volunteered for service, reported himself for duty whilst Surgeon-Major JAMES of the Army Medical Staff was also sent to assist us and commenced work on the 14th, chiefly under the orders of the Sanitary Board.
On 14th May, owing to the rapidity with which the Hygeia had been filled, Kennedytown Police Barracks was placed at our disposal and was immediately opened as a hospital.
On the 11th May, fourteen Chinese "boys," cooks, and coolies were secured to act as nurses on the Hygeia, and also three amals; and on 14th May, eleven more attendants were engaged for Kennedytown; the European staff being dis- tributed between the Government Civil Hospital, Asylums, Hygeia, and Kennedy- town with orders to remain at their posts until relieved.
On the morning of the 15th May, it was discovered that almost all the attend- ants at Kennedytown had disappeared--notwithstanding the fact that they were receiving double wages-and in addition several of the Hygeia attendants also. decamped-having either swam ashore or dropped into the sea to reach adjacent sampaus--whilst the other unrses had been looking after the sick. The Chinese Apothecaries, UI KAI and CHAU KAM-TSUN, had been detailed to superintend the dispensary and the administration of medicines, one being stationed at Kennedy- town, and the other on the Typia; whilst the Chinese clerks, LEUNG FU-CHU and Leung Ping-far, had to keep the registers, and procura as much information about cases as possible. The result of this was that on 16th May in addition to the Medical Officers, the following was the staff that was practically doing twenty- four hours' duty on the Hygeia:-
Two Sisters.
Police Constable J. MCKILLOP, Wardmaster. Police Constable T. I. GIDLEY, Wardmaster, A Po, Chinese Wardinaster.
One Chinese Apothecary.
LEUNG PING-FAI, second clerk.
There were also about fourteen Chinese "boys" and coolies to assist. The boatswain and one caretaker of the Hygeia (who were in charge of the ambulance boat) had also disappeared. The above staff had to do the whole of the work of getting patients up the gangway, washed, put to bed, given nourishment and medicine, removed when dead, coffined, and conveyed to Kennedytown by boat for burial. In fact they had to do everything but dig the graves and fill them up.
At Kennedytown the following was the only available staff :
Two Sisters,
Wardmaster CUMMING.
One Chinese Apothecary.
A CHING, Chinese Wardmaster,
and about a dozen "boys" with an occasional hour's help from some of the Hygeia staff, whilst bodies from the hulk were awaiting burial. The Medical Officers generally had to lend a hand at anything that required to be done,
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