[vi]
3. My opinion is that the condition of these patients has been chiefly duc to the quantify and not the quality of the liquor they have consumed.
4. Yes.
With reference to the latter part of your letter it is impossible here to discuss generalities, and I think the better plan would be to call me before the Commission to give evidence.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
F. BRowNE, Esq.,
Secretary for the Commission.
J. M. ATKINSON, Principal Ciril Medical Officer.
R. N. HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 2nd March, 1898.
Sin, In reply to your letter of the 28th ultimo, I beg to furnish the following replies to the questions propounded therein:-
1. 3 cases of patients suffering from alcoholism were treated in the Naval
Hospital in the year 1897.
2. No other intoxicant than alcohol was specially indicated in these cases.
3. Reply in negative.
4. Reply in negative.
As will be observed from the foregoing replies my experience of alcoholism in patients in the Naval Hospital has been altogether too limited to justify me in expres- sing any confident opinion on the subject of the enquiry referred to in your letter; but I have heard from Medical Officers of ships in harbour that they have frequently to deal with cases among their ships' companies of men suffering from the effects of what thay have reason to believe to be deleterious, adulterated liquors supplied to them on shore; and I am informed that the cases of intoxication which occur in the Seamen's Club are invariably the result of inferior liquor supplied to the men from outside by native vendors. I need hardly add the expression of my personal opinion that a careful supervision of the importation, sale, aud consumption of alcoholic liquors in the Colony is in the highest degree desirable in the interests of the health and well-being of the community.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
G. MACLEAN,
Dep. Insp. General, R.N.
The Secretary to the Commission on Alcoholic Liquors, &c.
Questions sent to V. A. Lawford, Esq., R.N., Secretary to Commodore.
Hongkong, March 4, 1898.
SIR, I am requested, on behalf of the Commission appointed to enquire into the importation, manufacture, and sale of alcoholic liqours in Hongkong to ask if you will