134
It is interesting that Lowson had taken such a step. It showed that he was quite scientific-minded. In his Report to the Governor, he described some changes he saw in the red and white cells under the microscope. However, he wrote that 'the question as to whether one will find a bacterial or other cause for the pathological changes will be in abeyance for sometime'. Perhaps if he had time to pursue the study he might well have found the bacillus?
May 13th
Another heavy day. Hot sun. Cases pouring in and outlook appalling. At night A Hung died. 25 deaths from plague, 12 on Hygeia.
May 14th
32 deaths on Hygeia. Opened Kennedy Town Hospital.
As more beds were needed the local police station in Kennedy Town was evacuated and converted into a hospital.
May 15th
Out of bed to Executive Council meeting. Guinea pig died in morning. 27 deaths. 12 on Hygiea. 5 in Kennedy Town hospital.
May 16th
24 deaths. 9 Hygeia. 12 Kennedy Town Hospital. In hospital 47.
No more figures appeared after this entry. On May 24th another hospital was established in a glass-works factory also in Kennedy Town district. On this day's entry, there was the following annotation:
May 24th
The Glass-work hospital was filled up immediately and the scene there baffled description. When think of it now (1933) I wonder how anyone can come out alive.
The truth of the matter was that the Chinese did not want to be admitted into the Hygeia because it was under "foreign control," meaning they would have to be treated by expatriate doctors with western medicine. They wanted another hospital like the Tung Wah where all patients, including plague cases, were treated by herbal medicine by Chinese physicians. This was opposed by the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary