COPY No. 35.
Sir,'
ENCLOSURE 16
0.0
21
10339
JUN
Government Civil Hospital,
Hongkong, 24th. January, 1901.
:
The Honourable
I have the honour to enclose two letters with translations referring to the case of Carl Ahrens now an in- mate of the Lunatic Asylum,
The man was admitted to the Asylum on the 9th. of April, 1899, and was in due course certified as suffering from General Paralysis of the Insane or Delusional Insanity. A correspondence then ensued between the Government and the German Consul (0.8.0.343/98) the outcome of which was that the German Government would do nothing towards removing this lunatic owing to the want of reciprocity in these matters between the two Governments.
Subsequently we received a letter to the effect that Ahrens had inherited money and thereupon the German Consul was again communicated with and in due course the Govern- ment were informed that as no legal guardian was appointed this inheritance could not be used towards defraying the patient's keep here or his passage home.
Whilst regretting to trouble you again
on the subject I think it as well to reopen the question as to the possibility of getting rid of the patient for several reasons.“
1.
A legal guardian, as you will see, bas been appointed with whom I have been in correspondence as to Ahrens' state of health and his cost here and I duly forwarded a state- ment of accounts, making out roughly $3,000 as being due by the patient to this Government needless to say this has not been paid though the guardian seemed to be under the impression that someone was or ought to pay for him. I have also had a letter from his relatives but presumably on learing his condition they have dropped the connection as I have heard nothing further from them for sometime.
2.
He has now passed out of the noisy trouble- some state of the disease and though hopelessly insane is easily managed and could be sent home with an attendant.
SO
3.
His physical condition is good - surprisingly and there is little or no evidence of any paralysis as yet.
4.
Owing to the presence here of a foreign Medical man of considerable experience in this disease (Dr.
Guiseppe
The Colonial Secretary.