DF Y.
347
PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL S. N. CO.
8. s. "Coromandel"
Shanghai, 17th April, 1901.
From Commander F. Vibert.
To H. A. Ritchie Esq. (Supt). Hongkong.
Dear Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that I am
in receipt of your letter of 14th April enquiring into the circumstances attending our detention in quarantine at Hong-Kong, and beg to give you the following information.
We passed Gap Rock showing Mail Signal
lights at 4.16 a.m. (which signals were
answered).
On April 18th.
At 7.18 a.m. we anchored in Quarantine Ground with
quarantine flag flying as per paragraph 2 of Quarantine Port
Regulations, having a case of Chicken-pox, which the ship's
surgeon informed me was very contagious as well as infectious.
At 7.30 a.m. Tender "Dragon" alongside and left to
report that Health Officer was required.
At 10.6 a.m. Dr. Swan, Health Officer, boarded and,
after examining the patient, put the ship in quarantine until case was landed at hospital and diagnosed, as there was some doubt it may be smallpox. The passengers were informed they must be vaccinated before being allowed on shore, many of
whom objected; the ship's surgeon at once started vaccinating
them, until his stock of lymph was finished.
At 10.30 a.m. All mails were discharged and Parcel
Post left ship.
At