Dr Manson, to Crown Agents.
167
C.C.
52751
21 Queen Anne Street le 18 SEP (
Cavendish Square,
6th September 1901.
2
Gentlemen,
Owing to absence from London I have been unable to reply to your letter of 20th August in reference to Mr J. Holdaway, until to-day.
It appears from the correspondence which your letter covers that the Acting Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, considers that Mr J. Holdaway, whom I passed on 22nd April as physically fit for service as a Constable in the Water Police, is suffering from Heart Disease (aortic) but that he is sufficiently well to do duty.
Without further details of the evidence on which Dr Bell founds his diagnosis I am unable to form an opinion as to its accuracy, but I would point out that as Mr Holdaway was passed as physically fit for the Metropolitan Police and Fire Brigade only four years ago, as at the time of my examination he stated that he had "never had a day's sickness in his life", and as my examination included careful auscultation and palpation of the heart, the disease, if such exists, must have developed subsequently to my examination. Manifestly, assuming Dr Bell's diagnosis to be correct, the disease is not active, or grave, otherwise he would not have sanctioned his employment on Police duty.
I would be obliged if you would procure for me a detailed report of the evidence on which Dr Bell rests his diagnosis of heart disease.
I am, etc.
(Signed)
Patrick Manson.
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