KONFIDENTIAL.
Hongkong.
Sir,
AAA ASKED..
360
C O
31898
10 ser
Goverment House,
Hongkong, 10th August, 1904.
I regret to have to inform you that Dr. William Hunter, M.B., Government Bacteriologist, whom I had arranged to see with other Heads of Departments on the 2nd instant, was found by the Colonial Secretary to be suffering from intoxication at the time fixed for the interview. He was subsequently sent by the Principal Civil Medical Officer to the Government Civil Hospital suffering from alcoholism as reported in the letter of which a copy is attached.
2. Mr. May has informed me that Dr. Hunter was admitted into Hospital suffering from the same complaint about a year ago but that this was not brought to the notice of the Governor as the outbreak was attributed to nervousness arising from and repulsion to the work of examining plague corpses, mostly in a state of decomposition.
3. Dr. Atkinson has stated to me that if Dr. Hunter became a total abstainer it is possible that he might get over the alcohol habit. He has also spoken in high terms of Dr. Hunter's work, which has not suffered from this habit, and he has informed me that it would be very difficult to get a Medical Officer of such high qualifications as those of the present
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
800-
&C...