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311
D
*10m
+w2 te An. c-tek
homena on
#
"I
4.
passengers had been landed we should have had NO Beri-beri and (in all human probability) no deaths.
The causes of the Beri-beri outbreak were;-
1.
2.
Long detention on shipboard (10 weeks).
Overcrowding.
3.
Want of exercise.
4.
5.
Long detention where disease contracted (Salina Cruz).
Eating decorticated or uncured Rice (British Medical
Journal of 21st September 1907) obtained in Salina
Cruz and neighbourhood.
CONDITION OF HEALTH AT DATE (10th August 1908);-
eaunoed Dodo
cases of Beri-beri
any kind.
hang on te
toege
Vrova bus toom
310
200
rapidly improving
134
Excepting six
the ship is free from sickness of
ly
A
In six years' experience of medical practice and of Port Health
Authorities all over the world and three years' experience of emigration
from India to Vancouver, and Chinese all over the East, I have never
experienced such treatment as had been meted out to my passengers by the
Authorities appointed by the Government of Mexico.
The ship leaves for Hong Kong in a few days and I understand
that it is impossible to obtain, in the surrounding country, any but the
poorest food and not sufficient of that to feed the returned passengers
on this ship more than 500 in number. In what condition will these
unfortunate people arrive in Hong Kong?
With the Company's permission, I shall have the passengers
examined by an independent Doctor or Doctors on arrival in Hong Kong and
have a sworn affidavit made as to the number of deaths and the physical
condition of passengers, if same be bad.
(signed) FRANCIS A. McOSTRICH.
Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery and Midwifery, Royal University of
Ireland.
Ex-House Surgeon, Mercy Hospital, Cork.
Ex Prizeman, Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Ex Senior Prizeman Cork District Hospital.
Ex Surgeon Indo-China Steam Navigation Co. Surgeon, China Commercial S. S. Co., Ltd.