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142. The staff worked hard and conscientiously in their en- deavours to perform the duties that had been imposed upon them, but the conditions were such that it was impossible to carry out the programme laid down. The passengers could not be properly inspected and the decks, lavatories and kitchens could not be properly made clean.
143. Scrutiny of passengers arriving by train was carried out effectually and without inconvenience to passengers by agents travelling on the trains.
144. The Infectious Diseases Hospitals together furnished accommodation for 100 patients and there was room in the grounds for the erection of matsheds should this arrangement have proved insufficient.
145. The Government nursing staff was supplemented by the addition of three Chinese nurses and three Chinese dressers lent by the Tung Wah Authorities.
146. A Chinese Medical Officer was posted to the hospitals as a resident house surgeon.
147. The original idea was to treat Europeans and better class Asiatics in the Government Hospital and the Chinese of the coolie class in the Tung Wah. A European Medical Officer was placed in charge of the former, and a Chinese Medical Officer in charge of the latter.
It was soon found that no sharp line of division could be maintained between the two institutions and that both had to be treated as parts of one whole, the staff distributing their attention where occasion demanded
148. The maximum number accommodated in the hospitals in any one day was forty-one so there was ample room.
149. Every effort was made to give the patients and their friends the impression that this was a place for recovery and not a gaol. Arrangements were made for friends to keep in touch with the patients. Enquiries could be made at any time either by telephone or by person and visitors were allowed under proper precautions.
150. Each case received careful individual attention and the treatment given was that recommended by Sir Leonard Rogers and other recognised authorities.
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152. Most of the cases admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital were transfers from one or other of the Chinese Hospi- tals. Some were sent in by other hospitals and by private practi- tioners, but there were some who personally asked to be admitted.
153. There were no complaints by either patients or friends, all seeming to realize that everything possible was being done for their benefit.
154. The work done by the Bacteriological Institute was as follows:-
Vaccine prepared
37,536 c.c.
Vaccine issued 17,221 c.c. of which 12,278 c.c. went to hospitals and institutions, 2,700 c.c to the Military, 3,533 was sold in the Colony and 1,400 to Macao.
The total number of Bacteriological tests made was 431, of which 174 were positive.
155. The Government staff, both preventive, investigative and curative worked well and cooperated to the fullest extent. Their duties which were often arduous and at times dangerous were carried out cheerfully and without a hitch.
156. The Tung Wah Hospitals, viz., the Tung Wah, the Kwong Wah, and the Tung Wah Eastern, cooperated fully. The Tung Wah nurses and dressers lent for duty at Kennedy Town showed themselves capable and willing.
157. The Police detailed for duty with the Port Health staff were of great assistance, especially in searching ships at night and in putting some semblance of order into the mass of humanity which swarmed on to the wharves on the arrival of the boats. They were also useful for the prompt transport of ambulance cases,
158. The Railway Authorities did all in their power to assist and cooperate with the Health Authorities to the fullest ex- tent.
159. Taking all circumstances into consideration one only say Hong Kong was lucky to escape so lightly,
can
151.
Cases
Chinese
178
Death
98
Cases death date
Japanese European
1
2
Total
181
99
Enteric.
55.05 per cent
100.00
0.00
54.69 per cent
160. The number of cases reported was 202 as compared with 214 for the previous year. All the cases were sporadic
and as is usual in such the source of infection could not be traced.
There is no evidence that any case contracted the dis- ease through the public water supply.
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