welcome, especially the nicotinic acid of which we cannot get enough. We have 800 or 900 cases of pellagra and they have started increasing recently, so we are most grateful for your help."
(f) Letter dated 13th October, 1942, from Major T.W. Ashton-Rose,
Indian Medical Service, Senior Medical Officer, Shamshuipo Cam
"Dear Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, I am extremely grateful to you for
your great assistance. The diphtheria serum is a "God-send" as we have a bad epidemic here. Nearly 240 cases among the Canadians and the death rate is rising and will rise further as the serum runs out. I am going to use human serum from the cases which have recovered from diphtheria and see how it works.
I am rather pressed with work, but under the present circum- stances one must do his best to save life.
Skin diseases, scabies and ringworm remain untreated here for want of ung. sulph. and anything for tinea.
Hong Kong foot is troublesome but somewhat better. There are quite a number of cases of painful feet and some of the men have had no sleep for 10 to 12 days. Do you think you will be able to help us in this line? Morphia is practically run out and we have no opium preparations. Any article of medical supply will be gratefully accepted. Our instruments are few here and drugs and anything that you can spare we will be delighted to receive. Dressings we have nil.
All the best and many thanks again for your great help.
Yours sincerely,
T.W. Ashton-Rose, Major, I.M.S."
(g) Letter dated November, 1942, from same officer.
"Your parcel received this morning through our good friend.
May he be permitted to continue his good work. The diphtheria situation is now good and deaths have ceased for the past few days. We are now faced with another situation which is developing in an alarming way. I have started a food kitchen and have funds now for another two weeks but have to depend entirely on funds from outside. I have a salary of 100 M.Y. each month but it goes a very small way. We are just preparing a document to raise a loan of $200,000 (50,000 M.Y.) and your assistance will be greatly appreciated. We will sign as guarantors as persons of substance for the repayment on the cessation of hostilities. Do let me know your views in this connexion and if you can assist us to save quite a number of men who are now in a bad way. One of the Hong Kong Judges, Williams by name, and the late Crown Solicitor here have the document in hand and I will pass it out to you as soon as possible. Milk food is what we require and a few more ferrous carb. tablets. Bismuth sal., sodium bicarbonate, dettol and sulph. sublimate are also required. I cannot express to you how grateful we are for all your assistance and trust that I will be able to express personally my feelings. Many thanks once again."
(h) Letter dated November, 1942, from same officer.
"Your parcel received on Sunday containing dressings, instru- ments and marmite was welcome. The basket today contained bismuth sal., vaccine, pot. brom., etc., was also received safely. Ever so many thanks. I will do my utmost regarding
your/
но