1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS.-ANNUAL.
It was evident that the epidemic had gained a firm footing in the most densely populated district of the town, Taipingshan, a district abounding in coolie houses and common lodging-houses, where, despite the vigilance of the sanitary inspectors, the pernicious system of overcrowding and other predisposing conditions tended to foster the disease.
5
In the meanwhile (as reported in my Despatch 20th June 1894*) the executive committee of the Sanitary Board, which had been appointed to deal with the epidemic, had recognised the urgency of the situation, and, amongst other measures which it had devised with great promptitude, had organised cleansing parties consisting of volunteers from the garrison, under the direction of their officers, for the purpose of whitewashing and disinfecting all houses in which the disease had made its appearance. The medical authorities had also been equally active in making arrangements for suitable hospital accommodation. The hospital hulk Hygeia, ordinarily used for the reception of small-pox cases, had been moored some 200 or 300 yards off the shore opposite a police barracks, situated at the western extremity of the town, which had likewise been converted into a plague hospital; matsheds fitted up in accordance with medical requirements had also been erected in the same locality as temporary hospitals, and a conveniently situated landing stage and suitably equipped boats facilitated the conveyance of patients to and from the floating hospital. In short, the hospital arrangements made by the medical staff were in every way satisfactory from a European point of view. Unfortunately, however, the Chinese do not see things with European eyes and herein lies the story of what was perhaps the greatest difficulty experienced in dealing with the epidemic.
From the first, the Chinese strongly objected to the removal of their sick to hospitals under European management. Educated to insanitary habits, and accustomed from infancy to herd together, they were unable to grasp the necessity of segregation; they were quite content to die like sheep, spreading disease around them so long as they were left undisturbed, and they preferred to see their sick friends and relations suffering unspeakable miseries rather than be parties to their removal to European hospitals, where every comfort was provided.
These feelings, no doubt the result of blind prejudice and superstition, naturally prompted concealment, which eventually necessitated the organisation of search parties and a system of house-to-house visitation. Harrowing tales are told of how, upon a search party entering a house in which there were cases of sickness, every possible method of evasion and concealment was hurriedly devised. In some instances a dying person was discovered half suffocated under a heap of dirty rags, in others the patient was hurriedly removed through a trap door on to the roof in the hopes of escaping detection and in total disregard of the
* No. 2 in C. [7545].
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