- C 55
Annexe B.
Memorandum on Plague and Small-pox Statistics.
Mr. Brewin in a minute dated 3rd November, 1911, wrote:
"The Principal Civil Medical Officer has been commenting on "the number of small-pox cases which are concealed until death "has occurred, and in consequence of what he said I have compiled "the attached tables.
The laws relating to plague and small-pox have been much "relaxed of late years and the Chinese have secured the right to "have plague cases treated in ordinary hospitals and in the house, "if certain precautions are observed, and to have small-pox cases "treated in their own hospitals, and the patients visited by "relatives.
"The Dispensaries Committee must shew a corresponding "readiness in the Chinese Community to report cases of infectious "disease as soon as they become recognisable as such, and we can "then claim to have fulfilled the undertakings we gave and argue "that further concessions will result in a greater number of cases "being reported.
66
"The attached tables shew that more than half the cases of small-pox are not reported till after death and that in a number of cases of plague the floors are deserted by the inmates. It is "true that the figures for the current year shew a noticeable improvement (which I am bringing to the notice of the Governor) "but I think that this very improvement shews that the time has "come for another burst of energy like that which reduced the "number of bodies dumped, and that further active efforts should "be made to persuade people to report cases of infectious disease "before death occurs and not to run away and leave the floor deserted. The dispensary clerks report every case of infectious "disease (see specimen attached) and I suggest that if in case of plague the floor has been deserted one of the members of the "Committee in company with a member of the Street Committee "visit the house and explain to the inmates of the other floors their duty to report cases of infectious disease and the foolishness of "absconding. Plague is not always recognisable by an ordinary "man and we cannot expect every case to be reported before death.
With small-pox it is different. Practically every case can "be recognised before death and in every case where the report has "not been made till after death I suggest that the house be visited, "and not only in cases where the floor has been deserted,
"I am sure that such action would have a good effect and "would result in more cases being reported.
Page 90
Page 91
- C 55
Annexe B.
Memorandum on Plague and Small-pox Statistics.
Mr. Brewin in a minute dated 3rd November, 1911, wrote:
"The Principal Civil Medical Officer has been commenting on "the number of small-pox cases which are concealed until death "has occurred, and in consequence of what he said I have compiled "the attached tables.
ແ
The laws relating to plague and small-pox have been much "relaxed of late years and the Chinese have secured the right to "have plague cases treated in ordinary hospitals and in the house, "if certain precautions are observed, and to have small-pox cases "treated in their own hospitals, and the patients visited by "relatives.
"The Dispensaries Committee must shew a corresponding "readiness in the Chinese Community to report cases of infectious "disease as soon as they become recognisable as such, and we can "then claim to have fulfilled the undertakings we gave and argue "that further concessions will result in a greater number of cases "being reported.
66
"The attached tables shew that more than half the cases of small-pox are not reported till after death and that in a number of cases of plague the floors are deserted by the inmates. It is "true that the figures for the current year shew a noticeable im- provement (which I am bringing to the notice of the Governor) "but I think that this very improvement shews that the time has "come for another burst of energy like that which reduced the "number of bodies dumped, and that further active efforts should "be made to persuade people to report cases of infectious disease "before death occurs and not to run away and leave the floor ⚫ deserted. The dispensary clerks report every case of infectious "disease (see specimen attached) and I suggest that if in case of plague the floor has been deserted one of the members of the "Committee in company with a member of the Street Committee "visit the house and explain to the inmates of the other floors their duty to report cases of infectious disease and the foolishness of "absconding. Plague is not always recognisable by an ordinary "man and we cannot expect every case to be reported before death.
+
With small-pox it is different. Practically every case can "be recognised before death and in every case where the report has "not been made ull after death I suggest that the house be visited, "and not only in cases where the floor has been deserted,
"I am sure that such action would have a good effect and "would result in more cases being reported.
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