M 39
is the relation between the tissues of the rat and the bacillus pestis. Where the former offers a favourable medium for the growth of the latter and for enhancement of its virulence there plague flourishes; where the conditions are reversed there is diminution in virulence and a corresponding decline in both incidence and death rates. But concerning the natural causes which have an influence on the resistance of the rat or the virulence of the plague organism little is known.
119. The value of a continuous anti-rat campaign lies in the early information it affords of an epidemic and because of this rats are being regularly caught and examined.
120. In spite of the continuous campaign against them, owing to the rapidity with which they multiply and the ease with which they enter and leave the Colony, there still is and probably always will be a sufficiency of rats and rat fleas in the Colony to light up and maintain an epidemic if the Gods so will it.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
121. The disease appeared in the neighbouring Portuguese Colony of Macao early in March. It is supposed to have been introduced by refugees from North China. It soon assumed epidemic form there and during the two months the outbreak lasted there were 600 cases with a mortality of 58 per cent.
There were only 11 instances where two cases occurred in the same house and only one instance where there were four cases. Schools, hotels, colleges, and barracks were almost entirely unaffected and there was no case where infection spread from patient to those in attendance.
122. On 26th March news was received from Canton of a serious epidemic there.
123. Considering the extent of communication between Macao, Canton and Hong Kong and the overcrowded condition of the working class area here, fears were entertained of the possibility of widespread and serious epidemic. The Government Infectious Diseases Hospital was, therefore, opened and arrangements made to meet any emergency.
124. There was no epidemic properly speaking. On 31st March two cases were reported, and thereafter daily until about the middle of May cases were reported.
125. All cases were lumbar punctured and all received intradural injection of immune serum prepared from local strains of the meningococcus.
126. Altogether there were 61 cases and 26 deaths.
127. No house had more than one case and the disease never spread from cases to those in attendance.
M 39
is the relation between the tissues of the rat and the bacillus pestis. Where the former offers a favourable medium for the growth of the latter and for enhancement of its virulence there plague flourishes; where the conditions are reversed there is diminution in virulence and a corresponding decline in both in- cidence and death rates. But concerning the natural causes which have an influence on the resistance of the rat or the virulence of the plague organism little is known.
119. The value of a continuous anti-rat campaign lies in the carly information it affords of an epidemic and because of this rats are being regularly caught and examined.
120. In spite of the continuous campaign against them, owing to the rapidity with which they multiply and the ease with which they enter and leave the Colony, there still is and probably always will be a sufficiency of rats and rat fleas in the Colony to light up and maintain an epidemic if the Gods so will it.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
121. The disease appeared in the neighbouring Portuguese Colony of Macao early in March. It is supposed to have been introduced by refugees from North China. It soon assumed epidemic forin there and during the two months the outbreak lasted there were 600 cases with a mortality of 58 per cent.
There were only 11 instances where two cases occurred in the same house and only one instance where there were four cases. Schools, hotels, colleges, and barracks were almost en- tirely unaffected and there was no case where infection spreadi from patient to those in attendance.
122. On 26th March news was received from Canton of a serious epidemic there.
123. Considering the extent of communication between Macao, Canton and Hong Kong and the overcrowded condition of the working class area here, fears were entertained of the possi bility of widespread and serious epidemic. The Government infectious Diseases Hospital was, therefore, opened and arrange- ments made to meet any emergency.
124. There was no epidemic properly speaking. On 31st March two cases were reported, and thereafter daily until about the middle of May cases were reported.
125. All cases were lumbar punctured and all received in- tradural injection of immune serum prepared from local strains of the meningococcus.
126. Altogether there were 61 cases and 26 deaths.
127. No house had more than one case and the disease never spread from cases to those in attendance.
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