M 16
(b) Cholera,
59. A brief description of the 1938 outbreak of cholera has already been given in this Report and further clinical details are given in Appendix IV. The measures of control taken included the following:-
(i) Isolation of the sick,
(ii) Mass inoculation,
(iii) Press propaganda,
(iv) Restrictive legislation,
(v) Quarantine of shipping,
(vi) Inspection of trains,
(vii) Disinfection of infected houses.
60. With the permission of Government, the upper blocks of the former prison at Lai Chi Kok were opened as a cholera hospital capable of holding at a maximum 200 patients. The unit was self-contained, save for its supply of distilled water, and proved of great use.
61. Inoculations were made at hospitals, dispensaries, and special posts established for the purpose. The total number carried out was 940,000. Valuable assistance was given by the St. John Ambulance Association, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong while the epidemic was at its height.
62. Propaganda was begun before the first cases appeared in May and was carried on by the Press, posters, and wireless broadcasts. The public was warned how to avoid infection, where to obtain free inoculation against cholera, and what to do with a suspected case of the disease. The value of inoculation was stressed to the limits of truthfulness, and a campaign of mass inoculation was opened.
63. Legislation was introduced prohibiting the sale of foods and drinks likely to convey infection. An attempt was also made to obtain compulsory and efficient pasteurisation of all fresh milk, this measure to take effect from the beginning of 1939. Measures were also taken providing for the chlorination of all pipe-borne water in the Colony and the covering in of one exposed service reservoir.
64. Arrival of river steamers by night was prohibited, and all vessels arriving from Canton and Macao were examined under Police guard at the wharves. The port health authorities undertook the cleansing of decks and lavatories after the disembarkation of passengers. All passengers coming in by train were also inspected on arrival.
65. The sanitary inspectorate redoubled its vigilance and disinfected all houses in which cases of the disease had occurred.
66. While it must be admitted that the inspections of passengers arriving by ship and train were, and in the circumstances could not but be, cursory, a dispassionate survey of the available data leaves the impression that the measures just described did, in fact, exercise a marked influence in controlling the spread of the epidemic in 1938.
67. There were probably at least 300,000 more people at risk in the Colony than in 1937, yet the actual number of cases recorded in 1938 was only just over a third of the 1937 total.
68. It is very difficult to obtain accurate figures to show the efficacy, if any, of inoculation in mitigating the severity of the disease. In a group of 106 patients who stated definitely that they had not been inoculated, thirty-nine died
M 16
(b) Cholera,
59. A brief description of the 1938 outbreak of cholera has already been given in this Report and further clinical details are given in Appendix IV. The measures of control taken included the following:-
(i) Isolation of the sick,
(ii)
Mass inoculation,
(iii) Press propaganda,
(iv) Restrictive legislation,
(v) Quarantine of shipping,
(vi)
Inspection of trains,
(vii)
Disinfection of infected houses.
60. With the permission of Government the upper blocks of the former prison at Lai Chi Kok were opened as a cholera hospital capable of holding at a maximum 200 patients. The unit was self-contained, save for its supply of distilled water, and proved of great use.
61. Inoculations were made at hospitals, dispensaries and special posts established for the purpose. The total number carried out was 940,000. Valuable assistance was given by the St. John Ambulance, Association, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong while the epidemic was at its height.
62. Propaganda was begun before the first cases appeared in May and was carried on by the Press, posters and wireless broadcasts. The public was warned how to avoid infection, where to obtain free inoculation against cholera, and what to do with a suspected case of the disease. The value of inoculation was stressed to the limits of truthfulness and a campaign of mass inoculation was opened.
63. Legislation was introduced prohibiting the sale of foods and drinks likely to convey infection. An attempt was also made to obtain compulsory and efficient pasteurisation of all fresh milk, this measure to take effect from the beginning of 1939. Measures were also taken providing for the chlorination of all pipe- borne water in the Colony and the covering in of one exposed service reservoir.
64. Arrival of river steamers by night was prohibited, and all vessels arriving from Canton and Macao were examined under Police guard at the wharves. The port health authorities undertook the cleansing of decks and lavatories after the disembarkation of passengers. All passengers coming in by train were also inspected on arrival.
65. The sanitary inspectorate redoubled its vigilance and disinfected all houses in which cases of the disease had occurred.
66. While it must be admitted that the inspections of passengers arriving by ship and train were, and in the circumstances could not but be, cursory, a dispassionate survey of the available data leaves the impression that the measures just described did, in fact, exercise a marked influence in controlling the spread of the epidemic in 1938.
67. There were probably at least 300,000 more people at risk in the Colony than in 1937, yet the actual number of cases recorded in 1938 was only just over a third of the 1937 total.
68.
It is very difficult to obtain accurate figures to show the efficacy, if any, of inoculation in mitigating the severity of the disease. In a group of 106 patients who stated definitely that they had not been inoculated, thirty-nine died
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