1923-07-18 — Page 9

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TYPHOID.

HONGKONG EPIDEMIC

EXPLAINED.

WATER SUPPLY QUERY.

THE CHINA MAIL.

Important facts about the Colony's health were made public at the meeting of the Sanitary Board held yesterday. There were present: Mr. G. R. Sayer (Chair man), the Hon. Mr. H. T. Jackman (Director of Public Works), Mr. A. E. Wood (Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs), Me. S. W. Teo, Dr. F. M. Ozorio, Dr. W. V. M. Koch, Mr. Wong Kwong Tin, Dr. W. W. Pearso (Medical Officer of Health) and Mr. J. A. Fraser (Secretary to the Board).

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that the method of water storage in the houses was responsible for the facrease in the mumber of cases and that apparently nothing had been done to counteract this by giving warning to the Chinese.

!

suggested that the public water supply has been the cause of the outbreak owing to contamination of the water at its source, or during, distribution that is to say, before its delivery to the public. If the water had been so contaminated I The Chairman-Isn't it difficult should have expected the outbreak to anticipate? As a matter of fact to occur with explosive force, to we are not the Water Board. have involved many hundreds of Dr. Koch-I think the Water persons and to have shown a very Authority and the Sanitary Board high incidence amongst the non- ought to work hand in hand. Wo Chinese community. The incidence are so dependent. on each other, on the non-Chinese has, however, we are not working in water-tight nat boen greater than can be accompartments. counted for by the reaction of Chinese cases of non-Chinese.

The Chairman:-The question which appears to arise out of the No section of our population is Medical Officer of Health's reply independent, from the Sanitary is, "Why can't we point of view, of the Chinese. Itis, water?" and the answer is that we get more however, amongst the Chinese, cannot control the rain. I would who do not as a rule drink like to put one or two subsidiary unboiled water, that the in questions to the Medical Officer crease in the incidence of the ot Health. I think Dr. Pearse disease is marked. The Chinese, stated that the figures showed no however, use unboiled water for increase? washing food and food utensils and, bence, if the water in their No appreciable increase. If we The Medical Officer of Health- houses be contaminated with have an increase of Infectious disease producing bacteria, it is disease amongst the Chinese we certain that they will be infected. are likely to get more carriers in It is not necessary to assu ug that motion and to see a slight increase the water as delivered to the Ghia-among non-Chinese, but the slight (1.) How many cases of typhoid ose from the public supply is increase has only been a factor r

fever and of paratyphoid fever capable of producing disease. contly. So far, as this year is con- have been notified week by There are ways by which such cerned I have shown that there is week during the present year water may be contaminated after a decrease of one case, although classifed according to nation-delivery. At present the water from the 23rd to the 27th week of ality?

supply is intermittent, the people this year there was a slight in- (ii) How many of these cases have cannot obtain water directly from crease.

beer imported and how many their taps when they need it. They of local origin?

draw water for a very short time (iii) In the cases occurring Incally each day and store it in receptacles has it been possible to trace which are very liable to contamina the source of infection? If so, tion. They take pails, tins, cans, to street hydrants and draw water. Such portabit vessels may well be liable to contimination in the yards and kitchens of Chinese houses.

The chief topics of discussion were the typhoid epidemic and the prevalence of small-pox. In reply to four questions asked by Dr. W. V. M. Koch, detailed statistics were given by Dr. W. W. Pearse (Medical Officer of Health) of the number of typhoid cases, this year as compared with other years. Dr. Koch asked:--

will he state such source? (iv.) Has there been an increase in the number of local cases com- pared with former years?

CASES TABULATED.

⚫

RECEPTACLES POSSIBLE CAUSE.

The Chairman: As regards the Chinese, the increase this year over last year is I think, accounted for almost entirely by the large las crease in the number of reports. from the Hongkong mortuary?

I

children.

The Medical Officer of Health: Ihave not the figures with me, but I Water is even obtained from know that quite an astonishing In reply to the first and second nullahs and other sources of ques-number of cases of typhoid fever questions, the Medical Officer of tionable purity, to supplement the has been reported by the Officer in Health said that the number of scanty supply available from the charge of the public mortuary, and cases of typhoid which had occur public malas. Under these circum- have also remarked that out of ed week by week this year was stances it is not surprising that those cases a large number arc Co,, Just Opoood! shown in a table which he had there has been an increase loa

prepared. He had taken the period water-borne disease. To what ex

The Chairman:. Something like up to the 8th of July the first 27 tent carriers of typhoid exist 95 per cent of the corpses admitted weeks of this year. Amongst amongst us is not known, but they to the mortuary, are those of the Chinese the weekly totals were as certainly exist and at a time when abandoned or destitute? follows: 0, 0, 2, I, I, 2, 2, 2. the disease, from whatever original

The Medical Oficer of Health: 1, 2, 2, 0, 4, 5, 4, 4, 6, 2, 13, 13, cause, has increased, carriers will have not gone into the figures but 10, 14, 5, 16, 5, 7.

That gave a have increased also. A somewhat know that, for the five years I was total of 124 cases amongst the analogous outbreak of a water Chinese, of which eight were im-borne disease occurred in the year parted, the remaining 116 being 1902 when the Colony focal cases. Under "British" he had short of water and the Chinese included people of European, were Colonial and American citizenship. The weekly totals were:-0, 0, I 0, 3, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 42, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2,; making

The Chairman: Would I be a total of 23 cases of which four

correct in saying that if the Govern were imported, leaving 19 of local origin. Amongst the Portuguese

ment water supply was the cause there was one case in the fourth fection" in Dr. Koch's question Itween rich and poor in regard to the If for the term of source of in- there would be no distinction be week, one in the 21st and one in the substitute the term 25th week, maklig three factor in the spread of the disease."

principal Incidence of the disease?

Dealing in Ivory, Brass, Pewter, Cloisonne and Lacquer. Maudario Costumes and Shawls as our taost popular stocks. -

All gools Fresh and Moderate in prica.

WAWKINS W

(Frani Photo),

No. 13 Queen's Road Central, Hongkong.

Skin Cleared of DHOBIES

TCH

Sulphur Baths & Months of Hospital Treatment Fail to Cure

RESCUED FROM DISEASE BY ZAM-BUK

ANOTHER instance of how Zam-Buk exerts a wonderful: medicinal activity far below the surface skin, expelling the most deep-seated disease, is described by Mr. S. H. Hawkins (late of the Royal, Warwickshire Regt.), and now living at 18, Brisbane Rd., Smethwick, England.

"When in Belgaum, Southern India," says Mr. Hawkins, "1 contracted a very prevalent skin disease known as Dhobies' Itch. My case was of such a severe type that I was isolated and under hospital treatinent for over four months. Sulphur baths and appli- cations of iodine paste, lean lotion, zine ointment, etc., were tried. But these compounds did my skin far more harm than good.

The constant fiery irritation kept my skin terribly raw and inflamed, and the disease baffled everything until I happend to hear about Zam-Buk through a chum who was using it for insect bites and stings.

I boon

"This chum was good enough to let me try an application of Zam-Buk and even this, within an hour, ended the itching in a remarkable way. obtained a sepply of Zam-Buk for myself and regularly kept up the treatment. At first I changed the dressings every hour, and occasionally gave my skin a thorough cleansing, Zam-Buk proved so wonderfully affective that within fourteen days my skin was scothed, purified and completaty healed.".

Beware Fatty Dressings & Ointments.

restricted

was

in charge of the mortuary, nearly all the cases taken there were either destitute or abandoned people.

The Chairman The increase daily intermittent supply. Water stricted to the very poor?

to A small seems therefore to be entirely re- was then also collected and stored by the Chinese under insanitary. To a very large extent, certainly. conditions and an epidemic of cholera to this extent of nearly 600

cases occurred.

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The Medical Officer of Health:

cases in all, none of which I may say with reason that it has If the Government water supply was imported. Amongst

the Japanese community there was one case in the fourth week, two ia the 20th and two in the 22nd week, a total of five cases, all local. Amongst the fadian community there were 2 cases in the 11th week,

in

-one

each

not been the quality of the water as supplied by the Government which has been the probable cause of the typhoid epidemic, but the want of sufficient water to maintain a constant supply and the inevitable consequences of such a shortage.!

The Medical Officer of Health: was contaminated either at its sources or in distribution I would expect no discrimination of people or between localities. I should ex- ding to population; at the Peak as pect as much typhoid fever, accor

at West Point or at East Point: ·

The Chairman:-The conclusion have come to is the same as yours?

The Medical Officer of Health: Yes, substantially the same.

the 19th, 23rd, 25th and 26tht COMPARISONS DRAWN. weeks, and 2 in the 27th week, i

With regard to the fourth ques making 8 cases in all, of which four, tion, the Medical Officer of Health were imported. There was one said he had prepared a table show Filipino case in the 22nd week,ing the monthly incidence of The Chairman: I think you gave That gave a total of 164 cases, of typhold and para-typhoid from 1913 the total figures as 148 local cases. which 148 were local and 16 im- to 1923. Taking the first six months Would I be correct in saying that it ported. There were 32 non-Chinese of this year, he found there were is quite possible that a certain num- local cases this year, as compared 153 cases of typhoid and para-ber of the 148 may be imported with 23 last year, and 3 Imported typhoid, of which it were para-cases Medical Officer of Health Comparing the figures with those of They may be. Iris extremely diffi previous years he found that in cult to get any reliable data. The 1922 there were, in April, 16 cases incubation period is so long that it as against 24 this year. In May may be four or five weeks after in- there were 14, as compared with 51;fection that a report from the mor In no case has it been possible and in June 13, as compared with tuary is sent in.

cases, as against 3 last year.

SOURCE OF INFECTION. Referring to Dr. Koch's third question, the Medical Officer of Health said:-

large influx going on at present?

The Medical Officer of Health: Very large, fadeed. When I say that certain cases are imported I have very good reason for saying so, and when I say that others are imported it is because I have not sufficient information to go by.

to trace the source of infection. 52. The only previous year of the The Chairman: There is a very The incubation period of the last ten and a half years during disease is usually two weeks. which there was any incidence Under most favourable circum- which was at all comparable to that stances, for example, when a of this year was that of 1918, when patient seeks. the advice of a in April there were 17 cases, in properly qualified medical man May 32 and in June 44 This year. early in his illness-another week however, showed during the last at icast will probably elapse before three months the nature of the disease is mani- incidence of typhoid and para- a greater fest and a notification of the case typhoid since and including 1913. is made to the Medical Officer of Dr. Koch thanked the Medical Health.

Officer of Health for his very full Infection is by ingestion, but and exhaustive there are many ways by which added that it was very evident the statement, and Iz food and drink may be con- Chinese were the great sufferers taminated by the handling of food from the disease at the present and food utensils, by carriers, by time. This pointed rather strongly, the agency of flies. It is only on as Dr. Pearse had said, to the ques the occurrence of many cases tion of the water supply. Had any having a possible source of effort been made to purify the Infection in common that attention water?

wind in Its underful herbal skarsetur Zam-Bei lo vastly wourfer to all someon dranings and alakoanta sumculsing row animal fats. Zam-Bux lo dukrantoné FREN FROM ALL ANIMEL, FATE Per escuma, prane SORT, MIMINK, PEENorac, hent mari, bad feet, bindend

shaves and

Chtamadle of all chemists ana meudale vendors in Hong The straite

The Chairman: Would you re- gard a total of 148 out of a popula- tion of 600,000 as a large number of small?

Of course, that depends upon the The Medical Officer of Health: sanitary condition of the Colony. Having regard to the fact that the water supply here is of a bigh degree of initial purity, I think 140 cases are somewhat higher than we ought to have. If we could main- not have it collected in all sorts of tain a constant supply of water and

receptacles and places I think we AGENTS: Wakefield & Co., 60, Kiangse Road, Shanghai.the incidence of the disease has not Medical Officer of Health claiming

should have much less typhoid than In the present slight epidemic rather a pity that they had the we have got a

7am Buk

CONTAINS HO, ANIMAL FAT:

is specially drawn to a possible The Chairman That point does common source, for example, the not arise at the moment water supply.

Dr. Koch said it seemed to him

(Continued on pago 9.)

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