1932-03-02 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1932.

THE ADDRESS.

on

Speaking at the Tiffin meeting of the Hong Kong Rotary Club Tuesday, March 1, Dr. Li Shu-fan,) F.R.CS., said:--

In bringing the subject of tuber- culosis petore you, I need make no excuse, as fuberculosis is one of the most gigantic problems that man-j kind is compelled to tackle. Tuber- culosis is not only the concern of Hong Kong, indeed, it is a problemi of the whole civilized world, Throughout the ages, tuberculosis has probably been the cause of a greater mortality than any other disease. To-day it still occupies that position. Scourge in Europe that it Plague."

was

At one time, the

was so great called the "White

The subject is so vast and the time at my disposal is so limited that I can only touch upon a fringe of the subject. The scientific liter- ature on tuberculosis is so im- mense, and is increasing so rapidly, that a life-time, no matter how prolonged, would be insufflelent to master it; as thousands of scienti fic articles are published annually. However, I propose to confine my-

what is tuberculosis.

What is Tuberculosis?

Rotary Lecture,

THE CHINA

TUBERCULOSIS.

By Dr. Li Shu Fan.

THE GIGANTIC PROBLEM THAT MANKIND HAS TO TACKLE

FIVE MILLION PEOPLE & MORE LOST TO THE WORLD EVERY YEAR

of age.

IT IS PREVENTABLE AND IT IS CURABLE

BUT PUBLIC CO-OPERATION IS VITALLY ESSENTIAL

IF EFFORTS TO STEM ITS RAVAGES ARE

NOT TO BE NULLIFIED.

UBUNTUÆ£}£}}

In Great Britain.

по

But the problem of prevention is) not so simple as it at first appears. Legislative and public measures may be adopted, but unless the pub- lle co-operates with the government) these efforts will be largely nulli- fled.

In this colony the question. na- turally arises as to whether tuber- culosis-prevention. is really worth while or advisable, In view of its direct relationship with the main- land. Again between Hong Kong Canton and Macao, there is always the potential triangle of infectious- ness. If this argument is. upheld] we may just as well cease to pre- vent amail-pox or plague,

The question of tuberculosis-pre- vention may be divided into the Medical and Social aspects.

Medical Aspect Of Prevention.

The medical principle of combat-) ing the disease is to prevent the implantation of the germ in patho-| logical numbers, and when it is im- planted to render the soil unten- able. In order to survive the infec- tion the germs of tuberculosis musti not be inoculated in too great

Its transmission|

acif to the problem of prevalence Every year the world suffers a loss is: "What la the probable situa- Firstly, because the Chinese sus-ja number, and hot too frequently. and prevention only, and I shall of upwards of five million people tion of tuberculosis in China to- ceptibility to the disease and the There are two forms of tubercu- endeavour to be brief, As this is through ita ravages. essentially in the nature of a dis- estimated that in India alone the, be appalling. I am unaware of any British, as revealed by the health bovine type and the human. type. It has been day?" I can only say that it must case mortality, are greater than the losis that concern mankind-the course, I can only draw your atten- death-rate cannot be less than one reliable death statistics ever hav-jreport of the Chinese Labour Corps Bovine tuberculosis is a negligible tion to various data and modern pre- million per annum. ventive methods, and I trust you

ing been published. Without ata-in the Great War. Secondly, the entity in China. la France.

tistics we can only guess. may be able to judge how far those

I will great desire of the Chinese to die takes place through the medium of It is stated that in France 850,000 hazard the view that the incidence in the midst of the family, must milk or ment of tuberculosis cattle.. methods ure applicable to Hong goldiers fell victims to tuberculosis of tuberculosis in China cannot be have sent many deaths away to the Ax milk is not a staple article of Kong.

In order to render the subject in the great war, and that consump- occurring in Great Britain, as it in came.

while under military service during less than ten times the number country from whence the victima fand among the Chinese in the in- telligible, I must explain to you tion was responsible for 30 per common knowledge that the popu-practitioner, and

As Chinese medical terior, the risk of infection is only one who has confined to coastal ports. Although cent, of the patients in Paris hos-lation in China is more than ten had a lot to do with tuberculosis condensed milk is largely consim pitals.

The disease is said to kill times that in the United Kingdom. cases, I am convinced that at least, ed, it is perfectly safe. almost one-half of the French peo- This calculation must be far below one out of four tuberculosis pa- ple between twenty and forty years the actual figures, as the sanitary tients, when death is impending, free from Tuberculosis infection is The only fresh milk that can be service in China is still in its in-leaves the Colony. Furthermore, that obtained from the certified Popularly tuberculosis is known?

In Germany.

fancy, while the economic and can safely say that the general tuberculin-tested cattle. The alter- .us "consumption." It is a conta- In Germany the death-rate in-social problems connected with the opinion amongst local medical men, native is breast-feeding, unless milk gious disease, usually of the creased alarmingly from 137 per subject have not even been tackled. bears out the fact that tuberculosis is sterilized by a process called chronic type, due to the implanta-100,000 of the population in pre- Finally, the susceptibility of the is very rife in the Colony.

Pasteurization. tion of the tubercle bacilius in cer- war 1913, to 200 per 100,000 in Chinese to tuberculosis is grenter Apart from mortality reports, the the elimination of tuberculosis The necessity for tain organs or tissues of the human 1921.

than that of the British. This Chinese susceptibility to tubercu- from the dairy herd is not to be; body. It commonly selects for at- In the United States of America being the case, then there should losis may be studied from another forgotten. tack in infants, the glandular tis it is said that there are, no less he at least five million persons suf- angle, viz., a study of the state! Bues, and, in adults, the lungs. Al than one and a half lion offering from active tuberculosis, of the lungs of those in apparent fection is that from the human By far the greatest danger of In- though it is not hereditary, the ma- active or late eases of tuberculosis, and the same number suffering health. jority of cases are contracted in and the same number of quiescent from

source and this means 'raw sputum. quiescent taberculosis in childhood. It is now questionable or early cases.

Appalling Figures. China to-day.

There is evidence that much of the I take it that China whether more than 10 per cent, of

In the year 1919, in connection childhood infection, ia acquired must lose annually. less with a health campaign conducted through raw sputum from obscure the poople living in cities, up to As to the prevalence of the dis- than one and a half billion dollars by the Chinese Y.M.C.A., I was one cases of tuberculosis. It is shown the age of 18, escape infection. ease in Great Britain, Dr. Menzies through the ravages of this dis-of the four Chinese doctors appoint-that droplets of saliva or raw

My former teacher Sir Robert estimates that there are approxim- Philip, one of the leading tuber- ately about half of a million who

ed to report on the health of sputum can reach out to three feet culosis workers in Great Britain, are suffering from active tubercu-

219 Chinese males, most of whom during the act of coughing, and once said:-

were from 18 to 30 years of age. that a drop of sputum from an lesis, and the same number from "The distribution of tuber-

The records show that the results active case may contain as many as quiescent tuberculosis. culosis infection throughout

A fact of

were startling, if not alarming. 15,000,000 tubercle germs. Imagine the utmost importance was brought the civilized population is prac-

The death-rate from lung tuber-Three of the doctors reported, lung the danger to the family when they to light during the intensive search culosis in Hong Kong is 2,854 per defecta in 23 per cent. of those are sleeping huddled together on tically universal, and in an

for tuberculosis in Framingham, annum, basing on the average of examined, wulle one doctor, who what is called the "Kang Bed," as overwhelming majority of

that there were ten active and ten the three years, 1928 to 1930, ac- was considered to be a tubercu-is the practice in North China, and -cases, tuberculosis occurs in

quiescent cases to each case of cording to the reports of the Direc-losta specialist, found 54 per cent. also the use of the family mosquito- infancy and childhood; later

death from tuberculosis. manifestations, being effore-

How tor of Medical and Sanitary Ser- of his subjects as having lung de-'curtain. Under the circumstances, many of us know that tuberculosis vices. scences of the tuberculosis

If we apply the Framing-fects. I admit that the method of indeed the mouth of a tuberculosis seedling, implanted in more or

even to-day kills one person in ten ham calculation, we would get 28,- the examination was not perfect, patient is more deadly than the in the British Isles, and that of 543 active or late cases, and the but it is enough to reveal the ap-muzzle of a big gun. less favourable soil." This describes concisely the pre-half succumb to tuberculosis?

those dying in the prime of life, one same number of quiescent or early palling state of health of our young Dried sputam comes next in dan- sent position of tuberculosis in re-i

cases, giving a total of 57,086 cases men, some of whom were athletes. ger, Being dry, it readily floats gard to infection. It is a fact that

In Japan.

occurring in Hong Kong at any However, I deriva consolation from when the floor is swept. It is found tuberculosis is a disease of civiliza-" In Japan the annual average time of the year. But there are the conviction that the next genera, that the most dangerous parts of a .tion. It has been shown that the death-rate from tuberculosis rose very good reasons in believing that tion of youth will be much more tuberculosis-infected room are the advent of the white man into un- from 80,000 in 1910 to about 120,000 this figure is incorrect and too low. robust. One need only go to a floor and the skirting of the walls.

in 1930. civilized countries invariably

That country is annually

football match to be convinced. Is it any wonder that infants and brings in ite train the advent and losing approximately $360,000,000

The ever-increasing number of our children are infected so readily and spread of tuberculosis. North through the disease. For fear

youth taking part in the various in such huge numbers, when American Indians, when they be that this increasing scourge: may

sporting fields, both In Hong Kong much of their time is spent on the come civilized and are removed into in time exterminate the population

and in China will in the future, floor, and since the tendency of in- cities, show an appalling death-rata the Japanese Government has de-

have the best of results.

fanta is to put anything within from the disease: while wild finitely decided to map out a 30-

grasp to their mouths. animals in capitivity share the year campaign to commence in

¡April this year.

same fate.

.

Tuberculosis To-day.

In China. Finally, in regard to the preval- enco of the disease in China, we all know that it is rampant throughout the country, and that it plays havoc Thanks to the noble and persever among the population. Almost at ing efforts of scientists, refor every stage of life, the habits and mers, and philanthropists, tubercu- surroundings of the people tend to losia is now under control in civi- the development and spread of this lized countries.

In

of

During certain dreadful scourge. parts of the last century, an appre-

Heavy Toll of Studenta. clable decrease in tuberculosis! Next to the infantile mortality death-rate was noticeable, particu- from tuberculosis, the disease. ‚haa ́larly in countries more advanced in peculiarly taken a heavy toll of the civilization. This implies an in-student class, apparently it has a crease

wealth and bet-predilection for the Intelligent, the térmient

the people, the industrious, and the batter-looking initiation of sanitary reforms, types of youth, and many a promis improvements in social welfare, and ing the adoption

career has been thus cut: of measures. in-short. I can well illustrate this by troduced by governments, from a very lamentable example I know time to time, such as the provision of in Hong Kong. Three very in- of sanatorium benefits, Improved dustrious and promising boys were medical services, etc.

studying together in a certain local

Lest you may be misled, a note of college. They were known to be warning must be sounded, because very chummy and, without excep, the decline in death-rate from tu- tion, brilliant; but within the space berculosis is mainly due to the re of three years all the three died. duction of the general death-rate. One at the age of 21, from glanda-

The Greatest Plague.ste

fur tuberculosis, and the other two,

That tuberculosis is not shora of both at the age of 20, from lung Its hideousness and deadliness tuberculosis, Moreover, one of the will now endeavour to show. La latter infected his younger brother spite of radical and persevering who is at present in a hospital in efforts in advanced cou mortality due to tuberculosis is as that the father of the al-year, old the precarious condition, I may add Fet extremely high." Tubercul

boyida one of the most distingujak o-day still standa si- plarus of humanity, Victims from every cli try "yishfor adini

In view of the gre

or pick the disease, the pertinent

*age.

Prevalent in Hong Kong

SHARE MARKET.

Rates Marked Up.

The official summary fasted by the Stock Exchange to-day states:

Rates were further marked up. this morning, and the market gen- erally shows signs of firmness

Sales.

Hong Kong Banks, $1,290. Union Insurances, $407/408. Hotels (old), $18.65. Hong Kong Lands, $78. Hong Kong Trams, $21. Star Ferries, $98. Electrics, $72/721⁄2. Telephones (P.P.), $21.

Buyers, Providents (old), $4.75. Providents (new), $2.05. Hotels (old); $18,80. Hotels (new), $18. H.K. Lands, $72. H.K. Realties, $101⁄2. Chinese Estates, $95. Ewo Cottons, TL, 18.80. H.K. Trams, $20.80) Yaumati Ferries, $80%. China Lights (old), $20. China Lights (new); $19%; Electrica, $72.

Telephones (P.P.), $211⁄21⁄2. Singapore Tractions,

14/0

How To Combat Tuberculosis.

Beneficent Legislation.

80

One of the most beneficent legis- Intion in Hong Kong in this connec- tion la the recently passed Anti-

If an ounce of prevention is spitting By-law as applied to public worth a pound of cure, then for a eating houses, It is a step in the deadly disease like tuberculosis, I right direction, and I sincerely advise taking two ounces of the trust that this will mark the begin former. Tuberculosis, to-day is ning of the long overdue movement the greatest enemy of man. Its at against tuberculosis, I hail also

the "periodlep! publication by the|| tack is ruthless, be its victims healt Authorities of the death women or children, rich or poor figures due to tuberculosis. There young or old: no one is exempt is probably no better means of

As a matter of fact, tuberculosis

COLUMBIA

NEW PEDESTAL MODEL (CHROMIUM PLATED FITTINGS)

THIS HANDSOME PEDESTAL MODEL IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT HAS MET A REAL DE- MAND FOR 'A' FLOOR INSTRU- MENT AT A MODEST PRICE THAT EMBODIES THE FAMOUS COLUMBIA TONE,

CALL AND HERE IT AT ----

'The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.

Ice House Street.

Tel. 21322.

NO NEED TO BUY A NEW DRESS,

TO GO TO THE SPECIAT)

HOTEL DANCES.

JUST SEND US YOUR OLD ONE. WE WILL MÄEB IT LOOK LIKE NEW.

́THE INTERNATIONAL DRY CLEANING & DYEING CO.

142, Wong Nel Chung Road,

Happy Valley.

́19, Wyndham St. Hong Kong.

36, Nathan Road, Kowloon.

73, Caine Road, Hong Ha

G. FALCONER & CO. (HỒNG KÔNG) I

has killed more people than all the awakening, the Anti-tuberculosis wars put together. We must, in- conscience of the Community.

Segregation. deed, attack and redouble 'bar at-

Next in importance to the control tack until the enemy is completely routed. No resources should be of spitting is the segregation of ad left unmobilized. There must be vanced cases of tuberculosis with, it no half measured; whole-hearted the view of controlling the main

source of Infection. co-operation between the medical

In England profession, politicians and philan disease. It is thought that the re

tuberculosis fa 'made a notifiable! thropists is essential. Our motto: should be, "Fight with all our inoval of advanced and incurable might." We are fighting for the casas to special hospitals would re- defence of health, the bird-right of move the chlef source of infection. every child woman and man, as long as advanced cases are pre- Apart from public efforts, the mitted to remain at home without State owes every citizen a certain supervision, they are a constant (Pref.); degree of care for his Health hace to the family and those

Cments (Cominbed), $10. Cements (old), $11.75. Camenta (new)); $5, Honk Kang Bopes, $15 Dairy Farms, $294, Amusements $19.78 Constructions Got Loan

- Proventable And Curable,^

From the outset let it be under stood that tuberculosis is both pre ventable, and curable, and it la not hereditary. We have so far trac ther animal to its lair, and th

-method and

the

around them, and each home then, become e centre of infection. The alternative to segregation is the im-f Provement of home conditions with

per supervision under the tuber

Ical officer, the visiting ealth vis

WATCHMAKERS & JEWELLERS

DIAMOND MERCHANTS. Union Building (opposite G.P.0.) Agints for ;-—-—-ADMIRALTY CHARTS,

ROSS'S BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES, KELVIN'S NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS, ENGLISH SILVERWÄRE, direct from Manuf

High Class English Jewellery,

* PHOTO

SUPPLIES

PHOTOS TAKEN DAY AND NIGHT. Zeiss, Kodake, Cameras, Films, Plates, and Papers, etc. Developing, Printing and Enlarging. AT 24 HOURS SERVICE

· Price Moderate.

A Trial Order is Solicited.

THE KWONG KWUI CO., LTD.

"74, Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.

Tel. 22170.

King Georgel

It Speaks for

Itself

SOUND PRODUCTION

THE DISTILLERS AGENCYAJA. SCOTCH WHISKY. DETVILLERS EDINBURGHE,

PRICE