CO129-564-4 Cholera epidemic 23-8-1937 - 9-4-1938 — Page 24

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against arrivals from Hoihow, on account of Cholera.

I left the Colony on the 20th July en route to Java to

attend the Rural Hygiene Conference at Bandoeng. Dr. J.T.

Smalley became the Acting Director of Medical Services.

On 22nd July, the body of a coolie who had died of Cholera

on s.s. "KWONG TUNG" from Hoihow was landed at Hong Kong. On

the 23rd July a Chinese male, described as a student, arrived

in the Colony by train from Canton, and died in Kowloon Hospital

the following day from cholera. This diagnosis was confirmed

by bacteriological examination.

The Commissioner of Public

Health in Canton was informed of this case immediately.

This

was the first indication that Cholera was in Canton. The follow-

ing extract is taken from the South China Morning Post dated

26th July, 1937 :-

#1

Canton, July 25th.

With a rise in temperature to 90 deg. today many cases of cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea have broken out. About 35 people died of the se diseases over the week-end after short illnesses.

#

On the 27th July, 1937, a communication was addressed to

H.B.M. Consul General in Canton asking for any information re-

garding the prevalence of Cholera in Canton.

received on the 30th July, as follows :-

11

A reply was

Commissioner of Public Health, Canton, has been unable to provide statistics regarding cholera epidemic but reports that there were some thirty suspected deaths last week-end, and more than ten during last four days. I am informed from another source that there were one hundred and twenty three deaths in Canton from cholera up to last Wednesday, July 28th. Commissioner of Public Health has promised to let me have full details as soon as his department can collect them probably tomorrow.

The Health Authorities in Canton arranged to place medical

officers on all trains leaving that city and to travel as far

as Shum Chun, on the border, in order to detect any passengers

who might be sickening for cholera. This department in turn

arranged for inspectors to travel between the border and Kowloon,

for the same purpose.