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(c) Isolation & Treatment of Cases.
At the commencement of the epidemic all cases were admitted
to the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Kennedy Town, but by 13th
August the hospital became so crowded that it was deemed necessary
to reopen the recently vacated old Government Civil Hospital. This
was done on 15th August. Thereafter, all the cases were treated
at the latter hospital. Additional staff, including two resident
Chinese Medical Officers and a number of resident trained Chine se
nurses, were engaged.
The treatment was in the main in accordance with that recommen-
ded by Sir Leonard Rogers. On admission one pint of alkaline
This was followed by a slow intra-
solution was administered.
venous injection of the hypertonic saline. The amount of the
latter was gauged by the reactions of the patient and averaged in
the case of adults about 5 pints. Repeat injections were given
when the occasion demanded.
Tomb's essential oils were tried but caused so much vomiting
that this form of treatment was given up.
More successful was the use of Potassium Permanganate in 2 gr.
pills every half hour for the first 24 hours.
Coramine was used frequently in cases of collapse.
Many of the male patients who survived the acute stage develop-
ed some seven to ten days later oedoema of the legs resembling an
acute form of beri beri.
Diet was on general principles for such cases but milk was
kept out almost entirely. The use of the local "Green Spot", a
mixture of orange juice and sugar, was found to be very satis-
factory. Bovril and Marmite were used but later a congee with
fresh beef and beans was found of considerable value.
Carriers i.e. those patients who had had the disease and
who after 10 days still showed the vibrio were treated by Tomb's
Solution given every hour for eight doses, and followed by
Mist Alba 1oz. This generally proved quite sufficient.
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