CO129-564-4 Cholera epidemic 23-8-1937 - 9-4-1938 — Page 35

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Appreciation of Staff.

As I myself did not arrive back in Hong Kong from Java until

17th August, when the epidemic was in full swing and most of the

measures for combatting the epidemic were already in force, I

take this opportunity of expressing my admiration for the manner

in which Dr. J.T. Smalley, Acting Director of Medical Services,

tackled the situation and on whose shoulders the brunt of the

work fell. He was ably assisted by the staff of the Medical

Department, all members of which worked hard and co-operated to

the fullest extent.

The Port Health Office, under Dr. T.. Ware, were kept par-

ticularly busy. The staff had to be increased to deal with the

enormous numbers coming into the Colony which included several

large batches of Refugees from Shanghai.

made responsible for the control and distribution of anti-Cholera

vaccine.

This staff was also

The Doctors and Nursing Staff who attended the cases deserve

special credit. They had, perforce, to work under most trying

conditions in the recently vacated old Govt. Civil Hospital.

There was a period of nearly five weeks when the average daily

admissions to hospital were 40 and on one particular day there

were actually 64 admissions.

The Chinese Hospitals, viz. the Tung Wah, the Kwong Wah and

the Tung Wah Eastern, co-operated fully. Most of the cases

were taken to one or other of these hospitals in the first in-

stance, and any showing suspicious signs were immediately

isolated and arrangements made for their transfer to the Infect-

ious Diseases Hospital. Close touch was kept with these institu-

tions throughout and the harmonious co-operation maintained was

of great value.

The Police detailed for duty with the Port Health Staff

were of great assistance, especially in searching ships at

night and in putting some semblance of order into the mass of