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The Chinese Government considers that it will be able to control this cholera epidemic, which will probably die down during the winter, but there is grave fear of its re- appearance next spring, in view of the large number of re- fugees now dispersed throughout the country.
I can add nothing to the technical memorandum presented by the Health Section and the able exposé just made by Dr. Biraud, but shall be happy to telegraph for any further information from my Government which you may desire. I would merely emphasise the fact that, in addi- tion to cholera, .epidemics of dysentery and typhoid have broken out, and that plague is spreading in the Province of Fukien, endangering the adjacent provinces.
In order to cope with this situation, we have mobilised our entire medical staff, including medical students and student nurses. My Government believes that we have sufficient medical and nursing staff for general or special hospitals that may be organised; but there is a lack of experienced surgeons. Our Health Administration has therefore addressed a letter to the diplomatic repre- sentatives in Nanking and to the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva, requesting international assistance in this field.
While medical staff is available locally, medical supplies of all kinds are seriously lacking. Government stocks and reserve stocks on the market are almost entirely exhausted. Thus the present stock of therapeutic and prophylactic sera will barely last for three months, while there is only a month's supply of essential drugs such as aspirin, quinine, antipyrin, salycilic acid, bromose, and cardiac, expectorant and diuretic medicaments. The Chinese authorities have already placed orders for those most urgent- ly needed but the means at their disposal are limited. One of the most experienced officials of our National Quarantine Service has been sent to Hong Kong to organise a despatch and reception service.
In regard to the organisation of a new plan of technical collaboration between the League of Nations and China for the prevention and control of epidemics, and in view of the Council and Assembly decisions on this subject, the Health Administration of China asks me to make you the following suggestions:-
Special efforts should be concentrated on five areas, preferably the Provinces of Kwangtung, Hupeh, Kiangsi, Shensi and Kiansu. For each region the League of Nations might send a group consisting of a foreign Epidemic Commissioner, a sanitary engineer, a mobile anti-epidemic section with a foreign bacteriologist and an isolation hospital with foreign doctor. Tach group should have a motor-car, two ambulances and 10 light lorries; for these cars chauffeurs can be found locally but a foreign mechanic would be required for their upkeep. The Chinese Government does not consider the advent of any foreign female staff to
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