1934-08-29 — Page 8

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1934.

Government And The Leper Problem

STRONG CRITICISMS BY MEMBERS OF THE SANITARY BOARD

Segregation, Treatment And Cure Of Lepers

That in the interests of public health, and оп humane grounds, the whole problem of pers in the Colony should be reviewed by the Government with a view to providing facilities for the segregation, treatment and cure of lopers, was the sub- ject of considerable discussion at the fortnightly meeting of the Sanitary Board yesterday when Mr. M. K. Ló, pursuant to notice. put forward the above motion.

With the exception of Mfr. L. C. F. Bellamy, all the unoffi- cial members-Mr. Wong Kwong Tin. Dr. Li Sha Fan and Dr. R. A. de Castro-spoke in favour of the motion which was carried.

In his speech, Mr. M. K. Lo remarked that the Government had taken no steps to enforce the provisions of the Lepers' Or- dinance, No. 24 of 1910 in the matter of providlar leper asylums. Dr. Li Shu Fan said that the qusetion of expense should not be a serious obstacle, while Dr. Basto made several recommendations among which were to make leprosy a notifiable disease and the Establishment of a teprosarium.

Leprosy Should Be Made A

Notifiable Disease

In putting forward his motion, Mr. M, K. Lo said:

demned to lingering deaths be- cause it is so difficult, if not im possible for them to get into an

where they

In July 1930, I drew attention of this Board to the problem of lep-institution ers in the Colony by asking some questions on the subject.

I make no apology for again bringing this matter before this Hoard, for I consider that the pro blem of lepers is a growing menace to the residents of this Colony.

I had a recollection that this matter formed the subject of s series of questions by the Hon. Sir William Shenton in the Legislative Council, a few years ago, and thanks to Bir William's courtesy. I Have traced the questions and answers published in the Hong Kong Hansard Reports for 1031, at pp. 91; 92, 103 and 104. I do not wish to take up the time of this Board by quoting verbatim the questions and answers, for any one interested can refer to Han- sord, but I must say that in my humble view, the answers were not at all satisfactory.

No Steps Taken Admittedly, the Government has no definite information as to the number of lepers in the Colony: Admittedly, the Government has taken no steps to enforce the pro- visions of the Lepers' Ordinance, No. 24 of 1910, in the matter of providing leper asylums or of making regulations under section 13. But I would like to read to you-Sir Williamis question No. 4 and the answer thereto, and his supplementary question and the reply in regard thereto:

or

Q. Does the Government pay for otherwise arrange for the maintenance in leper asylums of such lepers as may, be transported out of the Colony?

Q. Arising out of the last sen- tence of the answer to question No. 4-

tish

cured.

can be

I therefore respectfully submit, that the whole problem should be reviewed and that facilities be provided for the treatment and cure of residents in the Colony, using the word "residents" in its ordinary meantrig, and with safe- guards to prevent the abuse of such facilities by persons who have no claim to such facilities ie., not being residents.

MR. WONG KWONG TIN Supporting Mr. Lo, Mr. Wong Kwong Tin said:

In seconding the motion I must say that what Mr. Lo has said, Warrants the sympathy of the members of this Bdard. I remem ber that when I was & Visiting Justice of the Hospitals some years ago, I came across a leper patient in the Tung Wah Hopital and I there and then, drew the sttan- tion of the Directors to the in- proper housing pf lepers with other patients. Ever since, lepers have been sent to the Tung Wah Infections Hospital... We do not want

to see lepers coming to our door steps begging for food and clothing, but as they cannot "get work and have nothing to eat and wear they are forced to beg. It is therefore, necessary that some provision should be made for them. We cannot allow them to

starve.

It is my earnest desire that the Government should direct mem- bars of the medical staff in their spare time to discover means of combating this horrible disease, in addition to providing facilities for the segregation of lepers. This suggestion, I am well aware, de- pends on the question of their maintenance.

A Sad Case Recently, a particularly sad case was brought to my notice by a

DR. BASTO well-known British medical practi

Speaking in support of the mo- tioner. A young Chinese servant

tion, Dr. R. A de Castro Balto girl, who had been in the Colony said: I am very glad Mr. Lo has brought up this question of leprosy before the Board and it is no doubt one of the problems that has been long crying for attention. It is a fact that only a part of the great problem of the. treatment and care: of diseases and suffering is found within the working classes of the Population. The motion urges the tackling of this question "in the interest of public health and on humane grounds," and it is on the latter aspect of the question that I wish to take this opportunity to few words. A honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Kwong Wah Hospital have occasion to come into contact week in and

for many years, saw this doctor on what she thought was a trou- blesome rash on her neck. She had been in the service of well- known families as a baby amah. On a thorough examination, the doctor found that she was suffer- ing from this dread disease and told her so.

She was frantic and heatedly denied she had lost her virginity, being under the preva= lent

dampression

which exists among the ignorant Chinese mass that this disease could only be contracted through sexual inter course. The doctor was very keen to treat her, as he was convinced that she could be cured, but as there was no known place in which she could be effectively se-

After a

gregated, he could not do any thing in this respect. great deal of trouble, he managed to arrange for her to be sent to one of the well-known settlements in which treatment was given, but no doubt succumbing to a natural fear regarding her future, she did not turn up and the doctor lost all trace of her Presumably she is at large.

You may remember, that some months ago, it was reported in the newspapers that a young man, on being arrested for soliciting in the streets, was found to be a leper In the absence of authentic in- formation, one cannot be dogma- tie as 'to the number of lepers in the Colony, but, according to my information.

say a

eck out with a most miserable and 'wretched section of our suf- fering population, and each time

THE SCIENCE OF RADIATION

INTERESTING TALK BY REV. FATHER BYRNE TO ROTARIANS

New Aid To Solving Worldly Problems

Members of the Rotary Club and their friends had the privi- lere yesterday of hearing a most instruesive address by Rev. Father G. Byrne, MA, SJ., who spoke upon the subject of "Ra d'esthesie."

The address was rendered in non-technical language and ac-, cording to Father Byrne, the selence was only in its infancy, hut already great possibilities lay ahead.

So interested was the audience in what the speaker had to say, that a good number stayed behind after the tunch to see the science practically demonstrated by Fr. Byrne. In the course of the demonstration, it was shown that several of the subjects suffered from various bodily complaihis, all of which proved to be Correct.

*

Mr. M. K. Lo presided at the meeting, and the attendance was the largest the Club has had for a long time,

Byrne sid

In the course of his address. FT.:

sadly

be or-

as in

to

A few weeks ago there was men- tion in the "Press" of a Darwin Memorial Expedition to gantsed by American scientista The list of sclerices to be enriched was imposing in number rfomenclature. When asked address you I scanned it for a suitable subject,

Indeed because of my ignorance What for instance could I say about myrmecology except that I have been unscienting enough to use antrol to destroy the little beg gars "Oathology" it means, (I am sure it does not), what an old schoolmaster of mine would have said it should mean, the science of oaths, might be suitable enough a clergyman, but indiscreet amongst Rotarians. The India- creet science I have ventured to select is a baby science which claims. privilege of peeping into you pockets and into your hearts.

ar

Secrets From Your Photos" It claims a "power of peeping where the medical man may be blind, and it claims to wrest secrets i from your photograph as well as from yourself.

of

On June 27th, 1932, under the patronage of the distinguished scientist, Mr. Branly, a group of experimentalists met in Paris to discuss the results of their efforts in exploring the nature of radia- tions which proceed from different bodies including the human body. They claimed to have reached con- I come away with the thought clusions scientifically worked out, ity of this colony, it is inconcely stated and, that given the wealth and prosper-capable

being scientifically therefore, justifying Leve the suffering of the poor. among natural sciences. able that so little is done to re- the inclusion of "Radiesthesie"

When one considers that for want of accommodation and of the ne- cessary funds, some hospitals are obliged to put two very ill persons on one plank of wood called a "bed" in a ward already more than full; when one considers that not a day passes without some un- fortunate coolle loosing an eye, an arm, or a leg or even his life while working for some wealthy and prosperous concern, and when we think that neither he nor family has any compensation, then I think that it is time that some- thing should be done in some other direction for his benefit or at least to fulfill in part our sense of moral responsibility.

hig

A Not as a rule. Payment has been made in the case of one

there can be little. doubt that the number is on the Hong Kong Government employee.

increase. No one can blame them A grant of $5,000 to the Sheklung for trying to prevent their disense Leper Asylum was included in the from being discovered, in view of Estimates for 1931 but payment the consequence of such discovery.

The argument that, to treat has not been made owing to re-, I am aware of the stock argu lepers in Hong Kong would be trenchment. It is felt that no ment against the provision of any equivalent to treating the lepers of actual liability rests on this Colony asylum for lepers in the Colony. the whole of the nelgabouing for non-British lepers.

It is suggested that all the lepers province does not hold water in from Kwantung would flock to it that if we find it good enough to But is this really a valid argument utilise of the labour which comes fór not providing

from reasonable

outside we must also not Is it felt that any actual liabi-facilities in the Colony for the hesitate either

to give these lity" rests on the Colony for Bri-segregation; treatment and cure of labourers their due.

Chinese lepers (le., their who have been resident in the lepers, especially as regards those

Recommendations " maintenance in leper asylums). Colony for a substantial period?

It must be admitted that the and, if so, in what way is that

According to the answers to Sr that is no reason for leaving it question is difficult of solution but Infbility discharged.

William's questions one in-patient out altogether, and as an initial but he was unable to substantiate recommend the following: In 1930 claimed Hongkong birth. step towards this direction I would his claim so he was treated as

1. Make leprosy a notifiable a Chinese subject and presumably sent away. In any case, the Qoy-

disease. The disease would ernments position is that in

then come under control of regard to British Chinese lepers.

the proper authorities and statistics could be collected the Government considers that its ability would be discharged If ar-

with regard to its incidence in the Colony, rangements were made for the maintenance of the patient in a suitable leper asylum outside the Colony,

A. The answer is in the af- firmative. Should such cases occur It is considered that the Bability would be discharged if arrange- ments were made for the mainten ance of the patient in a suitable leper asylum outside the Colony.

According to my information, on account of the large number of lepers found in this Colony this year, and of the difcuity, of get- ting rid of them by sending them out of the Colony, some have been

I believe I am right in saying

Bent into the infectious Hospital, that great advance in recent years

by way of a temporary measure has been made in Medical Science

and as far as I know, there are no recognized hospitals or other facili. ties for the treatment of this disease.

in the treatment and cure of lepers and I consider it a terrible cruelty

to deny them such treatment.

It seems to me that from the point of view of infection, and

From what I understand, no effective means exists for prevent- also on humanitarian grounds, the ing the return of lepers sent away present attitude of indiff from the Colony, and many of should give place to one of active those sent away are virtually.com/alda!

We are all famillar with the idea of radiation, wave movement. Heat waves are radiated from a are. They affect me. Even though I do not see them or their source, I become conscious of them immediately on entering their field of action as when I approach a wall between me and the kitchen fire. The waves to which we most readily react are heat waves, light waves, sound waves. We are not so sensitive to other waves as, for instance magnetic waves may affect the

which

pocketa. Moreover sensitiveness is

watch in

A very variable quality. One, with a good musical ear, can pick up tones lost on his neighbour; an- other is a keen discerner of colour: there may be a wide range of co- lour blindness. The power water divining, of detecting the presence of gold and silver, are well known examples of the rela- tive sensitiveness of different, peo- ple to waves round about them. This fact was the starting point of the Radiesthesie experimentalists.

our

of

Every Man His Ray They found that a plece of metal placed on a table communi..

tatre characteristic movements::. cated to a suitable pendulum cer-

1. There was a magnetic image playing about it like a ray of sun varied with the metal. on the water. The kind, of ray

2. A solar ray, or straight line Inking the sun and the object. direction for each body

3. A fundamental ray, fixed in

We know that every atom in a body is a centre of whirling move- ment. If no two of us have the

(Continued on Page 11.)

cases at the expense of only a few shillings per head per annum.

I think it is high time that we should shoulder the responsibility and to face the situation square-

which because of their open sores are liable to communi- cate the disease to others. The cases of "closed" leprosy, Le, those without sores and therefore non-infectiously. cases could be treated as out-patients

4. If it were not possible to build a leprosarlum then the next best thing would be to establish a "leprosy clinic " in cqnfunction with any of the government hospitals. It would serve as an initial step. in any way.

DE. LI SHU-FAN

like to make a few remarks on Dr. Li Bhu-Fan said: I should the subject of segregation

In the first place, according to the light of present day experience, the practice of indiscriminate and wholesale segregation of lepers is now considered, to be out of date. The main reason is, that it defeats its own object, by inducing the concealment of cases, which may continue to spread the infection to others.

cura

I wish therefore to subscribe myself to the motion.

مولی

THE MOTION Mr. M. K. Lo, pursuant to notice, moved-

*That this Board is of the opinion that, in the interests of public health, and on humane grounds, the whole problem of lepers in the Colony should be. reviewed by the Government with a view to providing facilities for the segregation, treatment and cure of lepers, and with any neces- sary safeguards for preventing such facilities being abused by those who are not resident of the Colony",

The motion was then put to the vote and was carried, all the un- offelal members voting in favour.

Mr. M. K. Lo also asked: "With reference to my previous questions, and to the Head of the Sanitary

ᏞᎬᎢ YOUR BODY BREATHE

WEAR

AERTEX CORSETS

FITTED, BY

Lane, Crawford, Ltd.

A wide range of CORSETS

by.. GOSSARD

and

BON TON (Tu-Way Stretch) Always in Stock.

Columbia

THIS MONTHS NOVELTY RECORDS

CARROLL GIBBONS (PIANO)

DB1868- WHAT NOW

DB1297 THERE'S A RING AROUND THE MOON DB1163-GIVE ME A RING

DB1162-YOU ARE TOO BEAUTIFUL DB1187-SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO DB1814 WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE

The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.

Ice House Street....

"Tel. 21322.

Cerebos Salt

Keeps fine and dry in any climate

Magees

EREBOS

SALT

Department's ariswers thereto, ONE DAY SPECIAL SALE

the Head of the Banitary Depart- ment be kind enough to ascertain, and inform this Board, whether the Malariologist has now complet ed his survey, and whether his report will be available for the information of the members of this Board?".

most, if not all of the early cases It is now defnitely proved that

are non-infective and also the fact that most of the early cases: ars curable. There must be therefore no discouragement to their appli cation, for early treatment. Hence it is inhumane to subject them to mere segregation which would

The president of the Board, Mr. deprive them the chance of RA D. Forrest replied: Burveys New are still in progress A full report 2. In order to encourage prac The relevant question, 18 is it for the year 1933 will be found in tioners in the diagnosis of the routine practice of the Govern- the Annual Medical, and Bánitary the disease, bacteriological ment to dispatch cases of leprosy Report which is now in the hands examination Ipt leprosy across the borders as soon as they of the printer, measur should be made. free of❘ are diagnosed? If it is, then I think the practice is untenable Establish a feprosarium. and requires revision. Unless we This could be used as a are satisfied that they are treated centre for treatment and humanely and scientifically, as is investigation of the disease being done elsewhere such sa in and also for segregating the India and the Phillipines we are infectious cases. A leprosy not doing our duty; asylum need not be too large. The question of expense should Shn Fan, for it could be reserved only not be g

Basto, ME wing the so-called it was cases only le cas

possibl

'E

charge,

for

Those present at the meeting were: Mr. R. A. D. Forrest (presi dent), Hon. Mr. R. M. Henderson (Vice-Chairman); Hon. Mr. N Smith (Secretary for Affairs), Dr. J. M. Gray Officer of Hes Kwong Tin, Mr. M KL

Friday, Aug. 31st

Entire Summer Stock

AT

Cost and Below Cost

Positively One Day Only

No Returns

No Charges

Cash Only