1935-07-31 — Page 7

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1935.

INOCULATION AGAINST RABIES SEQUEL TO HOLIDAY IN

Mr. M. K. Lo Urges Government

To

Take Action

+19

SANITARY BOARD APPROVES

OF SCHEME

The main item of interest which was brought before the members of the Sanitary Board at a meeting held in the Sanitary Board, Room yesterday, was the question as to whether mass or compulsory Inoculation of dogs would be an effective means of eradicating rables in the Colony, and whether it would be desirable for a system of compulsory inocu- Government lation to be introduced by the Government to be done free of charge by the medical authorities.

Mr. M. K. Lo put forward some very sound reasons for the introduction of such a scheme and the motion was seconded by Dr. Li Shu Fan, who advanced some very sound argu- ment to support it.

Some doubt arose as to whether the muzzling order should still be kept in force if and when the inoculaton scheme came into practice, but this matter was settled by Mr. Lo who stated that" inoculation should be supplementary- and not as an alternative for muzzi-a

ins.

11

Mr. Lo went on to say that up to the present the manjing of dogs had not proved to be an effective means for eradicating rabies and therefore the scheme "of inoculation which has been proved to be effective in other parts of the world such as in America and Japan, should be given a trial in Hong Kong.

LOCAL SITUATION BAFFLING

the motion

In rising to move standing in his name Mr. Lo said, I do not propose to take up the time of this Board unnecessarily by attempting any description br the appalling nature of the dije-. ease of rables.

I start with the assumption that every one would like to see the disease eradicated from our midst as soon as possible. The question then is:

Are the present regulations, cluding those relating to the muzzling of dogs. effective?

Number of rabla

dogs

1928 1929 1930 $1.45 less 40% discount amounting to H.K, $0.87 net.. and that they ..... 29 29

felt sure that in the event of a Number of inocu-

large quantity being required, the lations carried

price would be further reduced. out

On

755 425 3,200, experiment, A further smaller scale, was carried out in similar re- Kuala Selangor, and zits were obtained.

!

STEEN MEASURES.

alising owners who have made default, I would advocate that it should be provided that the own- ers of any dog who has bitten a

I believe that the public of Hong will enthusiastically co- Kong operate under a system of com- and Out of a total exceeding 5.000 pulsory but free inoculation,

de- Inocu ations, only 3 failure to pro- that there will be very few

of pen- in-tect against rabies have been re-faulters. As one means

ported. In each case the focul- ated dog had been in contact with a rubld animal, and probably in- fected prior to inoculation. From the 1931 Annual Report:

The mass inoculation of dogs in Kaala Lumpur was undertaken early in 1930. In view of a com- plete absence of rabies in Kuala Lumpur during the year following compulsory inoculation, vaccina- tian was not enforced in 1931. In the latter months of that year, however, rables reappeared and it was decided to re-enforced vac cination in 1932.

The answer is obvious. I might borrow a legal phrase and say that the matter is res" ipsa loqui- The regulations have failed tur. to achieve their object.

The next question, obviously is: Is there any other and more effective step which can be tak-

ед?

my knowledge, information and, be- lief, the answer is yes, and it is the system of mass inoculation.

According to the best of

I propose to inform this Board very briefly what is being done in various places relatively near Hong Kong in combatting this disease.

IN JAPAN

1

First as regards Japan: The law in Japan is that Governor of any Prefecture may. when he thinks "Et, order the in- The order oculation of all dogs. is enforced by the Police. The owners of the dogs bring them to the

Police Offices, appointed where inoculation is done free by official Vet. Burgeons and a certi ficate given. Dogs may be inocu- and their 1.ted by private Vets. certificates are shown to the Fo- lice when vaccination by the Po- lice is dispensed with. Charges

from by private Vets, vary yen to two yen

опе

I understand that compulsory inoculation has been found 100% effective in eradicating rabies in various districts in Japan.

NO RABIES REPORTED From the 1933 Annual Report:

Mass Inoculation of dogs was undertaken by the Veterinary De- partment in 3 areas at the begin- ning of the year, as follows.

the 1-In Kuala Lumpur for

second successive year. For the second successive year no case of rables ocurred. 2-In Kajang (Selangor) area, - in which cases of rables had

occurred

during 1932. No case of rables occurred in

1933.

4I

3-In Penang Island, in which

8 cases of rables had occur red in 1932, only 2 cases oc- curred in 1933, in the Orst 5

HONG KONG

Divorce Case In Singapore

SERVANTS' "AFFIDAVITS

A letter written by a wife led to Mr. Brown further said it was an action in the Supreme Court Impossible for him at present to yesterday. before Mr. Justice i go to England to take proceedings a'Beckett Terrel', when Mr. Merton there. Holland Brown, managing direttor of Messrs. Thornycroft (Singapore) Ltd., sued h's wife, Volet Eleanor Brown, née Callaway, for dissolu- tion of marriage on the ground of adultery with one. D. B. Butler, at

hotel in Hong Kong.

Mr. Coltart: You read the aff- davits filled in support of the pet- tion by the two Chinese servants at. a. hotel in Hong Kong?—Yes.

Annexed to one of them there is Mr. F. A. Briggs said that he ap-a" photograph-Yes; that photo- peared for the respondent. but graph was taken by me in Singa- his appearance was out of courtesy pore. to the court as h's firm's name was on the record. He was instructed to take no part in the proceedings. Mr. G. M. Co tart, appearing in support of the petition, said the cb-respondent had not entered an Service of the petl- appearance.

tion and the citation on the co- respondent was ordered to be by way of substituted service by re- Kistered post. and there was a affidavit on the file proving such service.

The petition and citation were served on the respondent by Mr. Cobbett on beard the Chitral. by which steamer the respondent was on her way to England from Hong Kong.

NO COLLUSION

The parties were married on Apr... 29, 1933, at St. Andrew's Cathedral, and there was no inssue. From Jan. 24, 1935, to the date of the petition the respondent and the co-respondent frequented each other as Hong Kong and on vari- ous occasions adultery look place.

There was no collusion or con- nivance between the parties to cb- tain dissolution of the marriage or for any other purpose.

**As to the evidence," said Mr. Coltart; "your lordship is aware that the.petition, although sworn by the petitioner, cannot be used

On Feb. 13, "d'd you receive a letter from the respondent? Yes.

Is this the letter you received and the envelope in which it came (producing letter and envelope) ? -Yes.

43 ask

Mr. Coltart:: My lord, I your leave not to have that letter read aloud, and I have prepared a typewritten copy so that it will be more easy to read. That is a letter written Hong Kong. It bears the Hong Kong post mark.

Upon receipt of that letter with Ita admissions did you make in- qu'ries as to who was the person who is now the co-respondent -I dia.

His lordship: The letter is in your wife's handwriting?—Yes.

Mr. Coltart: You sent cable- gram to a friend in Hong Kong and received this original cable- gram in reply (produced)?--I did.

As a result of the receipt of that cablegram proceedings were in- stituted the person named being joined as co-respondent?-Yes.

Beyond what was implied in the letter and what you have heard. you have no personal knowledge of the adultery complained of?—No, no personal knowledge.

1 NOT READ IN COURT

The respondent passed through

as an afdavit supporting the case, Singapore, and was served with and so I have filed a further aff-the petit'on and the-citation by Mr. davit by the petitioned on July 9. Cobbett on board the steamer?--

1935

Yes.

Mr. Coltart asked whether he

davits of the two Chinese ser- vants. He understood that his lordship"had read them.

"I would like to say one short thing about this case," soid Mr. coltart. "I do not ask for any order against the co-respondent.

person and who cannot satisfy the Magistrate that the dog has

"The only evidence the petitioner Did you receive any communica- been inoculated within 12 months

can give is as to the receipt of the tion or see the respondent during should be fined heavily, even up

letter and as to identification. As the ship's stay in port? I have to $500, if the Magistrate is sa-

an order of court, permitted all the never seen her since Jan. 19, when tisfied that he has the means to

evidence to be given by andavit I she left for Hong Kong. pay. I do not say that any such regulation will be effective in Eet-have taken the liberty to follow ting all the dogs in the Colony that order, but the petitioner is might be excused reading the ad-

outlying dis- here, if your lordship sees fit to New Territories tricts in the especially in some inoculated. But I see no reason out of the affidavit:""

examine him on any point, arising

to doubt that the great majority

PETITIONER IN BOX of the dogs on the Island and in Kowloon will be inoculated. And

His lordship said that it was not his intention when he made the surely it is self-evident that the greater the

number of inocu- previous order, that the evidence lated dogs that exist any of the petitioner should be by affi- period the greater is the i-davit thunity obtained by the commun- ity against the spread of the dis- ease... And I would urge that the Importation of any dog into the Colony be prohibited except on production of a certificate that it inoculated within 12 has been months or on the condition that the dog be forthwith quarantined and inoculated.

.at

YEARLY TREATMENT The annual cost to the Govern- ment cannot be very great. + weeks of the year, Le., dur-understand that the following are ing a period when, at the the agures for licensed dogs time of vaccination, the

the Colony for 1935:- cubation period of disease in

Island of "Hong Kong these two dogs would be too far advanced for the vaccine to be effective.

in-

I understand that inoculation

As regards Kuala Lumpur: The following are extracts from the has been found absolutely effec- Annual Reports of the Institute tive in various districts in Indo- for Medical Research In Kuala China. Lumpur: From the 1930 Annual Report: "

-1

Greater Kowloon

New Territories (includ

inig watch dogs)

1.303.

Mr. Coltart, called the petitioner into the witness box.

Mr. M. "H. Brown sa'd that he lived with the respondent in Singa- pore up to Jan. 19. 1935, when she left. Singapore for Hong Kong on a hol'day. That was the last me he saw her.

There was no issue of the mar riage, nor were any previous d vorce proceedings taken either here or elsewhere. There was no collusion or connivance to bring the present proceedings.

1,884 this reason, I should like to state that this method of prevention has long passed the experimental stage and its effectiveness 18 now accepted throughout the civilized 4.160 world. Furthermore, Science has established the fact definitely

973

"It was hoped that when the suit was instituted, there would be auf- fcient evidence of identification available, but we have been able to get absolutely no evidence,

DECREE NISI GRANTED "The man referred to in the affi- davits in support of the allegation of adultery is, however, the co- respondent named in the suit.

"I ask for a decree nisi to be made absolutely in six months with no order as to costs."

His lordship granted a decree nis to be made absolute in six months.

TWO FUNERALS The funeral of Miss Deisie McKie who passed away in her residence. 31, Seymour Road, early yesterday. took place in the evening when a service was held in the Protestant To be absolutely effective inocu-

Cemetery after which the remains lation has to be repeated yearly that the inoculation confers im-

were cremated at the Japanese It has been suggested

that The annual cost is only a matter munity for at least one year. there being 2 kinds of rables. of a few thousand dollars

With reference to this efficacy, Crematorium, Sookunpoo.

The deceased who was about 49 namely the Californian type and ly the Colony can afford to pay my colleague Mr. M. K. Lo has cannot be effective undess Prophylactic inoculation of dogs the European. type, inoculation such a trivial annual premium as presented some very convincing years of age had been a resident insurance against the spread reports and statistics. I should in Hong Kong for many years. She the year 1925 and the results ob- vaccine is made from the type of and, it may be," the existence-of/uke, however, to quote a further was an Australian and bad been

method ill for about three weeks. virus in question. But I am in the areaded disease...

account concerning this

MILITARY FUNERAL formed that according to the In-

Lance Corporal Lewis Ashby, aged Before I conclude, I would like in Japan and the United States. stituté for Medical Research

publicly to acknowledge my in Two of the leading authorities,

Book entitled "Diseases of Domes giment, passed away yesterday

was commenced in Malaya during

tained have been sufficiently en- couraging to justify continuance..

The procedure has been found

the

Sure

by the Veterinary Authorities to Kuala Lumpur, there is no essen-debtedness to Mr. J.T. Prior Butyra and Marek in their text-24 of the East Lancashire Re-

but

be successful in so far that out- tial difference between the virus who has taken a deep interest in Bommals" state as follows an morning. He had been in the of rabies from Europe and Amer- this question, for the data which der the heading of preventive in- regiment since 1930 and was ex-}

ica.

LOCAL SUPPLY

F have ventured to place before this Board.

I beg to more the motion stand ing in my name.

breaks can be controlled. fresh outbreaks occur from time to time, and the "incidence of the disease has not markedly dimin-

As regards the cost of the vac- ished. It appeared that more

cine I understand that it is ob- energetic preventive measures were desirable, and accordingly, tainable, from the Animal Diseases compulsory "mass inoculation Investigation Station of the Minia- has been tried. The town of Kua-try of Agriculture and Forestry la Lumpur was salected, Inocula and from The Kitasato Medical tions were undertaken by the Institute, both in Tokio, at about staff of the Veterinary Depart-10 yen per 100 cc., which would. Dr. Li Shu Fan said ment at Pol'ca Stations.

MASS INNOCULATION

be sufficient to inoculate 20 dogs or a few more. It can also be ob- tained from the Institute for The gutes given below show Medical Research in Kuala Lum the number of rabid dogs reported, pur and from the Pasteur Insti within the limits of Kuala Lum-tute in Sagon at more or less pur during the years 1928 1929 similar rates

DR. LI SHU FAN

In rising to second, the motion

Sir,-As I am convinced that the motion before the Board is both sound and practicable, I have no hesitation in seconding it,

Being a medical man, naturally Lam a strong advocate of inocu lation against disease; particular

oculation against rabies in Japan, that "out of 20,117 dogs vaccinat- ed only four developed the disease as a result of an infection con- tracted before the vaccination. Among the others no rables deve- loped within one year." With re- ference to the United States the authors state that "this method has been very extensively employ ea since its introduction by Elch- several hundred thousand horn. dogs having been vaccinated with very satisfactory results.

tremely popular with his colleagues. The funeral took place last even- ing when full military honours were accorded.

tem, provision should be made to penalise defaulters and if a dog has bitten a person, the onus should be on the owner to prove that it has been inoculated with in 18 months

As far as I am aware, one reason for not adopting compulsory in- oculation in Hong

ABSOLUTE NECESSITYA The common experience derived due to the fact that it from campaigns abroad is that to if not impossible to

tive: a system: of Compul-inoculated doge a

inoculation is absolute ta dog is

and 1930, and the results indicate have communicated with ly against certain infectious dis- that mass inoculation of the Messrs Mustard & Co., Ltd. who cases of which rables is one. I canine population in an endemic are the local agents for Mulford fear the general public has area may be of considerable vaccine and they have authorised sumclently realized the emcacy 17

with Mr. Lissued for

me to state their current price is o Inoculation against rabies For that in the adoption of the sys

dific

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