·
February 13, 1896.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
THE DEPARTURE OF DR. CANTLIE.¦ work which the medical profession have to
FAREWELL SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS.
On the afternoon of the 5th Fob. Dr. Cantlie, who is leaving the colony on Saturday on ac count of ill-health, was made the recipient of addresses and handsome presentations as tokens of the high esteem in which he is held by Hongkong residents. The presentations were made in the Chamber of Commerce room at the City Hall, which proved altogether too small to comfortably accommodate all those who attended the ceremony. On the motion of Hou. T. H. Whitehead, seconded by Hon. J. II. Stewart Lockhart, Mr. A. Coxon was voted to the chair. Dr. Cantlie sat on the right of the Chairman, who was supported at the table by Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secre. tary), Hon. T. H. Whitehead, Hon. Ho Kai, Hon. E. R. Belilios, Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., Dr Thomson, Mr. T. Jackson, and Mr. C. Murray Adamson. There were also many ladies present, and among the gentlemen in the body of the room was Major-General Black.
The proceedings were opened by the CHAIR- MAN, who said-Ladies and gentlemen, we are met together to-day for the purpose of present ing our worthy friend, Dr. Cantlic, with certain addresses and presentations. Unfortunately His Excellency the Governor is unable to be present. Sir William Robinson has, however, written a letter to the hon. secretary which I shall now have the pleasure of reading.
"Dear Sir,-Unfortunately I shall not be able to be present at the City Hall to-morrow, when I understand there will be several pre- sentations to Dr. Cantlie. Under the circum- stances, may I ask you to say how sorry I am that he is obliged, on account of ill-health, to leave the colony. Will you add that I much appreciate the energy and
ability that he displayed, not only in connection with the College of Medicine for Chinese, but as founder and late President of the Odd Volumes Society. Dr. Cantlio has for many years and on many occasions devoted much of his valuable time and his great ability unhesitatingly and ungrudgingly to the service of this community. That he will be much missed goes without say. ing, and I shall be glad if you would assure him that on public as well as on private grounds 1 deeply regret his departure. Yours faithfully,
your
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aftoution
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vestigated with very great care the terrible disease known as leprosy as it manifested itself amongst the Chinese, and you have contributed to the scientific journals many valuable papera on the subject, bosides devoting much time and care to the translation of a most valuable work by the members of the Dutch commission which has been some months investigating the subject in Jarà. But, doctor, it is not for your labours that your fellow citizens value you so highly. It is for your independence of character,(applause) for your outspoken. nesa, your constant cheerfulness, your kindness of heart, your generosity, and your readiness to assist any one in need. (Applause). No matter who it was no one ever applied to you in vain. We respect you and esteem you because of that superabundance of life and energy that has onabled you to carry through almost everything you proposed. If an idea is suggested to you you say "Let us do it," that has always been your plan; and you succeed in 99 times out of a 100 in carrying through what you intended. I believe you were only defeated once, and that was by the late Mr. Price. On behalf of the members of the community I, simply as their spokesman, and in their name and on their behalf, desire to express to you the high esteem in which they hold you for your personal qualifications, your high character, your scien- tific ability, your devoted labours for the past nine years in the interests of the colony. "Of course you will probably tell us that you noted in your own interests. We will not believe that. You were animated by much higher sentiments and feelings, and the entire com. manity, by my mouth. desire to express to you their sincere regret that you are leaving us and our still more sincere regret that you are leaving as on account of your ill- health, partly caused by your very great labours during your nine years residence in the colony, and our hearty good wishes for your speedy restoration to health and for your prosperity in the future. (Loud applause.) I have now to present you with this address signed by a large number of resident members of this community, and which will be signed by many more. also had to present you with a silver tea and coffee service, but unfortunately it was im- possible to get it ready in time. It will bear the following inscription :-
contend with at this · distanco from all seats of learning and consulting physicians, and where every medical mai! has devote himself to the practice of every brauch of his profession. (Applause.) Not content, doctor, with the - very fatiguing practice of your profession here in Hongkong, you have devoted yourself, your time, and to many matters, some medical and some public, in the interests of the colony, and you have given time which probably you ought to have devoted to rest and recreation. You became a member of the Sanitary Board and you gave the best possible advice to that institution while it existed. (Laughter and applause). You joined the Volunteers as Surge-Captain. Yon trained the men in ambulance work and first aid to the wonded. You established a small ambulance corps of which you yourself took the lead. I need hardly remind my hearers that if not the actual founder you wore tortain- ly one of the most active supporters of the Volunteer medical staff in London. You established, greatly to the advantage of the residents in Hongkong. the Peak Hospital, through which over a thousand patients have passed, and you took upon your own shoulders, as I understand, the expense and the risk of the institution for the first two or three years of its existence. You were the first bring out here trained European nurses, and I need hardly add that no one who has had knowledge and experience of the attention of the sick paid by nurses in the colony before that date must thoroughly understand how much we benefitted by that institution, which I believe led to the introduction of trained nurses in the hospitals of the colony. Before your arrival tho supply of lymph for vaccination was both irregular in quantity and inferior in quality, and with your accustomed vigour you pressed the subject upon the Government and successfully established the Vaccine Institute, which has been a most successful institution, if not made so much use of as might be, and the supply of lymph for the colony is not only regular but abundant and of the very best quality. You gave your tied and your labours to the work of the Alice Merial and Nethersole Hospitals. You have not merely aided and restored to health fy hang the Chinese, but you have by your fuftigts and kindness aided very considerabil. §. horever | J. Castle, Esq., MA., M.D., F.R.C.S., &c. small a degree, to diminish tapesjudies entertained by the Chinese against European medicine. (Applause.) I believe it was prim- arily your idea that an afterapi bo "inade to train Chinese students line medicine. I do not intend to my say bing more with reference to that establishment] because I believe before the proceedings of this insting aro concluded thero will be a govju ja-kdress ou Mr. FRANCIS, who was received with sp- tho subject. I may say without qtation that plause, said My dear Dr. Cantle, when however great the benefits you have conferred I first came to this colony, and that is apon the Alice Memorial Hospital arl on the a good many years ago, I was given to under. College of Medicine and on the indents, stand that there was only one disease recog- you have also conferred nised by the medical faculty in the colony, benefit indeed on the colony in so far as and that was the liver, and that they had only you have induced the Government to train two prescriptions, one a blue pill, and the other, Chinese students in Western sciences and if that did not succeed, a P. & O. steamor. lessened the prejudice of the unse against (Laughter). Théro have heen very great the introduction of Europesu medicine into the changes since then. A great many new diseases colony. (Applause) One would make thought have unfortunately been discovered. There that in these varied occupations you had formi have been considerable additions to the number enough to do, but you were the founder of the Odd of doctors and their prescriptions cover Volumes, and you spent many an hour in giving much more extensive and probably a more useful, instructive, as well as entertaining lecturca expensive range of drugs and preparations; but to the members of the Society and to the public I think there is no doubt whatever that the who were invited to their rooms. Applause.) medical profession in Hongkong is unequalled I am very much afraid that the Odi Volumes in any colony on the face of the earth. Society will not survive your departure. (Applause). I had the pleasure of meeting (Laughter.) But I have one consolation; Ishall you at dinner the other day, and
be able to say ΤΟΥΣ thon
I told you so." (Laughter.) I said that the citizens of Hongkong were to be honestly believe that the Public Library which congratulated-heartily congratulated-apon you set upon its feet will succeed-(applause)- having as their medical attendants the very and I heartily congratulate the colony upon it pick of the medical professiou, in all branches, of In addition to all this work you have devoted England, Ireland, and Scotland. (Hear, hear, yourself in the interests of general science and and applause.) In that statement all those pre- to scientific research, and at one time to the sent cordially concurred, and they agreed with cultivation of innumerable quantities of ml- a point which probably did not at the moment orobes which you had stored at your house at strike yourself, and which you certainly did not the Peak. (Laughter). I do not know what! refer to, that among the many medical mon became of them in the typhoon that blew yon who practise in this colony there has not been, out of honse and home (laughter)—and I do anyone who was your superior, or who came not know whether they contributed to the health here more specially qualified for the very trying of the colony. (Laughter).' You have also in
WILLIAM ROBINSON."
Since Dr. Cantlie found that the state of his health necessitated his starting for home this wook the time has been so limited that many members of the community, have not had an opportunity of siguing the address. There will still be su opportunity as Dr. C'autlio does not leave for a few days, and ladies may sigu if they have a desire to do so before leaving to-day, as there are lists on the table. I will now call upon Mr. Fraucis to address the meeting.
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Western
Frest
I a
From
The Residents of the colony of Hongkong, in acknowledgment of many valuable services rendered to the community. and
in
recognition of his labours in the intereste
of health and medical sejenca, his energy, public spirit, and worth. This Salver, Tea and Coffee Service are presented:
Hongkong, 5th Febquary, 1896. Mr. FRANCIS then read the following address, after which he handed to Dr. Canthie
"To James Cantlie, Fs, M. A. M.B., FRC.S.
Sir,-Wo, the undersigned residents in the colony of. Hongkong, desire to express, upon the eve of your departure from the colony, our deep sense of the valuable services which you have rendered to the community during a sojuru amongst ns of nearly nine years,
.
During that period your name has been very prominently identified with many under takings in the colony which required the dis- play of much onergy and public spirit to carry them through, and on every occasion you have shown yourself foremost in the work of enlight- enment and progress.
*
Your labours as a member of the Sanitary Board, and in the interests of health and medical -- science, havo entitled you to the heartfelt thanks of the community, while the College of Medi- cine for Chinese, the Odd Volumes Society, and the Hongkong Public Library are monu- ments alike of your generosity and your energy.
"On behalf of the community we beg to offer to you our sincerest wishes for your speedy restoration to health and strength, and a con. tinuous career of public usefulness"
The CHALRMAN-Ladies and gentlemen, I now beg to call upon Mr. Lockhart.
The Hon. J. Ĥ. STEWART LOCKHART-Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, in virtue of my office as Rector of the College of Medicine
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