April 16, 1898,1
ready here, never mind where it comes from, it is of little importance; but for the present, the epidemic is yet distant, especially as long as the general mortality, which is a true index, is kept within and below the normal limits. And this is what has happened in Macao during the last two weeks, as you can, whether with regret or not, verify by the returns, which are still for- warded to Hongkong with the greatest regu- larity.
It is therefore false-absolutely false the gratuitous assertion that the plague has been raging in Macao some months ago.
Referring to the sanitary conditions of Macao in April, 1897, Dr. Clark asserts:
(1st). That he then visited the Chinese Hos- pital in Macao, where he did not find under treatment any patients infected with the plague, which was explained to him by the fact that all those infected by the plague were sent out of Macao.
(2nd). That when visiting the Lappa Hospi- tal he found same plague cases under treatment among other patients.
(3rd). That he found in the Chinese cemetery several graves that had been recently covered
ap.
(4th). Therefore, it was to be supposed that daily there were eight or nine who died from plague.
It is a surprising conclusion, and more so is the argument, and if it did not reveal certain ingenuity it could reveal to what extent the teller could be influenced by the surroundings in which he lives and in which predominates the wish to brand Macao as a permanent focus of infection to an English colony.
A doctor comes to this colony looking for cases of plague but he finds none. He visits the only cemetery for a population of 75,000 Chinese, besides those of the neighbouring villages, who do not contribute small numbers to that cemetery. It is there, where there is gen- erally eight to ten burials daily, that he finds some fresh graves. He visits the Chinese Hos- pital at Lappa and finds there nine cases of plague under treatment. Therefore a most erratic conclusion-there die daily in Macao eight to nine plague patients!
It is a good logic indeed. It is not certainly the same logic which the eminent medical
prac- titioner makes use of in diagnosing diseases; luckily for himself and his patients.
You attribute the measure taken, not to allow the Chinese from Macao to land in Hongkong the lucky result that there were no cases of bubonic plague in Hongkong tu 1895.
The delusion, if you really had one, was dis. sipated in the same meeting by Mr. Ede. The Chinese in Macao in 1894 never gave up going to Hongkong; they simply went via Canton. The measure, the efficacy of which you had so much faith, appeared to have been advised by the Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company, Limited.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. career and of public office with you, whom I have not even the honour of knowing; and this is the only means for us to arrive at a concla sion, which of us can inspire more confidence of the public.
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called on me, and in this way he had all the assistance which he needed, whether for the study of leprosy, or for the study of the plague and any other work. I always accompanied him with pleasure, so much so because I derived great benefit from his science, and I shall never forget his polite manners and language.
Let us proceed, for the subject is arduous. I am not aware what right you have in de manding that the returns of deaths in Macao You should do the same thing. Imitate your should describe what kind of eruptive fever colleague Dr. Cantlie, and you will find in me a had caused death; as only the smallpox gener-colleague ever ready to serve you and be useful ally produced fatal cases in Macao; as vaccina- to you; as in the present circumstances you find tion, chickenpox, and measles are diseases that a man ready to refute one by one the insolent do not itself cause death; as deaths from measles inexactitudes stated or to be stated at the Hong. and scarlatina are excessively rare in Macao; I kong Sanitary Board. thought it would simplify by placing in one group all deaths caused by eruptive fevers. You find this inconvenient, but you have a re- medy. When you wish to know if the eruptive fevers were one or more species, you have only to ask me and I will inform you willingly. Meanwhile, if you allow me,
I shall continue to call smallpox eruptive fever. Old habits are not easily put aside.
After all, this whim in wishing to separate smallpox from scarlatina and measles might be admitted, and one might understand this system of dividing the groups. What cannot be under. stood, much less be tolerated, is that Dr. Clark should dare assert openly at the meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board: "They (the Macao physicians?) change the names. Sometimes they call it typhoid and sometimes eruptive fever."
Who gave Dr. Clark authority for asserting that the Portuguese doctors call smallpox ty; phoid fever and abdominal typhus eruptive fever? Did the eminent physician see any case so diag nosed by Portuguese doctors? Has he any proof that doctors from Portuguese medical schools are quacks, ready to sell science and conscience?
Dr. Clark is wrong in so proceeding against colleagues who are as worthy of public respect
as he. Science has no home, even if it were of
English origin. The true physician is he who devotes his time in lessening the sufferings of humanity, and not he who puts his name, his science and conscience, at the disposal of the first who pays him to discredit those who praise, above all, the love of truth and professional
honour.
Does he find it convenient to asserts that the
bubonic plague had been spread in Macao long ago?_
Do so, but do not try to bring forward proofs, because he runs the risk of being caught in the act of lying; and above all, he should not lower himself by calumniating his companions of the medical profession, although strangers and honest, because he will shame the science of which, Dr. Clark says, he is an apostle.
I will couclude, as I have written more than I intended. The Sanitary Board decided, after your communication, to establish inspection of the passengers coming from Macao. Much do about nothing. As the principal medical officer You farther asserted that when you visited of this colony, it is quite indifferent to me that Macao, recently, you met with two cases of you or the Sanitary Board should take as many plague under treatment. If you referred to prophylatic measures as you deem useful to pre- the Chinese Hospital of Macao, which is under vent the plague entering Hongkong from my immediate inspection, I can assure you you Macao; what I am anxious is to prevent the erred in the diagnosis; and I am prepared to plague outering Macao from Hongkong. It is support my opinion, because you cannot affirm my duty, however, to call your attention that it that two of the patients you saw there had a does not appear to me to be becoming to a high temperature, specific buboes, or any other physician, and above all for an official of your symptoms of bubonic plague. And if you are re-standing, to come slyly to a strange house and ferring to the hospital at Lappa, I have nothing secretly observe and then to tell what you have to object to, because that hospital usually re- seen and even what you fancy you bad seen. ceives suspected cases that the Macao police send Macao is a free port and there is no customs, out of the city.
and therefore you have a free entrance whenever This is a measure that without reluctance ou you wish to come. The gate of the Chinese the part of the Chinese has given excellent re-hospital is open and free to all who wish to visit sults in Macao, and are far superior without doubt to those produced in Hongkong in the house to house visitation.
Captain Superintendent please notice it.
I will not demur expressing my surprise at the confidence you placed on the evidence of a Chinese medical practitioner, while you did not hesitate to throw the stain of ignorance and bad faith on your real colleagues, being, as you. qualified to the legal practice of medicine, like you born and brought up in Europe, and having, like you on the shoulders the responsibility of a duty towards the state. Mr. Ede took upon himself to shake the confidence you placed on the Chinese medical practitioners. I cannot occupy my time to compare my long medical
it, and I will not order the gate to be shut in the face of a stranger and much less in the face of one of my colleagues. Anyhow, I will give an advice which my old age allows me.
Dr. James Cautlie, who you know, favoured me and still favours me with his friendship. You will not doubt the scientific honesty of this most distinguished colleague of ours, which was lately shown in the British Medical Journal, in defence of the eminent bacteriologist Dr. Yer- sin, against the uncalled for attacks of Dr. Lowsou, who, I believe, has formerly taken your place.
When he wished to know about the sanitary state of Macao, or to study the progress of dis- eases here, Dr. Cantlie used to write me, or
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To be or not to be polite, that is the question. That costs the same and the consequences are quite different.-Believe me to be, sir, your humble servant,
J. GOMES Da Silva. Chief Colonial Surgeon of Macao and Timor.
FATAL AFFRAY AT EAST POINT
SUGAR REFINERY,
INQUEST ON THE BODY. On 11th April at noon Commander Hastings hold an inquest at the Magistracy touching the death of Cheng Lo Choi, the coolie who was injured in the affray at the East Point Sugar Refinery on the evening of the 6th inst. at Jardine's Sugar Refinery at East Point, I was previously a warder in Victoria Gaol, and where I have been employed about eight months. before then was in the Hongkong Police Force, retiring on a pension. On the night of the 6th instant, at I 1-50, I was in the
Hubert John Gidlies said I am the foreman
C
fill house" at East Point and went to the number board to see what men I had on for the second night
duty. They are supposed to be in at 12, but they generally begin to come in at about 20 to 12. They work from 12 to six. I am on for eight hours.
The coolies have six hours on
I was in a
and six hours off. They really do 12 hours in the 24. I work from ten to six. stooping position looking to see the numbers when I was struck from behind, receiving three or four blows from different persons. At They struck me with their fists at first.
"
Ta."
the same moment I heard some one call out "Ta" (meaning "beat"). I turned round and saw between 20 and 30 coolies come from the godown towards the fill house. They were armed with shovels and were calling out The place had been lit up but the gas had been turned down. I don't know whom by. The gas was turned down instantaneously as the co-lies rushed at me. I went behind the donkey en- gine, and as there was nothing else that I could protect myself with I picked up the wooden spade produced. The crowd was between me and the exit, and I could not get out. I edged towards the door leading to the pan-loft to pre- vent the coolies from getting behind me. stood in the door-way leading to the pan-loft- seven or eight men struck at me with shovels. One was No. 72, who was convicted here the other day. He struck me on the head but I parried the blow and by so doing was struck with the flat of the shovel instead of the edge. While warding off this blow I struck out with the wooden spade and hit deceased, who was a little ahead of the others, on the head. Deceased had a shovel in his hand and was striking at me. These shovels are kept in the two upper lofts, and the coolies must have brought them down on
purpose to attack me.
As I
Deceased dropped when struck him and the others drew off for a mo- ment. Just then Mr. Lee came down from the pan-loft and presented his pipe over the bannis- ter at the coolies, threatening to shoot them if they did not desist. They then cleared out of the fill-house and drew up in front of the office, deceased going with them. There are 47 coolies working at one spell in the fill-house and 14 in the godowns. I was the only European in the fill-house. Mr. Lee is in the pan-loft and has one boy working with him The only other European is Mr. Cameron, a sugar boiler in the pan-löft on the new side. At this time the old watch had not gone and nearly all the Chinese had come, so that there would be about 120 Chi- nese on the premises, and only three Europeans. I cannot understand why the men should attack me, except that I checked two men the previous night for leaving work before their time. 1 saw both of them on the night I was attacked,
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