DOCTORS IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23594, 2 September 1938, Page 10

DOCTORS IN CHINA

ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED THE HORRORS OF WAR CHOLERA TAKES HEAVY TOLL (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. The Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society has received the following report from Dr James L. Maxwell, secretary of the International Red Cross Committee for Central China, writing from Hankow on August 9:— “Many thanks for your letter of July 22. This is to let you know that Drs Maaka and Watson have safely arrived and will be taking over the work of Drs Tremewan and Grey. Dr Watson has already gone to Chengchow to join the latter and Dr Maaka went to Ichang with Dr Tremewan, who had come down here on a visit. I am instructed by the International Red Cross Committee to assure you of its deep appreciation of these doctors and of the generous way in which the Joint Council for the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society has arranged for their transport to China and support on the field. In doing this, you have set an example to other countries which has unfortunately not been so liberally followed. We wish to express our very hearty thanks to your council.” Dr Hector C. Tremewan in a letter from Ichang dated August 12 writes:—

Japanese Bombers “ I spent two days at Hankow recently and was stationed at the Union Hospital, which is the largest in Hankow. Eighteen Japanese bombers appeared and dropped bombs on the air field, which is fairly close to the hospital, fortunately with very little damage to life or limb. On my return to Ichang in company with Dr Maaka we had to attend to 19 wounded, and a boat had just arrived with two people dead from cholera. We devoted two hours to injecting other passengers. “ The people here when inoculated receive a slip of paper to prove that they have been done. Now injection is no joke, especially when you receive a big one straight off as these people do, and consequently they try all sorts of ways to dodge it. One coolie of Scottish (?) descent got injected and then found a market for his slip of paper at 20 cents, approximately 2d in New Zealand money. He, therefore, got 20 more injections that day, sold them all —and died that night.” A Refugee Camp Dr T. A. Watson, who, together with Dr Maaka, left New Zealand some weeks ago, writing from Chengchow, where he has joined Dr Grey, states: “Chengchow is very quiet just now as large floods are separating the Chinese from the Japanese. Chengchow has only at present about one-eighth of its usual population. There is, however, plenty of work here as the Government has a refugee camp containing about 5000 refugees within about half a mile of our hospital. There is at present a lot of cholera in this camp. One day we admitted 25 cases. After seeing their living conditions one wonders they have not all got cholera. “ The camp is under the control of Government officials, who supervise the cooking of food, the boiling of water, and the housing of the people. An effort is now being made to inoculate against cholera all the people entering the camp, and this at last seems to be stopping a great number of cases, as in the last day or two only five cases have been admitted.” The Scourge of Cholera Dr Robert B. Grey, in his report dated August 3, writes;— “ I am enclosing another statement of the work at the refugee camp. Cholera has been increasing rapidly this week, the highest figure for one day so far being 25 admissions. We are able to equip 70 beds for cholera alone, but they have all been filled. We try to keep pace with the admissions by a rapid turnover, but in a very few days cases will have to be turned away. Last Sunday morning I went out to the flood area about six miles north of Chengchow. The Government has 50,000 coolies working on the banks of a small river, which is holding back the flood at present. They are working on a 30-mile front, raising the south bank of this river by two metres over this distance. “There were boats coming across the flood on the other side of this river bringing refugees. Many of the refugees have built mat huts along the banks and are living there. I have not been able to find out how bad the cholera is in the sui'rounding villages yet, but have heard rumours that it is bad. One of the anti-epidemic group promised to let me have some figures, but they have not been out themselves yet!”