The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Straits Settlements medical report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    67/108 (page 67)
    7• Plague.—Ships arrived from Chinese, Indian, British Burma and Siamese plague infected ports. Two ships arrived from Bombay plague infected, one case of Bubonic plague was landed at quarantine island and was discharged cured in a month. A death from Pneumonic plague had taken place on voyage of another ship from Bombay to Penang. One passenger on a ship from Siamese plague infected port was removed for observation and gave negative result. Great difficulty was experienced in medical inspection of junks arriving from Tongkah, a Siamese plague infected port and it was reported that travellers fearing Medical inspection and quarantine came overland through Kedah to Penang. 8. Cholera.—During the epidemic in Province Wellesley South and Perak in the months of April and May, all junks and launches were inspected when possible. One Chinese adult who arrived from Nebong Tebal in a junk died of Cholera, the crew of junk and coolies working on board were removed to quarantine and detained for 6 days. No further case was reported. Seven Cholera infected ships arrived viz. I from Calcutta, 3 from Singapore and 3 from Negapatam. When accommodation was available at Quarantine Island all deck passengers were landed. On one occasion 600 passengers were landed. Ship worked cargo under permit, at quarantine anchorage and proceeded direct to Singapore with remaining passengers, pratique being refused. A ship with 66r passengers from Singapore arrived Cholera infected and was unable to land passengers. As all the available accommodation at Quarantine Island was occupied, the passengers were transferred to another ship at quarantine anchorage for return to Singapore, the infected ship having been disinfected was granted pratique. Towards end of August a ship arrived Cholera infected with 2,694 passengers and as no accommodation was available at Quarantine Island, pratique was refused. Ship worked cargo under permit at quarantine anchorage and proceeded direct to Singapore. On all occasions Cholera cases and immediate suspects were removed from ship to Island. Every facility was given to ship under contract carrying mails from Europe to Singapore, although it was found necessary to transfer mails to another ship on several occasions on account of the delay in fumigating ship by the primitive methods in use here. Cholera infected ships From Calcutta ,, Negapatam „ Singapore 7 8 10,076 Ships. 1 Cases. Nil 4 4 Passengers. l43 7,461 2,472 9. Quarantine Station.—The Station was occupied every day of the year except on 5th day of August by infectious disease cases and quarantined passengers. Maximum number in detention on any one day being 1,864 persons on 24th September. Monthly statements shew :— January February March April May June July August September October November December Number detained. 16,240 3G79 28,616 11,13! 8,229 8,150 9,222 24,580 24,659 12,931 19-444 2,501 Average daily. 523*8 127-8 923-! 37 r4 265-4 271-7 297-0 792-9 821-96 4i 713 648-13 8o-68 These numbers inadequately shew amount of work done because of floating nature of population, the daily fluctuations being most marked during Cholera epidemic.