his report to the Shanghai Municipal Council for April, the Commissioner of Public Health states. that there was a decrease in the death-rates of both foreign and Chinese residents, whilst notifiable communi cable diseases in general also Although smallpox was still present in sporadic form the intensive vacination work undertaken annually by the Depariment ceased at the end of the month by which date a total of 252,183 persons had been vaccinatsince last October. This is roughly one-third of the Chinese population in the Settlement and, if we were able to eliminate transients and others who for various reasons either object to, or Ignore vaccination, and maintain this figure yearly, the risks of an outbreak of smallpox in epidemie form in the Seltlement would 'soon be reduced to a minimum. meet a prevailing demand facilities for anti-smallpox vaccination will be. available until further notice in all Branch Health Offices, but the hot weather will soon render vaccination both unlikely to "take" and undesir~ able owing to greater risk of conta. mination.
'Arrangements were completed t0 commence the usual anti-cholera in-speculation work on May 1. A notification in' the press gave details of the scope of our organization and employfers of mass labour, in particular, are requested (o ce-operate with the Department in taking advantage of the services offered.
Tu the past few months there have been various references to fatalities throughout the Shanghai area due to the consumption of a species of known as Woo Dung or Globe or Bladder Fish. The sale of this Ash by Chinese stall-holders in Municipal and other markets has been long prohibited by the Department on account of the toxic properties of cer-{ain parts, particularly the roe and reproductive organs. Regarded by some as a delicacy, scientific litera-{ure relating to this species classifics
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.