To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cuma DAILY News"
Sin—Shanghai, being dangerously overcrowded with refugees, most of them with but very hazy ideas of modern sanitation, is ye 1 danger of a cholera and/or Typhus outbreak during the coming hot weather, One of the troubles will be the safe disposal of the dead bodies, which may easily be at the rate of 400 to 500 a day—and as the facilities are now extremely limited we may wake up (too late) one morning and find Shanghai a charnel house with thousands of leaky coffins—most of which will be of poor construction and material—filled with the victims of cholera, typhus ete.
Already steps are being taken to erect yet re temporary "cold storage" buildings and we are being gradually surrounded by disease-spreading bodies "cached" for future delivery to the homes of the deceased.
This must stop, and the authorities will be gravely neglecting their duty if no drastic steps are taken to bring better conditions.
I am not an alarmist, but having lived in Chinese cities during cholera outbreaks, have no desire to. see our unfortunate city a plague spot.
I suggest the S.M.C. consider erecting a large crematorium capable of disposing of about 300 bodies a day. and the general public be notified that if their superstitious qualms forbid cremation, the dead must be removed far from the district immediately, or if they object, get out of Shanghai right now, for it must be distinctly understood there are limits tø, our hospitality. and our very reasonable efforts at security for the general public should be recognized and respected.
With the Japanese observing the modern and sanitary method of cremation, it should be easy to obtain their assistance, as any outbreak would quickly cross the Soochow creek and play havoc with their troops, ete.
As to the question of cost, we could utilize the large sum no spent on the Orchestra, for we must clean up Shanghai and liquidate the ever increasing "cold storage" of bodies as soon as possible. There will be some trouble with the superstitious and ignorant people, but it must be faced. Another thing is, that Shanghai, if infected, may be out of bounds for tourists in and out, and many will be unable to go to their usual summer resorts. for most are now under Japanese control and they will not allow visitors from an infected port.
H. W.
Shanghai, Apr. 8.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.