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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TMи APRIL, 1891.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 180.
The following Letter from the French Consul is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 18th April, 1891.
W. M. DEANE, Acting Colonial Secretary,
CONSULAT DE FRANCE A HONGKONG, VICTORIA, 1st April, 1891.
SIR-By direction of His Excellency the Governor-General of Indo-China, I have the honour to bring to the cognizance of Your Excellency that the French Government have now created at Saigon, under the title of "Institut microbiologique et de vaccination," a scientific establishment the object of which is, besides the study of the infectious diseases of warm climates and experimental researches on cholera, dysentery, beri-beri, leprosy, malarial fever, etc., the production of vaccine and the mainte- nance of a service of vaccination against hydrophobia, small-pox and splenic fever.
The direction of the Institute has been entrusted to Monsieur CALMETTES, M.D., a pupil of Mons. PASTEUR.
This institution being intended for the benefit. not only of the French Colonies, but of all countries in the Far East at large, I trust Your Excellency will allow me to enter into a few particu lars respecting the three vaccination services now working:
I.—Vaccination against hydrophobia.
The preventive treatment against hydrophobia will be conducted according to the method practised at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
All persons, Europeans or natives, bitten by mad animals in the countries in the Far East, are invited to submit themselves to this treatment which will be gratuitous for all destitute people of whatever nationality.
The period of incubation of hydrophobia being on an average forty days, it will be possible for any person bitten to come to Saigon in time before the first symptoms of hydrophobia present them- selves.
It is expressly requested that persons coming to Saigon to submit to the preventive treatment, would bring full particulars about the symptoms presented by the biting animal, in order to enable the medical staff of the Institution to judge, as far as possible, if the said animal was really rabid.
Moreover, should the animal be killed. it is earnestly desired that its head be cut off and sent, packed in ice, to the laboratory, thus affording the only means of undoubtedly ascertaining the presence of hydrophobia in a suspected animal, viz., experimental inoculations from its brain.
In any case, a detailed report drawn up by a Veterinary Surgeon or a medical man, after a post- mortem examination particularly directed to the condition and the contents of the digestive organs of the animal, will be most useful.
II.--Vaccination against splenic fever.
The Saigon Institute is prepared to provide all Veterinary Surgeons or colonists, French or others, in the Far East, applying for it, with fresh vaccine for the protection of animals against the above named disease. Previously tested tubes, containing enough vaccine to inoculate 50 sheep or 25 cows, will be sent on demand at a price of $1 per tube, exclusive of postage.'
III.—Vaccination against small-pox.
This service is more especially intended for the benefit of Indo-China; however medical men of all neighbouring countries may apply to obtain always fresh supply of calf-lymph or of vaccinal pulp dissolved in glycerine or in vaseline and their orders will receive the promptest attention.
Every week two heifers will be inoculated to insure a continuous supply of lymph.
The price, exclusive of postage, has been fixed at $1 for two tubes of lymph or pulp, sufficient
to vaccinate at least 50 persons.
Should Your Excellency deem it expedient, I beg to request that information be kindly given to whom it may concern of the opening of this scientific and humane institution.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
of Your Excellency the most obedient,
humble Servant,
His Excellency
SIR G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, K.C.M.G.,
Governor of Hongkong.
G. GUEYRAUD.