No. 17.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH SEPTEMBER, 1891. 825
Minutes of the proceedings of the SANITARY BOARD, at a meeting held on friday, the 4th day of September, 1891 :-
PRESENT:
The Surveyor General, (The Honourable SAMUEL BROWN), President.
The Registrar General, (The Honourable JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART), Vice-President.
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, (George HorsrooL, Esquire).
JOHN JOSEPH FRANCIS, Esquire, Q.C.
The Honourable Ho KAI.
Ù LIN ÜN, Esquire.
ABSENT:
The Colonial Surgeon, (Dr. PHILIP BERNARD CHENERY AYRES). ·
JOHN DAVID HUMPHREYS, Esquire.
Dr. JAMES CANTLIE.
NATHANIEL JOSEPH EDE, Esquire.
Minutes. The minutes of a meeting held on the 20th day of August, 1891, were read and confirmed.
Cholera. A letter-which had been circulated to Members-from the Honourable Colonial Secretary, dated the 2nd September, 1891, transmitting a copy of a report, by the Army Principal Medical Officer, having reference to the fatal case of Cholera which occurred among the troops on the 11th August, 1891, was laid on the table and the minutes on the circu- lating cover read.
Appointment of Inspector.-A letter from the Honourable Colonial Secretary informing the Board that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government had been pleased to appoint Police Sergeant JOHN RENNIE to be one of the Board's. Inspectors was laid on the table.
Pok-fu-lam and Taitam Waters.-A statement-which had been circulated to Members-shewing the result of the analyses made on samples of water drawn from the respective mains during August, 1891, was laid ou the table and the minutes on the circulating cover read. It was agreed that a letter be addressed to the Honourable Colonial Secretary requesting that the Analyst be instructed to, in future, express his opinion as to the quality of the waters as shown by his analysis.
Mortality Returns.-The returns for the weeks ended the 22nd and 29th August, 1891, respectively-which had been circulated to Members-were laid on the table.
Report.-The Superintendent's report for the month of August, 1891, was read.
Hospital for Infectious Diseases.-Mr. FRANCIS addressed the Board and gave notice that at next Meeting he would move,——
1. That this Board is at all times responsible for the proper segregation of persons suffering from infectious, contagious or communicable diseases, and for the disinfection and purification of their dwellings and clothing and of any boats or other vehicles in which they may have travelled.
2. That this Board is, whenever any part of the Colony is threatened or affected with any formidable epidemic, responsible for, and invested by Ordinance with the fullest powers for dealing with epidemic, endemic and contagious diseases of all sorts with a view to their prevention or mitigation, and has among other things to provide suitable accommodation, medical aid, and medicines.
3. That the Board has not now at its "disposal or under its own control any place where sufferers from epidemic, endemic or contagious diseases can be segregated and treated, either in case of an epidemic or of sporadic cases.
4. That the provision made for treating small-pox cases at the Government Civil Hospital is insufficient as to extent and is in itself, from its position in the centre of a densely populated neighbourhood, a source of danger to the Colony. 5. That the Small-pox Wards in the Tung Wah Hospital are wholly inadequate, are a grave source of danger from
their position and surroundings and ought to be closed up.
6. That the “Hygeia” is entirely unsuitable for use as an Epidemic Hospital, in connection with the city and suburbs,
and ought to be used solely for Quarantine purposes and in connection with the shipping.
7. That the "Hygeia" is useless for any purpose unless fitted up and provided with a Medical Staff of some kind.
8. That the Board re-affirms the Resolution passed on the 13th March, 1888, as to the urgent need for an Epidemic Hos- pital in a suburban site and for the prevention in future of the treatment in Hospitals in the town of persons suffering from infectious or epidemic diseases.
9. That the Board re-affirms the opinion expressed by it at its Meeting on the 31st May, 1888, as to the requirements an Epidemic Hospital should fulfil, and demands from the Government, the immediate construction of such an Hospital and its transfer to the Board and its officers, to enable them to fulfil the duties imposed on them by the Public Health Ordinance, 1887.
10. That the Board call the attention of the Government to the building at West Point, constructed for a Police Station
but never yet occupied and ask for its transfer to the Board for the purposes of an Epidemic Hospital.
Adjournment.-The Board then adjourned till friday, the 18th day of September, 1891.
Read and confirmed this 18th day of September, 1891.
HUGH MCCALLUM,
Secretary.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
President.