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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12mm MAY, 1866.
-7. It is stated in Dr. Murray's evidence that no new case of this Fever occurred between the beginning of the month of August, and the latter end of December 1885, but that the earlier cases that did occur after the cessation referred to, were from among prisoners who had been some time in Gaol, and though Mr. Douglas states that two of these men being in the chain gang had opportunities of communicating with their friends, there is nothing to show that the Fever was propagated by such communication, and the more probable supposition is, that the seeds of the Disease may have lurked within the Gaol itself, either in the clothes or in some part of the building, during the several months of its cessation, but as there was no reason at the time for preventing communication between the older inmates and new comers it may have been a second time imported
into the Gaul.
8. And it is further shown, though there is no evidence to fix the dates, that cases of this Disease had occurred in the Town previous to the issue of the commission authorising this inquiry,
9. As regards the nature of the Fever that has prevailed during 1865 and 1866, we are of opinion that though many of the symptoms closely resemble those of the Yellow Fever of the West Indies it is not identical with it:
The Fever in question has chiefly prevailed among the poor; that of the West Indies attacks alike poor and rich, young and old, and those who have resided for a short time only in the locality where it may prevail, are especially liable to its attacks, while the old resident enjoys comparative immunity from them.
10. At the same time, we are of opinion that it must not be taken for granted, that what may be termed the Yellow Fever of Hongkong, is incapable of extending its ravages beyond the poorer classes of the community. It is well known that Febrile Diseases when they become Epidemic differ in their intensity almost on each occasion, that the same Fever apparently which in one year is comparatively mild in its effects, does on another year assume a most deadly character and that the character of the Fever can sometimes only be determined by its results. This has been especially the case in the Epidemics of the West Indies, in which the mortality has varied from 15 to 50 or even to 60 per cent of the cases treated.
11. As respects the measures to be taken within the Gaol itself we are of opinion that separation of new comers from the older inmates and fumigation or destruction of the clothing worn on admission are essential, to which might be added with advantage the use of the warm bath, and subsequent fumigation of the person.
12. We beg further to record our opinion that the cubic space of the cells of the Victoria Gaol is insufficient for three Prisoners. The minimum cubic space, provided by Her Majesty's Government, for the English Soldiers, is (even in a temperate climate) 600 cubic feet per man, while the cells for three Prisoners contain a cubic space of 900 cubic feet which is 50 cubic feet less than that recommended to be provided for a Soldier serving within the Tropics by Her Majesty's Sanitary Commissioners.
13. In conclusion we beg to observe that there can be no doubt that the Sanitary condition of Taipingshan is such as to require, the most active supervision. It is filthy in the extreme. The Drainage is most defective, if indeed it can properly be said that any drainage exists at all; houses, into which the rays of the sun can never penetrate, are huddied together, back to back. In very many cases Pigs, Poultry, Dogs, Men, Women and Children live together in the same danip, small, dark, un- ventilated rooms in apparent misery, and in filth, and it is not surprising that such a Disease as we have been instructed to investigate should have been traced to a District of this city, the Sanitary condition of which is beyond all question the worst possible; and we beg earnestly to direct the attention of His Excellency to the able Report of the Special Commission appointed to examine into the Sanitary Condition of this Colony in 1862 on which great paius appear to have been bestowed.
WILLIAM DICK, M.D.,
Chairman.
[L.S.] RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL.
WHEREAS it is expedient to take into immediate consideration the existence of a certain Epidemic disease now prevalent in this Colony and represented by the Colonial Surgeon to be Yellow Fever: NOW KNOW YE therefore that I, SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, Knight, and Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice Admiral of the same, Do hereby under my Hand and the Seal of the said Colony appoint you, Doctor JOHN IVOR MURRAY, Colonial Surgeon of Hongkong, and, with the sanction and approval of the Honorable The Major General commanding the Forces, you Doctor WILLIAM DICK, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, and, with the sanction and approval of His Excellency The Naval Commander-in- Chief, you Doctor ROBERT BERNARD, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, to be Members of a Commission for the purpose of making enquiry into such epidemic disease; and I do hereby enjoin you to institute without loss of time an investigation in the premises, and to take but not upon oath evidence therein, and to report, to me on the nature of the said disease and to suggest the sanitary measures most advisable in your opinion to be immediately adopted with a view to checking the same.
Given under my Hand and the Public Seal of the said Colony, at Victoria, Hongkong, this Sixteenth Day of March, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Sixty-six.
By His Excellency's Command,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
VICTORIA GAOL, HONGKONG, 19th March, 1866.
Pursuant to a commission given by His Excellency The GOVERNOR, the undermentioned Medical Officers this day met in Victoria Gaol, viz:-
Dr. J. IVOR MURRAY, Colonial Surgeon,
Dr. WILLIAM DICK, Deputy Inspector General (Army), Dr. ROBERT BERNARD, Deputy Inspector General (Navy),
for the purpose of enquiring into the circumstance referred to in the said Commission, and having elected Dr. Dick their Chairman, received the following evidence;
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Dr. MURRAY states that, on the 3rd March 1865, a case of Febrile Disease appeared at the Gaol--the man was discharged
the 9th March cured. A 2nd appeared on the 15th and discharged the 25th; and subsequently in the same month 3 additional cases presented themselves which terminated fatally.
Fresh cases continued to appear up to the 1st August amounting in all to 373 of which 40 died.
Of the 373 men attacked-2 were Europeans, 4 Colored and 367 Chinese.
Of the 40 fatal cases-1 was a European and 1 Colored.
No women or children were attacked.
Had seen no such disease in an Epidemic form before, as far back as 1859.
The man first attacked was only admitted 2 days previously apparently in good health said to have come from Macao, bu witness is not at all times cognizant of the previous history of the cases admitted into Hospital. The Governor of the Gaol will probably be able to give such information.
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