REPORT.
and
The Commissioners, having held their first meeting on December 28th, 1887, Mr. A. G. WISE having been appointed Secretary, have now concluded the work as- signed to them and beg to report as follows:--
THE MEANS TAKEN TO OBTAIN INFORMATION.
The information, which has determined the conclusions arrived at, has been gathered by the following means:
1. By printed circulars, wherein a series of questions (see appendix B, page 4) were set forth bearing upon the matter in hand. The circulars were sent to all persons who signed the petition (see appendix A, page 1) and others from whom useful information could be believed to be gathered.
2. By the attendance before the commission of such witnesses as, in the opinion of the members of the Commission could give valuable evidence.
3. By subjecting such witnesses to cross-examination upon the past and present condition of the health of themselves and their families, and the sanitary condition of their immediate surroundings. For nature of questions, (see Appendix C, page 4) 4. By personal inspection of the neighbourhood in question and by a house to house visitation.
THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE.
The conclusions arrived at concerning the diseases found prevalent in the Western District are as follows:-
1st. That the diseases complained of were chiefly malarial, and that the
fever, epidemic at the time, was distinctly so.
2nd.That fever appears to be endemic in the Western District, but that it has possibly been more prevalent during the periods complained of in the petition.
3rd.—That a small percentage of the cases which came before the Commis- sioners in evidence, exhibited symptoms of what may have been sewer-gas poisoning.
THE CAUSES OF ILLNESS.
The conclusions arrived at concerning the Causes of Fever in the Western District generally are:-
1st.--Absence of sub-soil drainage.-The Commissioners during their investiga- tions have elicited various differences and peculiarities appertaining to different districts of Hongkong, as regards the subject of drainage. The conformation of the original drains in the Colony provided for surface drainage. In fact the drains as ori- ginally made were surface drains pure and simple; and they did not, and were not intended to serve any other purposes. Gradually however these drains were used as drain sewers and not being constructed for such a purpose, failed to fulfil their functions as sewers, but acted through their faulty construction as sub-soil drains. In the newer parts of the town, and in the Western District in particular, sewers proper were laid down in the first instance; which, while they more efficiently performed their function as sewers, contributed but little to the sub-soil drainage of the neighbourhood through which they ran. It therefore appears that in the newer districts, houses are built more perfectly sewered, perhaps, but by that very fact stand in soils damp with sub-soil water and with no artificial provision for its exit.