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where the stench is abominable. The Europeans remain in their cabins or on deck. I would say the proper thing is to have a quarantine station. The quarantine ground is at the west end of Stonecutter's Island. There are certain boundaries taken from Green Island to Samshuipo.
Dr. PRESTON.-That was not the quarantine station for the Hygeia?
Dr. JORDAN-No; it was not in the regular station. There used to be a lazaretto on Stonecutter's Island, but it was done away with.
Mr. THURBURN.-It would be rather difficult to get a suitable place for a lazaretto here?
Dr. JORDAN.—I believe that was the trouble originally.
Mr. THURBURN.-There was a Commission which went into all that at the time-- there was a great outcry about it.
Dr. JORDAN. That outcry came about through one of the firms taking exception to the quarantine. That was the whole origin of it.
Mr. THURBURN.-Would you quarantine for infectious diseases ?
Dr. JORDAN. I would say within the discretionary powers of the Health Officer; for anything like that I do not think you can lay down any hard and fast lines. I would depend on how the patients were isolated on board ship. When a case of infectious disease occurs on some ships, it is isolated, and if three or four days have elapsed without any fresh case showing I would be inclined to allow that ship to go free. In cases of plague, if there was a case on board at the time of arrival I would be inclined to be more strict. The passenger traffic by junks, as a rule, is small indeed in com- parison with what it is by steamers. I have been going into the figures for the last few months, and I was astonished at the small number that travel by junks in comparison with steamers. It is less than 1 in 100. At the time of the Quarantine Commission it was supposed that Green Island would be too close to Hongkong to be suitable as a qquarantine station.
Dr. PRESTON.-For Europeans do not you think the Kennedytown police station could be used? It was used during the plague.
Dr. JORDAN. It has been retained as an epidemic hospital. It would make an excellent place for a European quarantine lazaretto.
Mr. MCCONACHIE. Do you think the existing medical staff is sufficient to meet the ordinary requirements of the Colony?
Dr. JORDAN-Decidedly not.
THE PRESIDENT.—If the dutics were re-arranged? Do you think there is a sufficient staff on shore?
Dr. JORDAN.As things are at present, I would say no.
THE PRESIDENT.-Are the duties sufficiently equally divided?'
Dr. JORDAN.-I do not know whether I can say yes or no without appearing to imply any want of confidence in the other members of the staff.
Mr. MCCONACHE.-I thought it might be a delicate question to put to you.
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Dr. JORDAN. Any answer I could give would imply a want of confidence in the other members of the staff. I do not know if I would be justified in giving an answer on a public question. I might have my private opinion.
Dr. CANTLIE. Do not you think it would be advisable supposing there was a Medical Officer to the Gaol, that he should be available for assistance in the Civil Hospital?
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