60
The figures given for Shaukiwan and Aberdeen are supplied by the contractor for the privelege of slaughtering animals in these Slaughter-houses and there is no official check upon them.
The following table shows the numbers of animals slaughtered during the past ten years :-
YEAR.
Cattle.
Sheep & Goats.
Swine.
1895
19,218
12,592
129,835
1896
19,546
14;693
129,103
· 1897
20,094
14,226
137,748
1898
21,541
15,956
153,485
1899
23,582
17,353
156,292
1900
23,939
18,364
165,760
1901
24,938
18,544
172,205
1902
25,669
20,780
202,495
1903
28,335
22,918
187,265
1904
30,829
23,736
181,046
year.
DAIRIES AND CATTLE SHEDS.
Regular inspection of Cowsheds and Dairies was carried on throughout the
There were no outbreaks of infectious disease among milch cattle.
In last year's annual report I mentioned a condition that I had observed amon g European cows in the Colony and stated that it had many symptomatic features in common with human malaria and that quinine had proved an effective agent in its cure. At that time the cause of the condition had not been ascertained. I am pleased to say that when another opportunity for the further study of this condi- tion presented itself, which it did among some recently imported European cattle, Dr. HUNTER, who kindly assisted me, and myself were able to find a parasite in the red blood corpuscles of these cows. This parasite closely resembled if indeed it was not identical with the Pirosoma Bigemium which is the cause of Texas Fever in cattle. A fuller report on this condition is incorporated with a report on Hæmorrhagic Septecaemia in Cattle already submitted to Government by Dr. HUNTER and myself.
MARKETS.
Very little worthy of note has occurred in the Markets throughout the year. Central Market. Fish tanks on the ground floor in the middle avenne have been erected and occupied and the space formerly occupied by the tanks is being let to wholesale vegetable dealers.
.
Western Market.-This Market is still overcrowded. A new Western Market is being built which will go a long way towards improving the present unsatis- factory state of affairs,
Sai Ying Pun Market. This Market is also crowded and its construction makes it difficult to clean.
Wanchai Market.-An addition to this Market has been completed and occu- pied during the year and is being well patronised. This addition has made it possible to do away with the meat shops in the immediate neighbourhood and get the meat supply under better control.
Des Voeux Road Market.-This Market has not thriven as was at first antici- pated and as it stands is practically a failure. In order to ameliorate this condition the Board decided, on the recommendation of His Excellency the Governor, to cancel all existing food licences in the Central Districts of the town.
Nothing specially noteworthy occurred in the other Markets of Hongkong or Kowloon.
As pointing out how unsatisfactory are the Western and Sai Ying Pun Mar- kets, 19 plague infected rats were found in the Western Market and 12 plague infected rats in the Sai Ying Pun Market during the year. There were no infected rats found in any of the other Markets.