188
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Research. Further investigations dealing with the smoking value of Chinese opium and with the constituents of Datura alba were made during last year and were published in the Pharmaceutical Journal of August 1, 1895, and of September 5, 1896, respectively.
THE VACCINE INSTITUTE.
Below we reproduce Dr. Atkinson's report on the Vaccine Institute, from which it will be seen that the establishment has furnished a
good supply of effective lymph. It is rather the fashion to laugh at the Institute. Pas- sengers going up and down by the tram and pedestrians along Kennedy Road see the build- ing day by day and because they do not also see the calves, or bear agonised shrieks, or have disgusting details of any description ob. truded on their notice, they assume that no- thing is being done. Dr. Atkinson's report will enlighten the public as to the true state of the case :—
Government Civil Hospital, Hongkong, 29th March, 1897. Sir, I have the honour to report that I took over charge of the Vaccine Institute in 1895 and commenced work in October of that year.
The Institute was open from October 11th, 1895, to May 31st, 1896, during which time 2,374 capillary tubes of calf lymph were pro- duced. 414 of these were sold realising $153.80; the remainder being distributed to the Public Vaccinators, Tung Wah Hospital, Alice Memorial Hospital, and the varions Govern- ment Institutions.
Among those supplied with lymph during the winter of 1895 and 1896 were the follow- ing-Army Medical Staff, Navy, Dr. Hill, Pakhoi; Messrs. Dakin, Cruickshank & Co., Messrs. A. S. Watson & Co., Ld.
In December, 1895, Messrs. A. S. Watson & Co., Ld., wrote and informed me that they would not require any more lymph. Accord- ingly since that date I have distributed it myself.
It was not found possible to open the Insti tate this winter until late in December, owing to the fact that the lymph obtainable was quite
inert.
I commenced operations in October with some lymph that I brought down from the Govern- ment Depot in Japan, but it was not until I had obtained, through the courtesy of the British Consul at Saigon, some perfectly fresh calf lymph from the " Institute de Micro- biologie "there that we were able to re-establish our supply.
The Institute was opened on the 24th Decem- ber, 1896.
Since that date 3,895 capillary tubes and 123 bulb" tubes of lymph have been issued. Of this number 3,036 have been sold, realizing
$989.80.
Among those thus supplied, in addition to the medical practitioners in the town and the local drug stores, are the following:-H.M. Flagship Centurion, H.M.S. Humber, Swift, Immortalite, Rattler, Grafton, Eolus, Firebrand, Alacrity U.S.S. Machias, U.S. Flagship Olympia, H.E.L.M.S. Kaiser, Irene, and Princess Wil- helm; H.E.S.M.S. Arcona, Russian cruiser Sa- biaka, R. M.S. Empress of India, and Army Me- dical Staff, the remainder having been distributed amongst the Tung Wah, Alice Momorial, and Gaol Hospitals and the Italian and French Convents. I have received word from the Naval doctors, civil practitioners, and public vaccinators that the lymph has taken well.
The Institute consists of a series of buildings situated near the Kennedy Road between the Tram and the Garden Road Nullah.
There is a suitable stable, well ventilated and drained, with stalls sufficient to accommodate 20 calves, quarters for a caretaker, and the necessary out-buildings.
The staff has consisted of myself, one as- sistant, and one caretaker.
In the winter of 1895 and 1896 Mr. Souza was the assistant. He having left the colony, at my request Mr. Sydney, one of the ward- masters at the Lunatic Asylum, was appointed assistant on 2nd November, 1896, and another coolie was appointed on the same date to assist the caretaker :---
Assistant.....
One caretaker. One coolie
..$10.00 a month.
8.00 6.00
"
#
The calves we have obtained through the Inspector of Markets, and their age has been from 7 to 12 months, female calves always being used.
The calves are kept under observation for a few days before vaccination, careful records of their temperature, &c., being kept. After the lymph has been collected they are housed for a few days longer and then returned to the slaughter house, $1.00 being paid to the con- tractor for the loan of each calf.
The fifth day after vaccination I have found the best for collecting the lymph.
Pure sterilised glycerine, free from acid, has been found the best vehicle to preserve and keep the vaccine moist.
The glycerized pulp is generally recognised
as the best form of calf vaccine and is in almost universal use.
An emulsion was also made with vaseline but it did not prove so potent.
The amount of lymph produced since I have taken charge is 6,392 tubes.
The amount realised from the sale of lymph since I took charge is $1,143.60; if to this be added the value of the tubes supplied free to the var. ions hospitals, convents, charitable institutions, and public vaccinators, it would give a total amount of $2.026.20. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
J. M. ATKINSON, Superintendent. Dr. Ph. B. C. Ayres, C.M.G., Colonial Surgeon.
CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE SALARIES OF OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
The following correspondence was laid before the Legislative council on 26th inst. in reply to the following question asked by Hon. T. H. Whitehead at the last meeting-With reference to the report of the Retrenchment Commission, will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the despatches and instructions received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in rela tion thereto, and in connection with applications in respect of salaries similar to those recently referred by His Excellency the Governor to a Committee:—
SECRETARY OF STATE TO GOVERNOR,
Downing Street,
11th June, 1894.
Sir, I have the honour to enclose, for your information and for. purposes of record, au extract from a despatch recently addressed by me to the Governor of Ceylon on the question of compensation for fall in exchange, in which I have expressed the view that in the larger Crown Colonies there would be advantage in holding periodical inquiries into the public expenditure-such inquiries to be conducted by a Committee composed mainly, if not wholly, of unofficial members of the Legislative Council. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
RIPON.
Governor Sir W. Robinson, K.C.M.G.,
&c. &c., &c.
(Enclosure.)
EXTRACT FROM A DESPATCH FROM THE MARQUESS OF RIPON TO SIR A. E.
HA VELOCK. NO. 168, 8TH
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JUNE, 1894.
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I am inclined to consider that in any large Crown Colony where the establishments are on an extensive scale and where in times of pros- perity a certain laxity in creating vested interests may creep in, there is much to be said for inviting the Legislative Council at inter- vals, say of seven years, to inquire through a Committee into the public expenditure, and to submit for the consideration of the Governor and the Secretary such recommendations, in the direction of retrenchment, as they may think desirable. As a general rule I should say that such periodical inquiries should be mainly condnoted by unofficial members.
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SECRETARY OF STATE TO GOVERNOR.
Downing Street,
14th March, 1895.
Sir, The more important of the points raised in the report of the Retrenchment Committee
[September 1, 1897.
and in your covering despatch No. 201 of the 4th September last have been or are being dealt with in separate despatches, and on some you have promised further reports.
2. For what remains I have to convey to you a general expression of concurrence in the views contained in your despatch on points of detail, and my acknowledgment of the care and at- tention which the Retrenchment Committee bestowed upon their report.
3.-In paragraph 10 of your despatch you propose to abolish the chief clerkship in the Post Office in preference to obolishing the appointment of Assistant Postmaster General. I incline to share your view, and unless there is a distinct public opinion in favour of the other
be carried into effect.
alternative, that view can, as occasion arises,
4. Under the heading "Miscellaneous Ser- vices reference is made to the fee of £300 per anuum which has been paid to Mr. Chadwick as Consulting Engineer on the subject of water and drainage. You have since learnt through the Crown Agents that from the beginning of this year he has ceased to draw an annual stipend and will be paid the usual professional charges for such references as may be made to him.
5. You state that you contemplate the con- centration of all the Government offices under one roof. 1 shall, of course, be ready to con- sider any specific suggestion of the kind which may be made, but I fear that any such re- arrangement would involve great expense.
6. The recommendation of the Committee, which you support, "that no further increase either in salaries or in offices be made in future until a full and independent inquiry has been made and the necessity for the same established beyond doubt," is probably too broadly stated to be carried out in its entirety. That the expenditure of the colony, and especially the expenditure on offices and appointments should be rigidly scrutinised, is the wish of all who are in any way responsible for its welfare; and one safeguard I suggested in my despatch No. 84 of the 11th of June last, taking the form of periodical inquiries by committees composed mainly if not wholly of unofficial members.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient,
umble servant,
RIFON.
Governor Sir W. Robinson, K.C.M.G.,
&c., &c., &c.
SECRETARY OF STATE TO GOVERNOR.
Downing Street,
2nd July, 1895. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 167 of the 21st of May last and to approve generally of your giving effect, as occasion offers, to the recommenda tions of the Retrenchment Committee so far as they affect the clerical staff of the various Government Departments.-1 have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor Sir W. Robinson, K.C.M.G.,
&c.
&c. &c.,
GOVERNOR TO SECRETARY OF STATE.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th July, 1895. Sir, I have the honour to transmit here- with a communication from the Director of Public Works regarding the salaries of certain members of the staff of the Public Works Department.
Though I am inclined to concur, in the view of the Director of Public Works that the Assistant Engineers are inadequately paid, I regret that I am unable to recommend the increases proposed, as I do not consider the circumstances of the colony are such as to justify increase in salaries at the present
time,
It is only right also to point ont that the Retrenchment Committee, which has only recently finished its inquiries into the expendi ture of the Public Works Department, while calling attention to the large cost of the staff of that department, made no recommendations as to increasing the salaries of any of the offi cera mentioned by the Director of Public