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have been well cleared had she not altered her course to starboard. Both sides agreed that the steamer struck the junk on the port side, sinking the junk; the occupants were rescued by the steamer. The junk alleged fault on the part of the steamer, which did not have a proper look-out on board, because she neglected to port ber helm and did not keep out of the way of the junk; the steamer alleged that the junk had no light, no proper look-out, and she altered her course when the vessels were approaching one another, thereby causing the collision. Counsel contended that the steamer on her own admissions was clearly in the wrong. If there had been a proper look-out on the steamer the junk would have been sighted more than a quar- ter of a mile off. By starboarding her helm the steamer was brought near the junk, thus rendering a collision almost a certainty, as she turned towards the junk. The evidence would show that, lights or no lights, the steamer ought to have sighted the junk more than a quarter of a mile off.
Evidence was then called and the hearing was still proceeding on the 4th March.
HÒNGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF RINDERPEST,
A special meeting of the Samitary Board was held on 1st March at the offices. Dr. Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical Officer) presided and there were also present-Hou. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
The PRESIDENT-We are called here to-day to consider an outbreak of rinderpest amongst the cattle at Sassoon's Villa, Pokfulum, and the recommendations made by the Colonial Veterin- ary Surgeon. I ask the Secretary to read a letter which has been received.
The SECRETARY read the following letter:-
Government Offices,
21st February, 1898. Sir. I have the honour to report for the information of the Board that rinderpest has broken out amongst the cattle at Sassoon's Villa, Pokfulum, the property of the Dairy Farm Company.
The sick animals have been isolated from the healthy ones and strict measures for effectual disinfection taken.
No danger to the milk supply need be apprehended, as lactation is suspended im- mediately when the disease invades the animal.
A watchman might be stationed at the entrance of the farm to prevent the removal of animals and to carry out any other instructions that he might receive.
I think these precautions will suffice for the present. I have the honour to be, &c. C. VIVIAN Ladds, Colonial Veterinary Surgeon. The Secretary, Sanitary Board. After reading this letter the SECRETARY said-That letter was at once circulated to members for approval and the recommendations have been carried out. A second letter came in yesterday and that is at present in course of circulation.
The PRESIDENT-It is evident that these animals are suffering from a dangerously infectious disease. In accordance with section 6 of Ordinance 17 of 1887, "if it appears to the Sanitary Board that an animal placed in segregation is suffering from a dan. gerously infectious disease, it shall cause such animal to be forthwith slaughtered, and the carcase thereof shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board may deem fit." Section 7 says "If it appears to the Sanitary Board that any animal has been in contact or in the same herd with animals suffering from disease, it may at discretion cause such animal to be slaughtered and the carcase thereof shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board may deem fit." Mr. Ladds recommends that these animals be slaughtered. It is not a question of one or two animals, it is a question of nine. He also re- commends that the owners be compensated for the loss of those cattle. Section 3 of Ordinance 17 of 1887 says-"The Governor in Council shall direct that out of the public revenue of the colony compensation shall be paid as fol- lows for any animal slaughtered under the provisions of the Ordinance." If you turn
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH—There- are only these nine that are not native bred cattle. How many have died ?
Mr. LADD8-Eight or ten; I am not quite
sure..
to sub-section 2 of section 3 of Ordinance 17 of 1887 you will find that." When an animal has shown symptoms of disease after being over fourteen days in the colony one half its valne immediately before it became infected shall be given." Sub-section 3 says." When The PRESIDENT-It is evidently a very an animal has shown symptoms of disease, but has infectious disease. In 1896 it spread like been in contact or in the same herd with diseased wildfire. If we kill these nine I do not suppose cattle compensation shall be given." So we have it will stop the disease. power to recommend the Government to grant, Mr. EDE-Mr. Ladds is of opinion that it this compensation. I think I am right in will. It will be better to order the slaughter saying that in the former attack by this of all the diseased animals and as the others disease the animals were allowed to die. They show symptoms of the disease Mr. Ladds should were not slaughtered and the Government did be given anthority to have them slaughtered not compensate. The only question is whether also. I understand that with rinderpest you the Board thinks it advisable to slaughter and must not only remove the killed carcase of the compensate or to allow the animals to be isolated animal but disinfect the place and do all sorts- to follow the course of the disease and die.
of things. The SECRETARY here read the following second letter:-
Government Offices, 28th February, 1898. Sir,-Adverting to my letter of 21-2-98 re- porting an outbreak of rinderpest at Sassoon's Villa, Pokfulum, I now have the honour to advise, as all the precautions which have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease have proved useless, that the Board now order the slaughter of the remaining nine European bred cattle at the farm and with compensation to the amount of $1,800 for them under the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of Ordinance 17 of 1887 and the by-laws made thereunder.
There would yet remain sixteen native bred cattle upon the farm, but I do not advise their slaughter at present, having reason to be- lieve that they will not contract the disease— I have the honour to be, &c.
C. VIVIAN Ladds.
The Secretary, Sanitary Board,
The PRESIDENT-I asked Mr. Ladds to be present here this morning so that he might an- swer any question you may think necessary.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-Are these nine already diseased?
Mr. LADDS Three of them; the other six are all right.
The PRESIDENT-You suggest that these six should be slaughtered ?
Mr. LADDS-Yes.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HT--Are the healthy ones to be used as food?
Mr. LADDS-No.
Mr. EDE-How would Mr. Ladds arrive at the valuation? So far as I see from section 3 the animals must be over fourteen days in the colony.
The PRESIDENT-How long bare they been in the colony ?
Mr. LADDS--Months, and some of them years. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Is it necessary to recommend this?
The PRESIDENT-The only question before the Board is whether we consider it necessary to recommend to the Government that these animals be slaughtered or whether they should be simply segregated as before during a similar attack in 1896. The animals were not slaugh- tered then. Personally I do not see the object of slaughtering these healthy cattle.
Mr. EDE-Perhaps Mr. Ladds will tell us why he thinks it necessary to slaughter them.
Mr. LADDS-Because we have been isolating them and the disease has spread to healthy ones, and it is likely to spread to the whole of them.
Mr. EDE-Will it spread to the native cattle? Mr. LADDS-I do not think so.
The PRESIDENT-My experience in 1896 proved that we could isolate the cattle, because the disease broke out at the Dairy Farm and did not spread to the other farms. A watch- man was put on the premises and the cattle remained there and they nearly all contracted the disease and died. I think we are justified in following a similar course now.
Mr. EDE-I think you will have to slaughter the diseased animals at once, because you can- not leave the diseased animals among the rest of the herd.
The PRESIDENT-If the others have been amongst them they have probably got the disease now.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-We did not think there was any danger to other dairies.
The PRESIDENT That is our point, of
course.
The PRESIDENT-Can Mr. Ladds inform us what is the period of incubation P
Mr. LADDS-It is indefinite. I think if you do not follow my advice you run a great deal of risk of getting the disease on the other side where there are 170 animals. If you have to kill those animals it will be a great thing for the Government.
The PRESIDENT-In 1896 they were not slaughtered.
H
Mr. LADDS-No, but there is the risk. The PRESIDENT-How far is the other farm off?
Mr. LADDB-400 or 500 yards. The PRESIDENT-Will you make a motion, Mr. Ede P
Mr. EDE-I have no objection to moving that the diseased cattle be slaughtered at once and that the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon be authorized to slaughter as soon as any of the others show symptoms of the disease, and that the carcases be disposed of so that the disease shall not spread. Steps should also be taken to disinfect the premises in a proper The question of compensation can be
the Government. The PRESIDENT-You move that Mr. Ladds' suggestion be carried out ?
manner.
referred
Mr. EDE-Except of course the slaughter of the healthy cattle. When they show the first symptoms I say they should be slaughtered,
The PRESIDENT-I second that motion because
| I think that during the outbreak in 1896 that carse was not followed, and it is more satisfac- tory to try to eradicate the disease, if possible.
|
|
Mr. EDE-It spread very rapidly last time. The PRESIDENT-This is a much more scien-
tific way, at any rate.
The resolution was then put and carried un- animously.
The Board then adjourned.
RINDERPEST AGAIN UNDER DISCUSSION.
A special meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 3rd March at the offices of the Board. Dr. Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical Officer) presided, and there were also present- Hon. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary). Mr. C. Vivian Ladds (Colonial Veterinary Surgeon) was also present,
i
The PRESIDENT-I have called you together, gentlemen, because I think it is necessary for the Sanitary Board to declare the farm at Sassoon's Villa, Pokfulum, an infected area in accordance with bye-law 12, Schedule A., of the Cattle Diseases Ordinance. The bye-law says-
Where it appears to the Sanitary Board that. disease exists or has within fifty-six days existed in any place where animals are kept, the Board may declare such place to be infected and take such steps to prevent the spread of “the disease as it deems necessary." Of course it is optional with the Board whether they declare the farm infected or not, but in 1896 we declared the Dairy Farm an infected area, and that practically meant that no one could go into the farm and no one could get out. Taking into con- sideration the probable way in which this disease is spread, either by fodder, soiled clothing, or emanations from the affected cattle, I am of opinion that we ought to declare the farm an infected area.
Mr. EDE-What steps will be taken after that?
The PRESIDENT-Then, in accordance with section 13, "when a place has been declared
to be infected a placard shall be posted to that
$