162
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mr. McKie:-"I agree with the views ex- pressed by Dr. Hartigan."
Mr. Chan A Fook:-"I agree with Dr. Har- tigan that no filtered water should be used for this purpose."
Dr. Clark:-"I agree with Dr. Hartigan." Dr. Bell:-"Application should be granted." The Hon. R. D. Ormsby':
:- "Should be granted: 60 gallons a day only asked for; a mere drop in the ocean as compared with our supply and consumption."
Dr. HARTIGAN moved that the Government be requested to provide suitable quarters for the Inspector at the Cattle Depot, the house Dr. Hartigan-Will the military make at Kennedy-town now occupied by him, being their own arrangements for water for flushing most unhealthy and in its present condition purposes There is plenty running to waste in unfit for human habitation. This matter had nullah. I object to any further drain on the been under discussion for some
or filtered town-water supply," two three years and yet the Government had done nothing. Every man who had lived in this particular house had been ill. In spector Watson, when he left and went to the markets, was not ill for 18 months, but when he returned he was taken ill and was at present in hospital with fever. It was perfectly impos- sible for a man in the Inspector's position to do his work satisfactorily if he was ill every day. The place was actually saturated with malaria. It was most important that the man should be thoroughly well up in his work and thorough ly well able to do it As to the state of the place, he was down there the previous day and made a careful examination. The house was built right in the angle of the hill. It had got a bank on three sides and the fourth side was facing a valley through which no air came. In fact the only air he got was practically poisonous air from a little stream in the valley, and the breeze from the sea was cut
off from the house.
The VICE-PRESIDENT thought it would be better to have a definite suggestion to make. He thought there was no question that the man suffered from malaria, but he thought it would be better if he were to move a resolu- tion that a small committee of the board, com- posed chiefly of medical men, because nobody else knew anything about malarial sites-
Mr McKIE-I rise to a point of order, sir. We do know a little bit about malarial sites,
be on.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-Thank you, perhaps you do, but I think it would be better to have a small committee; perhaps Mr. McKie would The Inspector must live down there, and it would be very much better to go down there, make an inspection, and bring a definite proposition before the Government. Putting on another storey is no good. At any rate I
think
Dr. HARTIGAN-I have not proposed another
storey. I purposely left that out. I left it an -open question.
The VICE-PRESIDENT - Your motion is to provide suitable quarters ?
Dr HABTIGAN--Simply to provide suitable
quarters.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-- Very well, I am out of order.
Mr. McKIE, in seconding Dr. Hartigan's motion, said he would not let his boy or Chinese servants live in the house occupied by Inspector Watson. It was not nearly so well ventilated as the sheds in which the cattle were housed.
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Mr. OSBORNE strongly supported the motion. Mr. TOOKER agreed with the Vice-President that it would be better to have some definite proposal to present to the Government. and ultimately the motion was withdrawn and one proposed by the Vice-President was carried It was to the effect that Dr. Hartigan, Mr. McKie, and Dr. Clark be appointed a committee to go down to Kennedy-town and look round and pick a site and recommend it to Government.
THE CLOSING OF THE TUNG WA BRANCH
PLAGUE HOSPITAL.
The following letter, dated August 8th, from the Tung Wa Hospital directors to the Ac- ting Colonial Secretary, was submitted:
On the motion of Dr. HARTIGAN, seconded by Dr. CLARK, the application was granted on condition that the military authorities made their own arrangements as to water.
At this point Dr. Bell vacated the chair, having an important engagement to attend to, and Lr. Clark was voted to the vacant seat.
ON MILK SUPPLY.
Mr. T. J. Wild, Acting Government Analyst, submitted the following analysis of a sample of milk collected and delivered on the 11th August by Chief Inspector Dandy from 6, Cochrane
Street:
Solids not fat 8.505 parts, fat. 4.920, water The composition of the milk is as follows: 86-575-100.000: Total solid matter in 100 parts by weight 13425 parts, ash in 100 parts by weight 605, specific gravity at 15:5 per cent 1.030 Boric acid, salicylic acid, formalin and cane sugar absent. I am of opinion that this is a sample of genuine milk."
Mr. McKie minuted :-" When was an an- nedy's milk ? " alysis last made on Dairy Farm Co, or Ken
Dr. Clark minnted :—“
Kie, samples from both of the above dairies were In reply to Mr. Me- sent to the Government Analyst on the 2nd inst. Reports not yet received
Mr. T. J. Wild, Acting Government Analyst, submitted the following analysis of a sample of milk collected and delivered by Chief Inspector Dandy from the Dairy Farm Company at their premises in Wyndham Street, on the 23rd August:-
solids not fat 8-865 parts, fat 3-260 parts, The composition of the milk is as follows-
water 87-875-100,000. Total solid matter in 100 parts by weight 12-125 parts; ash in 100 cent 1.030. Milk preservatives absent. I am of parts by weight 635; specific gravity at 15. 5 per
opinion from the above result that this is a sample of genuine milk."
Mr. McKie minuted-" Water 87 per cent.!! Very thirsty cows.
Dr. Hartigan minuted "There is something curious in the report of this analysis. The specific gravity is 1030, and yet the water percentage is high, i.e., 87.875 against 86 normal. It may be accounted for by deficiency of fatty matter, 32, against 3-9 normal. It is a poor milk. The specific gravity in Hongkong milk is usually higher than normal. Another sample might be taken later on.”
Mr. Fung Wa huen minuted-" 87 per cent water! Ridiculous!"
Dr. Clark minuted—“Average country fed milk has 88 per cent of water and town-fed milk has 86 per cent. so that this milk is of normal quality."
Mr. Baddeley minuted-"If 86 is normal hardly see how 87-8 can be called ridiculous.'
THE PLAGUE IN AMOY.
September 1, 1900.
Dr. Bell: "I think it would be as well to ask for a medical report if it is obtainable. The present statement is vague and the epidemic might be anything."
THE FORTNIGHTLY LIME-WASHING RETURN.
Chief Inspector Dandy's fortnightly lime- washing return showed that since the previous report 387 houses had been lime-washed in the Eastern district, none in the Central district and three in the Western district.
APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION,
The following application from Messrs. Deni. son and Ram, architects, was submitted :-
64
to open up backyards as regards 45, Jervois We beg to apply for exemption from notion
used as one and together, are about 67 feet deep Street, and 4, Bard Street. The two houses are
ing into Burd Street (20 ft.) and having a central facing Jervois Street (a 40 ft. street), and back
are thoroughly lit and ventilated. New houses winding stair with well-hole and window in roof; could be built under Sec. 8 sub-section a of 34- of 1899 exactly similar to these, and it seems therefore only reasonable that these should be allowed to stand."
explanation of last paragraph in letter of ap- Dr. Hartigan minuted: ." I should like some plication before deciding.'
Mr. McKie minuted :-" Same view as Dr. Hartigan."
meeting."
Dr. Clark minuted :-"Will be explained at
meeting."
Mr. Baddeley minuted :--" Consider at next
The Hon. R. D. Ormsby minuted :-" I don't understand last paragraph of application." -
The application was refused.
The following application from Messrs. Palmer and Turner, architects, was submitted:-"On behalf of the owners of No. 342, Des Voeux Road exemption from opening up a yard. The house W. (late No. 176, Praya W.) we would ask for is a corner one, and is well lighted by three win- dows on the side street (Eastern Street) and the kitchens have windows on sach floor opening into the street." Mr. McKie, Dr. Hartigan, Mr. Chan A Fook, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, Mr. Osborne, and Mr. Baddeley minuted “exempt.
19
The Hon R. D. Ormsby, minuted :-" Yes, if the M. O. H. has no objection to offer."
The application was granted.
THE HEALTH OF THE COLONY.
11th was 27.3 against 22.0 for the previous week The death-rate for the week ended August
The rate for the succeeding week was 28.1 and 21.4 for the corresponding week last year.
against 22.0., for the corresponding week laat year.
This was all the business,
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
LOCAL MOVEMENTS.
from Calcutta with a squadron of the 3rd Bom- On the 24th ult, the transport Fazilka arrived bay Cavalry (2 British and Native officers, 121 N. .O.'s and men, and 83 followers, with horses and mules), a Section of the 25th British Field Hospital, (1 Britisk, 6 men, and 89 followers), and details. The British officers on board were Capts. Pervis and Buswell, Lieute. Dening, Willes, and McGreen.
The Sirha returned from Taku on the 24th Init., and the City of Cambridge sailed for Wei-
haiwei, the Uganda for Bombay. The Duke of Portland returned from Shanghai.
The following letter, dated June 9th, from H. B. M. Consul at Amoy, to the Acting Colonial Secretary was submitted:----
"It will be exactly three months on the 12th instant since the matsheds at Kennedy-town were opened to receive plague patients, and the expenses up to date amount to about $4,500, in- cluding the cost of repairs. During these three
On the 5th inst. I had the honour to send months there have been admitted altogether 219 you the following telegram en clair: Plague patients, of whom 18 were cured and 196 died, exists Amoy and vicinity, not yet epidemic. leaving five still under treatment, and all these Please notify Commodore." five are convalescent and can be discharged it my duty to advise you as above, I am glad While I thought As the plague has now almost entirely to be able to report that as far as we can at disappeared and in view of the expenses being present judge the plague in this district is far so heavy, I shall feel greatly obliged if you will less prevalent and of a milder type than last kindly let me know whether the matsheds should year at a corresponding date.” be closed before the fourthi month commences.'
APPLICATION FOR THE RETENTION OF A
soon.
TROUGH WATER-CLOBET.
An application was submitted for t'e reten- tion of a trough water-closet of five seats at the Military East Block of married quarters.
The following minutes were appended :-
The following minutes were appended: Dr. Hartigan: "The letter is extremely vague; are no facts or statistics obtainable P"
Dr. Clark:-"The outbreak is soon What is the use of asking for further particn- lars? And as to statistics I know they are un obtainable, as Amoy is a Chinese city.'
over.
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The transport Palamcotta reached Hongkong again from Calcutta on the 25th ult., bringing with her some Mounted Sappers with Lieut. -.: Patterson, Sappers and Miners; à Balloon Section; Lieut. Johnson, 1st Bombay Landers; a Sanitary Establishment; 2 N.C.O.'s, 818 troops and followers; and 3 nursing sisters,
The Lawad brought a squadron of the 3rd Bombay Cavalry (Capts. Edwards and Cooper, Surgeon Cleveland, five native officers, 121 N.C.O.'s and men, 83 followers, with horses and mules).
The hospital ship Maine also arrived on the 25th ult.
The Itinda returned from Shanghai, and the Urlana from Taku and Weihaiwei.
The transport Fazilka left on the 25th ult. for Weihaiwei, and the Sirha and Duke of Portland left for Calcutta. ~