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MALARIA : CURE AND
TION:
(Daily Press, 25th March.) The report, which is printed in the Govern- ment Gazette of Saturday's date, of Dr. J. BELL, Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer for this Colony, contains some remarks on the
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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March 30, 1901.
At the monthly meeting of the General Com▪ mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held in the Chamber Room, City Hall, on Tuesday, the 19th March, 1901, at 2.30 p.m., Present Sir Thomas Jacksɔn (Chairman), Messrs. C. S. Sharp (Vice-t hair- man,) A. Haupt, (Hon.) J. J. Keswick, A. M. Marshall, W. Poate, R. L. Richardson, N. A. Siebs, H. E. Tomkins, (Hon.) J. Thurburn (ex officio), and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary);
PREVEN.“iden seems at present to have taken hold HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE, 19 "of most." With regard to the means of meeting the disease in the New Territory, Dr. BELL in the section dealing with the malarial sufferers among the Police expresses hopes that if more attention is paid to the sites and buildings thereon and quinine freely used in small daily doses we may see slow but sure yearly diminution in the cases. The general impression to be derived from the remarks of the Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer is that, while the sys- tematic destruction of mosquitoes is in the present state of our knowledge impossible of realisation, there is a ready means to check malaria to hand, which we have no excuse for neglecting. We should like to see Dr. BELL's words generally taken to heart.
matter of malarial fever which should
be read by all in Hongkong. During the past year 674 cases of this destructive fever have been treated, as against the 469 treated in 1899, and the study of the disease has received a great impetus here as elsewhere. A large amount of speculation has arisen over the best means of getting rid of mos- quitoes since the confirmation by Dr. MANSON and others of the discovery that mosquitoes can and do give malaria to man- kind. Dr. BELL says that personally he is of opinion that a great deal more know- ledge is required of the life history of these insects before there will be much chance of doing any permanent good in this direc- tion. "Dr. THOMSON's report," he says, on the prevalence of anopheles confirms the fact that on their presence or absence 'depends the number of cases of fever in a given locality. Perhaps some energetic entomologist may turn up in the Colony who will devote his time to ascertaining more about the breeding places and time "and other facts connected with their mode of living, for in this direction lies some hope of keeping them under. The total | destruction of such a large family as the mosquito seems to me an almost impossi- "ble undertaking, and, though in individual | cases some good may be done I do not "think much hope can be held out of any large diminution in the cases of malaria by destroying these pests." Dr. BELL further adds, when dealing with the malarial cases among the Police force which were treated at the Government Civil Hospital: "The confirmation of the malaria- mosquito theory early in the year-held out great theoretical hopes that the disease would soon be much diminished, but on mature consideration I do not think very much good can be expected in this direction, especially in the New Territory where ideal breeding-grounds, in the shape of paddy fields, exist to such a large extent." The slightest acquaintance with the New Terri- tory is sufficient to show the justice of this last remark. As far as stamping out mosquitoes altogether is concerned the New Territory offers a field for labour which is beyond our means to deal with. The task of seeking out and treating the breed ing-places of the mosquito on the Island itself is likely to be arduous enough if the steps, details of which were given in Dr. THOMSON's report read at the last meeting of the Sanitary Board, are systematically car- ricd on and the area dealt witli be made to cover the City of Victoria alone. Those laymen who have followed with interest the researches of medical men into the malaria- mosquito theory, as it is conveniently called,
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MINUTES..
The minutes of the last monthly meeting
(hell 14th February), and of the special meeting held on the 25th February wore read and confirmed.
THE CHAIRMANSHIP.
The Chairman said that before proceeding to the business of the meeting he should like to say two or three words about his election as Chairman. He was much obliged to the mem-
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS. bors of the Chamber for the honour they had
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDEÑIS.]
SHANGHAI, 22nd March, 7.55 p.in. The Chinese report that the Throne is signing the Manchurian convention unal- tered.
On Tuesday last the British and Russian guards were both withdrawn from Tientsin station by Count von Waldersee's order pending the home settlement of the affair. All is now quiet.
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The Australian Naval Brigade leaves on Sunday.
The Empress Dowager threatens to de- pose Pu Chun, the heir apparent, owing to his unruly behaviour.
SHANGHAI, 25th March, 10.59 a.m. News has arrived from Peking that the Rev. J. Stonehouse, of the London Mission- ary Society, is reported dead, having been shot by armed robbers at a place forty miles south-east of Peking.
SHANGHAI, 25th March, 7 p.m. The Grand Council at Hsianfu telegraphs to the Reformers' committee here that the Throne has despatched a telegram to Yang Yu, Chinese Minister at St. Petersburg, forbidding the signature of the Manchurian Convention.
SHANGHAI, 27th March, 7.48 p.m. Chinese officials report that Yang Yu has refused Count Lamsdorff's demand that he should sign the Manchurian Convention, pleading the Imperial edict, which Count Lamsdoff taking for granted [?] has given brief delay.
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The Chinese Minister at Tokyo has re- ceived orders to assure Japan that China has determined to refuse the signature of the Manchurian Convention.
Eight anti-Christian rioters have been beheaded at Changsha, in Hunan.
SHANGHAI, 27th March, 8.35 p.m. Li Hung-chang signed the Manchurian Convention to-day under the threat of M. BELL 8 CIOsing words of de Giers to haul down the Chinese flag.
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done him, but he had no idea that it was intend ed beforehand or he should certainly have declined it in advance. The fact was he had not the time to give to the work, and he should feel obliged if the Committee would find some one to take his place.
There being no response to his appeal, the Chairman said he must act for the present.
The Vice-Chairman sjid he was in much the He had same position as Sir Thomas Jackson.* no idea that he would be elected or he should have protested; against it. He really had not had the experience necessary.
The Committee considered Mr. Sharp should accept the position.
RESIGNATION OF MEMBER.
The Chairman read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. A. M. Marshall tendering his resig nation from the Committee owing to his early departure for Japan.
The Chairman, after expressing the thanks of the Committee to Mr. Marshall for his ser- vices during the past year, proposed that Mr. H. A. Ritchie be invited to rejoin the Com- mittee in his place.
Hon. J. J. Keswick seconded; and the o- tion was carried.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. The Chairman proposed, the Vice-Chairman seconded, and it was carried, that the Correspond- ing Committes should consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. J. J. Keswick, and Mr. H. A. Ritchie, and the Arbitration Committee be composed as follows:-Messrs. A. Haupt, W. Poste, R. L. Richardson, N. A. Siebs, and
H. E. Tomkins.
THE TRANSIT OF PRODUCE IN CHINA. The Secretary reported that since the last meeting a copy of the letter of Mr. H. Kopsch, addressed to the China Association, had been forwarded to him by that body and circulated. Mr. Kopsch urged that the Treaty Powers should insist on the Chinese Government ac cepting and adopting the Chinking outward transit regulations at all Treaty Ports, &c.
The Chairman said this was a large question and would require more consideration than they had been able so far to give to it, and he thought it would have to be taken in conneo- tion with that large question of Tariff Re- vision.
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The Committee heartily concurred in th se remarks.
THE REGULATION OF TRAFFIC IN HONGKONG
HARBOUR.:
Read letter from Messrs. Butterfield and
Swire calling attention to the need for some regulations to control and direct the naviga tion of native craft in the approaches to the harbour.
should read Dr. advice, which are to the point. He says: "I am still of opinion that best prophylaxis is the daily use of a small dose “of quinine (3 to 5 grains) throughout the “summer (May to November) but I am | very sceptical as to whether it will ever be. possible to persuade the bulk of the population to adopt this course. I cer- *tainly think the better educated amongst and that he himself has telegraphed to the ion of the Committee, the trade in the above
the community might in this instance
· do worse than follow medical advice though possibly they will prefer
go
on expecting Government to kill off all the mosquitoes regardless of cost, which
SHANGHAI, 28th March, 7.56 p.m. The statement that Li Hung-chang has A draft letter to the Government on the subject by the Secretary was read and adopted.
THE TAADE IN NAPTHA AND GASOLENE. affixed his signature to the Manchurian
A letter dated the 27th February having been Convention proves to be only a rumour.
received from the Government, forwarding copy of a letter from the Standard Oil Company ef New York, and inquiring whether, in the opin-
Kwei Chun, Viceroy of Szechuen, has telegraphed to the patriots here that he fully concurs in their protest to the Throne,
Grand Council at Hsianfu, protesting against
the Convention.
Six Viceroys and seven Governors have wired to the patriotic party at Shanghai | that they concur in the protest.
products was likely to assume any large propor-
tions in the Colony.
To this reply was despatched on the March to the effect that thongh at the the trade would be small it might eventuál attain to considerable proportions.