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惕
June 17, 1901.]
Mr. Osborne-"I am opposed to it. Better confine the plague germs to one locality."
Dr. Clark I am most emphatically of the opinion that a plague cemetery should not be opened at Kowloon. This is the first I have heard or seen of this paper, although apparently I
was one of the committee appointed to report on the question in December last."
The PRESIDENT intimated that a temporary plague hospital had been constructed at Mong Kok Tsui. With regard to the cemetery, a resolution on the subject had just been passed. He did not know whether it was pur- posed to open more than one, but he hoped not.
Referring to the PRISIDENT's remark rela- tive to the construction of a temporary plague hospital at Mong Kok Tsui, Dr. BELL said that if the matched was meant the President was
wrong. The matshed was intended only for the reception of dead bodies prior to their
emoval to Kennedytown.
Mr. MAY put forward his motion for the erection of a mortuary at Kowloon or vicinity. Jr. CLARK, in seconding, said the mortuary would have to be regularly visited by a medical man; he might, in fact, reside there
The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. MAY I beg also to move that plague cemeteries be established in Kowloon,
Dr. CLARK-I won't second that. Mr. FUNG WA Chuen—I second it. Lieut. Col. HUGHES-I beg to oppose the opening of any other plague cemeteries in the colony.
On a vote being taken, the motion was lost; fuur voting for and five against.
APPLICATION regarding Treatment oF
PLAGUE PATIENTS.
An application was read from the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Ltd., asking that the Company's Chinese doctor (Dr. Kwan Kin Leong) be allowed to treat auy employees suffering from plague on their own premises in Kowloon in matsheds isolated from other dwellings and surrounded by a wall and locked entrances. What the Company proposed was to place all sick people in separate matsheds under observation, and if their sickness developed into plague, to transfer them to another matshed and leave them there till they either recover or die. The observation and plague matsheds it was proposed to place on Kowloon Marine Lot No. 9, some 250 feet from the nearest dwellings.
Mr. Fung Wa Chuen minuted—" This should be allowed."
Dr. Clark minuted-"I see no objection to this proposal. I believe that Dr. Kwan is a diplomé of the Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese.'
Mr. OSBORNE explained the scheme, which was to provide for the private treatment of his workmen. The idea was practically that of a private hospital.
Dr. CLARK-I have no objection, providing a case of plague is notified.
Mr. OSBORNE Of course. Lieut. Col. HUGHES-I think, if we allow this, we shall be swamped with other similar applications.
Mr. OSBORNE-There are not so many em- ployers of labour in the colony.
The application met with general approval, and, on the motion of Mr. MAY, seconded by Dr. CLARK, was granted. Dr. Thomson will visit the hospital daily.
ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC Water suppliES.
Reports of the analysis of the public water supplies of the colony for the month of May were submitted. The reports were by Mr. F. Browne, Government Analyst, who examined samples of the Kowloon, Tytam, and Pokfulum services, and found the water in each case to be of excel ent quality
A sample of water from a well situated at No. 14, Des Voeux Road, has been analysed by the Government Analyst and found to be so tainted with impurities as to be unfit for potable purposes, and likely to prove injurious to health. The well will be closed.
PLAGUE AT SWATOW.
A letter was submitted from H.B.M. Consul at Swatow relative to the outbreak of sporadic cases of bubonic plague there and the action of the Shanghai authorities in enforcing quarantine regulations on vessels arriving from Swatow.
Dr. Clark minuted “Follow suit.”
1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
489
A motion by the PRESIDENT to recommend | desires us to convey his thanks to all who the Governor in Council to declare Swatow a have helped him, as well as to daily enquirers. port infected with plague, and to enforce “Progressing favourably" is his answer to the medical inspection of ships arriving therefrom, latter. was lost, the general opinion being that quaran- tine would be of no practical use and would prove but a source of annoyance to shippers.
ANALYSIS OF MILK SAMPLES.
Correspondence was submitted relative to the analysis of three samples of fresh milk purchased at 35. Stanley Street (ground floor), 33, Cochrane Street (ground floor), and 70, Stanley Street (ground floor). The report of Mr. F. Browne, Government Analyst, showed the samples to be those of genuine milk.
FORTNIGHTLY LIMEWASHING RETURNS,
The returns for the fortnight ended 10th June showed that out of a total numb r of 3,436 houses in the Central District, 2,389 had been limewashed. Seven occupiers in the same district were prosecuted, and fines amounting to $70 imposed.
DEATHS IN MACAO,
The mortality returns from Macao for the week ended 26th May showed a total of 59
deaths.
MORTALITY STATISTICS FOR THE COLONY,
The mortality statistios for the colony for the week ended 25th May showed a total of 49.8 deaths against 36.8 in the previous week and 35.2 in the corresponding week last year.
The returns for the week ended 1st June were 55.3 against 36.4 for the corresponding week of last year.
THE PLAGUE.
Saturday, 8th June. there were reported 23 fresh cases of plague During the 24 hours ending at noon yesterday (22 Chinese, one other Asiatic), and 19 deaths (all Chinese). The figures for the year are Dow:-1,092 case, 1,027 deaths. The number of cases therefore is already in excess of that of 1900, when there were 1,082 cases, with 1,034 deaths.
We reported yesterday that the departure of the steamer Haichang had been delayed owing to a case of plague on board. The victim is Mr. Chun Yut, an engineer on the vessel. He was removed to Kennedy Town on Thursday afternoon. The family is well known in the Colony.
Mr. R. D. Vania, broker, 16, Gage Street, who was admitted to the Parsee Club, 39, Elgin Street, on Wednesday afternoon, suffering from the disease, is being treated in a room specially set apart. The expenses are to be defrayed from the Parsee charity fund instituted to meet such cases,
Wednesday,
During the 24 hours ending at noon the 11th inst, there were reported 22 fresh cases of plagus (19 Chinese, 3 Europeans), with 23 deaths (all Chinese).
Dr. Stedman reported on the 11th inst. that two cases of plague had occurred in Connaught House, Captain and Mrs. Brown- hill having developed the symptoms. They were removed to Kennedy Town Hospital in the course of the day. Captain Brownhill, who is very well known in the Colony, is superintend ing engineer for Messrs. Bradley & Co., and, with Mrs. Brownhill, was leaving for England on Thursday by the German mail on a year's holiday.
A curious case is reported from a local board- ing-house, a Miss Besnard, a boarder,being now convalescent from plague, apparently without its being known that she had had the disease. Miss Besnard is a French lady, and teaches that language. She resided in Beaconsfield Dr. Bell, who Arcade until the 17th alt examined Miss Besnard, is of opinion that she is convalescent from an attack of plague. She had fever for two days, but since then has been going about her ordinary avocations and been out of doors daily, while her health does not appear to have been impaired by the very mild attack from which she seems to have suffered.
Baird, the apprentice engineer at the Cosmo- politan Docks, who was recently removed from the Base Post Office at Scandal Point, where
plague, he had stopped for one night, has died from
Thursday.
During the 24 hours ending at noon on the 12th inst. there were reported 26 fresh cases of plague (23 Chinese, 3 other Asiatics). with 20 deaths (all Chinese). The year's figures now are:-- 1,202 cases, 1,131 deaths.
Two of the non-Chinese cases mentioned in the above returns are Mrs. J. Levey, a Jewess, 26 years of age, residing at 47, Staunton Street, and Fazel Ahmed (21), an Indian policeman at Yaumati Station.
Captain and Mrs. Brownhill are reported to be already showing signs of betterment.
Mrs. D'Agostini and Mrs. Gonzalves, both of whom were taken from Beaconsfield Arcade, were discharged from Kennedy Town Plagde Hospital yesterday.
The other European patients continue to make satisfactory progress.
Friday.
During the 24 hou s ending at noon on the 13th inst. there were reported 21 fresh cases of plague (20 Chinese, one other Asiatic), with 21 deaths (all Chinese).
We learn that Mrs. Varcoe, 3, Wild Dell, whose seven-year-old boy was taken ill on Wednesday, has also developed symptoms of plague, and, with her child-who had recovered sufficiently to be moved was taken to Kennedy-
Dr. Thomson reported on the 18th_inst that, town Plague Hospital between eleven and twelve with the exception of Mrs. Brownhill, all the o'clock yesterday forenoon. The tenement houses known as Wild Dell have been disinfected. Alto-European patients in Kennedytown Hospital were getting on woll, Mrs. Brownhill, though gether there have been four cases of plague thera. not in a serious condition, was not progressing
Monday.
quite so favourably as her husband.
During the 24 hours ending on the 8th inst. there were reported 25 fresh cases of plague (23 Chinese, one other Asiatic, and one European) and 24 deaths (all Chinese). The European mentioned is Mrs. Varcoe, 3, Wild Dell, who, as we intimated in our issue of Saturday, was removed, with her child, to Kennedy Town Plague Hospital on Friday.
A second lukong has been admitted to Kennedy Town from the Central Police Station suffering from plague. He was admitted to the Government Civil Hospital on the 4th inst, in a high fever, which latterly developed into plague. He was sleeping at the Central Police Station in the bed next to that occupied by the lukong first afflicted with the disease.
We have received a letter from Mr. R. D. Vanis, in which he says"On the perusal of your paper of the 8th instant, I found in your plague information some remarks regard. ing the expenses from the Parsee Charity Fund, which if I pass unnoticed will leave a bad impression on the public mind. The Parsee Charity Fund is only for the general use of the Parsee Community and not for individuals, therefore any expenses incurred for my sole benefit will be charged to me and not, as stated, to the Fund.” Mr. Vania
Saturday.
During the past 24 hours there were
re reported 24 fresh cases of plague (22 Chinese, one other Asiatic, one European), and 25 deaths (24 Chinese, and one other Asiatio).
A case of plague was reported at midnight on Thursday from No. 7, Ezra Lane. The patient is a Portuguese girl," 17 years of age, named Cecilia Almario. She was then in a com- atose condition, and has since remained so. There is no chance of her recovering, it is stated.
Mrs. Anna Krater, of the "Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Hotel," 306, Queen's Road Central, was admitted to Kennedy Town Hospital yes- terday morning suffering from plague. ⠀
An Indian camp-follower from Kowloon died yesterday morning from plague. Satisfactory progress is being made by the other Indians and Portugnese.
As we went to press, we learnt that two fresh European cases had been notified, the victims being Mrs. Herbet and a daughter, residing at 14, Queen's Road Central'; and we also deeply regret to state that Mr. Brownhill succumbed to the disease early on Friday night.
Theother European patients are doing well.