}
January 27, 1902.]
The PRESIDENT said—As this is a matter which pre-eminently affects the shipping, I move that the Medical Officer of Health's recom- mendation that this matter be referred to the Chamber of Commerce be adopted.
Mr. BADELEY-Has the Government been asked to refer it P
Dr. CLARK-Yes.
Mr. BADELEY-I second that, The motion was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT -Whilst dealing with this matter of plague, you will find in the table a memorandum giving certain precautions which are necessary against plague and also cer- tain facts. in a popular form, concerning plague. These have been printed by the advice of Professor Simpson, and it is proposed to issue them in English and also in Chinese. We only received these printed forms this morning and it is now for the Board to adopt and authorise them; the sooner this is done the better. Information of this sort will tend to spread a knowledge of the disease and also of the precautions necessary to be taken against it. 1 move that we autho- rise the issue of this memorandum.
MR. OSBORNE-I suppos› they will be scat tered broadcast.
DR. CLARK-Professor Simpson suggests
that.
Mr. OSBORNE—I might suggest, if I am not too late, to add directions as to what people are to do when there is a case of plague in a house, in simple language. There are very few Chinese, and even Europeans. who know what to do, what to give, and so on.
The PRESIDENT-You mean more especially
as to notification ?
Mr. OSBORNE-Yes; and I mean as to finding out whether it is plague or not. There is a great deal of malarial fever in the summer, and I think something might be said that wou'd let people know whether it is plague or not; to find out what it is, and, when they have found out, what they are to do.
'The VICE-PRESIDENT-I to beg second the motion that the issue of this memorandum bo authorised.
M. FUNG WA CHUN-I am afraid it is a very difficult question, this differentiation between fever and plague.
The PRESIDENT-I think we might ave it to the Medical Officer of Health to put in a simple form the information required by Alr. Osborne.
The motion was agreed to.
ĭ
ANTI PLAGUE INOCULATION,
The PRESIDENT-Whilst dealing with this matter, I may mention that a fresh supply of anti-plague serum has arrived in the Colony. Indian and European experience leaves no doubt as to its protective influence when it is injected subcutaneously. It is not a complete protection, but undoubtedly an attack after the serum has been in culated is of a milder nature; and it occurred to me that there are many Europeans in Hongkong who might with advantage be inoculated, and that as speedily as possible. I refer more especially to those who have to live in Chinese houses and those who have to live, if not in Chinese houses, at least in European houses which are in close proximity to Chinese houses. I would advise all such to be inoculated. It occurred, to me that the Chinese New Year holidays would be a very suit- able time for this to be done. It is necessary to explain that there is usually fever and dis- comfort for from 24 to 72 hours, but this is not quite so much as usually occurs in an ordinary case of vaccination. You will see in this memor- andum that free inoculation will be performed at the Government Civil Hospital and the Sanitary Board offices by a medical officer from 9 to 10 a.m. daily, Sundays excepted. It is also intended that if those Europeans prefer to be inoculated by their own medical practi- tioners the serum will be provided free to the medical doctors for this pur pose. A state. ment concerning the effect of this inocuation -the immediate result of it upon
the person inoculated-has now been printed and it is proposed to disseminate that in a similar manner to this memorandum. If, mauy Euro- peaus avail themselves of this offer it would be advisable that they should communicate with the Medical Officer of Health so that we may know how many probably we will have to inoon- late. Arrangements could be made, I think, a
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
$7
day or two days before the Chinese holidays to | slower now, because we are getting low in our inoculate any who wish to be done. I brought water supply. We have to carry water up in this before the Board because I thought it backetsful from the Praya for the cleansing advisable for the public to know it as the operations and it will probably take us half the holidays occur boforo wo racet again in a day to carry up the necessary amount. fortnight's time.
THE DEATH-RATE.
The mortality statistics for the week ended 11th January shored that the death-rate had been 17.1 per 100 of the population per annum as against 17.3 in the previous week and 16.1 in the corresponding week of the preceding year.
PROPOSED CATELE-CREMATORIUM,
The SECRETARY laid on the table three plans received from the Director of Public Works, showing the arrangements and construction of " proposed cattle-crematorium and refuse-de- structor at Kennedy Town. The crematorium and destructor consist of one call only, the latter being intended for the destruction of rubbish removed from plague-infected premises.
"
ANALYSES OF BEER AND MILK.
There was laid on the table a return contain ing the results of examinations made by Mr. Frank Browne, the Government Analyist, under "The Sale of Food and Drugs Ordi- nance for the quarter ended 31st December, 1901. It bore that two samples oach of boor and milk had been analysed. One sample of milk was found to be adulterated. Both samples of beer were genuine.
THE NEW STAG HOTEL.
WATER SHORTAGE.
fur
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Mr. OSBORNE—I should like, if I am in orde“, to ask the Director of Public Works if he will kindly state for the information of the Board whether any steps are likely to be taken for supplying water as was done some years ago when we had a similar drought and when lighters were employed in bringing water from the Canton River I do not know that this matter altogether concerns the Sanitary Board, but it concerns us a great deal. I think we should not allow this meeting to pass without saying something on the subject and endea. vouring as as possible to meet this drought. I believe that good water be obtained on the other side and brought over here and distributed along the Praya- sold, if need be. I have been told of one instance of Chinese down in the East Point direction not being able to get water at all from the hydrants, and to-day I am told by a Portugueɛ. on the Caine Road level that there also they cannot get water without fighting for it at the hydrants, and that they would gladly send their coolies down to the Praya and pay Bay 5 cents a bucket-they aro now paying 10-if the Government would supply it. I think that if the Director of Public Works can give us any information on the point, it might be as well to do so her..
The SECRETARY submitted an application for permission to erect water closets and urinals at 15). Queen's Road Central, the New Stag Hotel. The following was minnted by Mr. E.
Hon. Mr. CHATHAM-I think, with your Osborne: - Sanction provided a well is sunk and water pumped from it to flushing cistern.permission, Mr. President, there can no objection In answer to a letter Mr. C. E. Warren, the to replying as far as I am able to the questions enginer, had stated that it was intendel to Mr. Osborne has put. I may say that at the sink a well sufficient to give thron days' supply present tine there is no occasion to make such and also to fix a pump and raise water to a arrangements as he has referred to. At the storage cistern twice daily.
commencement of this week-on Monday-was The PRESIDENT-In connection with this as nearly as possible 115,000,0 10 gallons, and at application there is also a similar one the rate of consumption of the preceding week from Mesars, Leigh & Orange with re- we had fully nine weeks' supply in han1. Since gard to Prince's Baildings. We might then arrangements have been made, as the take then both together. This is an applica- Medical Officer of Health mentioned a minute tion for permission to erect eight water' ago to discontinue the supply of water for dis- clos-ts and four urinals at the new block infecting purposes. That means that not only on Praya Extension, Prince's Building. The will water not be supplied for disinfecting condition laid dowu by the Surveyor that there purposes but it will be shut off during the by a storage system of 400 gallons a day and whole of the 24 hours-except such periods as that there be a pamp to raise the water to a'it is turned on in accordance with the present cistern on the roof. Mr. Osborne states in the system-from the whole of the town. first application that he would sanction it pro- course when disinfecting operations were going vided that a well is sunk and the water pumped on down at the Queen's Road level it meant to a flushing cistern. I think the same condition that a considerable section of the City above might be enforced with reference to the second that level was able to draw water from the application. If this eistern is covered so that mains during all the period it was turned there are no means of using the water for bodily on for the disinfection work. That will be purposes and the water is obtained in both obriated in the future. Then I may also say casos I do not think we can object.
that the services for the supply of shipping are being disconnected and it is now proposed to disconnect all the buildings supplies, so that by conserving the remaining quantity of water it is hoped that it will not be necessary to resort to any such measures as bringing the Of cours', if further water in that way. experience showed it to by necessary to have recourse to these measures they, would bo adopted.
MR. OSBORNE-I think some depth should be named as to the well. I know as a fact that a plentiful supply, quite sufficient for flushing purposes, can be obtained on the Praya any where at a depth of 25 feet, and the object in making this stipulation is that the water closets should have plentiful water for flushing in the seasons of drought. Unless some stipulation is made that the well must be sunk to a specific depth they may sink the well for 3 or 4 feet and thereby comply with the sanitary requirements without actually complying with health require inents. It might be mado 20 feet.
Hon. W. CHATHAM-I would suggest 12 feet or so-not less than 10-on the Praya; and 20 feet in the other cases,
Of
Mr. OSBORNE-But what I refer to is the question of the present scarc ty. There is sufficient water in the reservoirs but the people are not getting it. To-day they cannot get water. It is turned on certainly at certain hours, but the number of people who are able to get the daily dole is very small; at least not On the motion of the PRESIDENT this suggǝs-all do. I do not know what proportion of the tioa was adopted-namely 10 feet in the one population are finding difficulty in getting water but certainly a proportion is finding case and 20 feet in the other.
difficulty. and it is to meet that difficulty that ̧ I suggest this.
WORK OF CLEANSING GANGS,
The SECRETARY laid on the table a report of the work done by the cleansing gangs durio ? the fortnight ended 18th January. It bore that 924 houses had been cleansed, 1,85 floors' fumigated, an 2,785 floors clensed. The uamler dealt with in the previous fortnight (which contained however four public holidays) was 691. The number of houses lime-washed during the fortnight ended 15th January was 227. Hou. W. CHATHAM-It seems to me that this work is making very atisfactory progress. Might 1 ask when it wil probably be com pleted ?
?
Dr. CLARK-We have been at it now for six weeks. I am afraid we shall go very much
Hon. W. CHATHAM-Well, sir, if I may be allowed to add to what I have already said, the disconnecting of these services, such as those for the supply of shipping should aid in enabling ordinary residents to secure a supply, because some of those services that they have are of considerable dimensions and if they are open to the full extent possibly while the water is turned on they of course would draw off a large quantity of water and prevent its rising to bave other points, so that possibly what alluded to will tend to alleviate the conditions to which Mr. Osborne has referred.
This was all the public business,
G