December 29, 1906.
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it. Dr. Hunter made a point that insidnous disease might occur through drinking water full of bacteria harmless in themselves, but the Rame argument would app to the air we breathed. The air was laden with dust which was full of disease germs, !..
"They were going to prevent the people in Hongkong from breath- ing because of the germs of lurillus coli in the air they would be placed in an absuel position Dr. Huuter referred to a remark mad. by the speaker at a previous meeting of the Bard about bacteriology being one thing and chemied analysis another, the inference being that he (the speaker) had changed his riams. He had not done anything of the kind. Undoubtedly they were different things. As he admitted in. his minute bacteriology was useful in finding out germs in water which could not be dis covered by Chemical analysie, but on the other hand chemical analysis readily detected isors which bacteriology would ever discover. came to this, that if bacteriological examination stated that cholera germs were present, and the chemical analysis gave an opposite report as to potability of certain water ho should give priority to the chemical analysis, because it wa more certain. The other was more delicate but not so certain. With regard to E." he stated that sewage was readily detected by chemic examination. Dr. Husier said it was not. He would like to know where the doctor gol his ideas from. Personally, he (Mr. Humphreys) as an indifferent analyst himself disagreed with him, and he thought that opinion would be supported by much greater experts than himself, Mr. Brown, G serument Analyst Mr. Taylor, of the Sugar Refinery, and other Analysts. Dr. Hunter had intended to conver that he had changed his views that if typhoid bacillus was present in the water or cholera bacillus, chemical analysis would not detect it. He still agreed with it, because before those things were associated with sewage they had to pass through some animal. generally man. before they got to the water. In conclusion he argued that the disc very of these barilli would be assisted by chemical analysis.
The PRESIDENT, replying to Mr. Hum. phreys, said that if that gentleman agreed that bacteriological analysis was more delicate but not so certain as chemical analysis, surely it was as well to get that test in addition to chemical analysis. When both reports BATE submitted to the Board they should be guided by their judgment
Mr.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFORT.
it a gat disrespect to this Board that a communication addressed to members eleren days ago has not been sent to them The PRESIDENT —Next business.
THE WELL IN STANLEY
STREET.
The question of closing the well in the yard of No. 21 Stinlay Street was again considered. The PRESIDENT –Ôn two occasions the Board deciled that this well should be closed. and also on two occasions the owner of the property on which it stands has written in and Lasked the Board to reconsider its decision. Therefore the matter has been considered twice, and this is the third time The question is Whether the well shall heel sed or not I more that it be el sed
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HUMPHREYS replied that when one | said the well should remain open and the other said it must be closed, in that event unless the bacteriologist was preparel to state that bacillus of typhoid or cholera were actually
present the well should not be closed.
The PRESIDENT added that both raports were submitted and the action of the Board was guided by the judgment of the majority.
Mr. HUMPHREYS agreed. They were in the position of judges at home.
MEMBERS' RIGHTS.
Concerning a number of applications for Я modification of the requirements of .section 175 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, the President enggested that as the matter was still's dindire tiny, should adjourn consideration of these applici. tions. A letter forwarded to the Board by an unofficial member was being considered by the Government.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-My letter was sent in ten or eleven days ago, and has not yet hen circulated.
The PRESIDENT-No, it has been referred to the Government.
MR. HOOPER-Under those circumstances ! should like to know under whose authority a letter address d to the Board has becu referred
to someone else.
The PRESIDENT By my authority.
Mr. HOOPER-Then with all due respect to your authority I venture to say that you have no right whatever to suppress any information from members, seat to them by the public for their information.
The PRESIDENT-No information has been suppressed or will be suppressed that has been communicated to the Board. It will be laid before them in due time.
Mr. COPER be Government cannot intervene between you and the Board in any communications from the public, and I consider
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Mr. HOOPER-I
should like to ask the Modical Offeer whether there have been any cases of typhoid or cholera iu that honse.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
couldn't say off hand.
Mr. HOOPER-I should also like to ack whether taking the population of Hongkong, speaking generally, the percentage of typhoid and cholera is not very small:
The PRESIDENT- varies, of course, with different years. exposed to an outbreak of cholera here, and tha object we have in closing these wells is to safa. guard the health of the colony. If a well of that sort got contaminated with cholera bacil'i it would be a great source of dangir.
It is impossible when once a well is opened to prevent. people carrying buckets of water away neighbouring honzes and to houses in streets far away from its vicinity.
Af any moment we may be
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Mr. Hooper-I may say that up to abo it. years ago tephoid was practically unknown in this Colony, but malaria WAR rary rifa and then people had to dipind very largely on well water; therefore such water has never been the cansa of typhoid fører. With regard
to cholera I was surprised to hear you say there had been hundreds of cases here.
The PRESIDENT-Hundreds in the outbreak of 1902.
Mr. HOOPER -I was fortunately absent. during that year.
The REGISTRAR GENERAL. -I beg to second your motion, Mr. President. 'fter all we must place some confidence in our experts until they are shown unworthy of it, and Dr. Hunter, from his report, seems to take a cauti me view, and not to be actuated by any wild the rise. I must say with regard to questions of publi· health, thai in the event of Dr Hunter, our bacteriologist, being supporte 1 by the Medical Officer of Health. this kind recommended. I don't suppose Mr. I have no diffienity in voting for anything of
Humpleèys or Mr. Hooper wish to wait for the dise very of cholera bacillas in the well before closing it; that would be closing the door after the horse was stolen.
Mr. Ho PER I move as an amendment that the well be allowed to remain upon.
Mr. Puso WA CHUN-I beg to second that, because whenever I go out through the hot days; I see hundreds of women and girls carrying water from nullahs, and in my opinion water like this, the quality of which is certified by ha Avalvet, is for hofter than that extrictel from dirty nullahs on the hillsides.
Mr HP?R-In support of the amendment have to say that with the conflicting evidence
we have before us of the Government Analyst. in whom we have every confilence, as against that of the Government Bacteriologist, I don't think we are justified in closing this well, at any rate for the present.
The amendment was carried.
HUMOUR AND DIGNITY,
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The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I don't anything disrespectful to Mr. Hooper in my
remarks
Mr. HOOPSB-You mentioned two names— Mr. Humphrey‹ and mine.
add Mr. ang Wa chun and Mr. Lan Chu- The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-Then I will
pak's.
The PRESIDENT This discussion must CEARD. We bare had quite enough on the subject.
Mr. HOOPER-Then I will ask you to send the remarks to the Governor.
The PRESIDENT-Will you kindly allow me to speak. I am in the chair, and call you in order. If you wish it to be sent to the Governor it shall be sent.
Mr. HoopER—I do.
The PRESIDENT-I certainly think Mr. | Brewin did not mean it in a personal way in the
least.
When the amendment was declared carried, the REGISTRAR-GENFRAL sid ho suppos: it was open to the Medical Offer of Health to bring the matter up again at another meeting when Messy, Hooper and Humphreys were not present, and to reverse the decision.
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Mr. HOOPER-(hafly) - I object most strong- ly to the remarks of the Registrar-General. think they are very undi-uifi d and unbecoming of an officer of the Government holding the high position of a seat on the Executive Council, and I ask you. Sir: to send a report of that remark he made, together with mine, to his Excellancy the Governor. because it means that if wach remarks are allowed to be made, then it is impossible for unofficials to attend at this Board.
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The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I don't think there is anything condemnstory in saying that Mr. Hooper will vote and maintain bis position.
SCAVENGING IN RURAL ISTRICTS, The Committee appointed to consider the question of enforcing the Scavenging and Conservancy Bre laws in Raral Districts reported that they were of opinion that it was not practicable in the Colony to prevent the use of excreta matters for
maouring in
strictly agricultural districts.
ERECTION OF CUBICLES.
A minute by Dr. Clark on the subject of the erection of cu bioles with comments thereon by the President was circulated.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK
minuted that The question of enbicles was
an important one sod should be dealt with by a select committee. It was very undesirable to make amendmentu after amendmeals to the Ordinance which would at Я
future date be found equally impracticable with those already added.
HOUSING OF VERMILION WORKMEN,
The
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH furnished a minute relative to the housing of the workmen of the rermilion factory at No. I Kwong Fung Lans, wherein he said: -I recommend that the Board should ask the owner to set apart a portion of the building exclusively for the housing of his workmen and dwelling portion should have a separate entrance not allow them to s'eep in the workshop. The and should contain the kitchens so that food should not be cooked in the workshops. This can easily be done as the workshop is a large rambling place which can easily have a dwelling
with sulphur to form sulphide of mercury; (2) a divided off. The processes carried out in the factory are (1), heating of metallic mercury crushing, washing and drying this sulphide of mercury and its packing in small paper packets for sale.
Mr LAU CHU-PAK minuted-Has any case of poisoning taken place in such shops? The trade may not be so dangerous as sugested.
dangerous trade, or only legally dangerous?
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL- Is this a really
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The PRESIDENT -This is classified as dangerous trade at home, and I strongly approve of the Medical Acer of Health's recomm-D ndations.
The MEDICAL OFFICES OF HEALTH-In
ply to the Registrar General I may say that the manager tells m that trade is not very brisk just now, and therefor· be has only from twenty to thirly men at work. None of these how signs of being ill, and one man tells me hea has worked there for 39 years. This, however, does not aller the fact that working with metallic mercury gradually uzdermines a man's health and that it is not at all a proper pro- ceeding for him to eat his mesis and alep in the workshop It is impos ible to get reliable information as to whether men leave after a year or two on account of ill health. There would be no great difficulty in setting apart a portion of this big place for dwelling purposes only, and that is all I bay · suggested." The Factory and Workshops Act at home recognises lead, phɔn- photons, mercury and arsenio as the principal poisonous metals found in workshops.
The Board decided that employees were to be housed apart from the works.
H. E. the Officer Administering the Govern - ment has been pleased to app int Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher to be his private secretary.
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