54.
WARFARE AGAINST THE
MO`QUITO.
(Daily Press Juny 20th)
the
1
THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA,
(Daily Press, 21st July.)
[July 25, 1908.
It is
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND,
fidently be ascribed to the importations (tin which of late caused so much trouble from the railway works at Kowloon, but the in the State of San Francisco. It is possible statistics afford very clear proof of the that some valuable hints in this direction success of the anti-malarial measures might be obtained by the Chinese thr-ugh adopted on the island of Hongkong and a stu ly of trerman institutions, that country justify further expenditure on similar having succeeded very thoroughly in solving work. We shall probably always have
a problem which is in many respects malaria with us because, as the Principal analogous to that which is before China in Medical Officer points out, our hine the present day. Although it might not population is constantly receiving additions appear so at first sight, there is a noticable from the mainland of China, and the re- analogy between what is the actual state sident Chines pay somewhat frequent visits of the Chinese empire in regard to the to their native land. It is the Colony's Provinces, and that which existed in misfortune to have malarial cases introduced Germany, when it was compose of various in this way, but it is at least the Colony's Electorates, Grand Ducnies and in le- business to do all that sanitary and medical pendent Kingdoms, before they were scien e can suggest to remove the possibility combined under the Empire in 1870, of malarial infection from local conditions. true that the Viceroys are removeable The Medical Department can sincerely be by the Imperial Governmeut, waile in congratulated où what has so far been Germany the autonomy of the various states accomplished in this direction.
composing the Empire has been preserved. In essentials, however, the position of affairs in either country is to some extent the same. Practically the Chinese provinces under their respective Viceroys are as in- dependent of the central authority as if they were separate Kingdoms united under an Empire; and the methods which have proved successful in such a case in securing à united and strong nation with an adequate amount of popular representation would probably prove adapted to the real state of affairs in China which differs essentially from what it is represented to be theore-
institutions into China in the form in which we are familiar with them in Great Britain and her Colonies would be too far reaching a measure to afford ground for any hope of ultimate success, Or even of its being seriously considered by Chinese statesman, who know what is the actual state of matters with which they have to deal; but it is not too much to hope that some step in the direction indicated might be tried and might become the stepping stone to further progress in the direction of representative government. There are no doubt many strong grounds for objec tion to multiplied Legislative bodies; and it would be more satisfactory if the way could be clearly seen to supplying one Imperial Parliament for China, where the affairs of the whole nation would be discussed and settled, as is the case in Japan. But it is impossible to ignore that there are serious difficulties in this course, and that if this were the only mode of applying the system of representative government that can be taken into consideration, we might axpect to wait in lefinitely for its accomplish- ment. The great aim should be to make the advance in a form that shall not be too great a change from the actual state of affairs, and, as there can be no question that the existing administration involves the exercise by the Provincial authorities of great, indeed in many cases really in- dependent, powers, it would obviously be desirable to endeavour, if possible, to pre- serve that species of authority, but in such a shape that on the one hand it would be in conformity with the wishes of the people in the re-petive Provinces so far as local matters were concerned, and on the other subject to the control of the central Goveruent with respe t t more import- ant matters and asst all questions of imperial and nati nal significance. Much might be learned in respect to the former by reference to the United States Constitu- tion; and, with regard to the latter, from a study of the German Empire. In a cousky 8 use to the theory at least of central authority as China, the latt r would pro- bably afford a solution of many of the. points which would arise for adjustment.
To appreciate the extent and importance of the work do e by the Meical Depart ment of the Government of H ngkong one has only to take up the current number of tie Government Gazette Here we have a collection of rep rts and sta istis occupy ing close on one hundred pages setting fort in considerable detail the nature of the work done during the year 1907. In the General Rep rt by the Princi, al Civil Medical Officer, a d th Medical Officer of Health dealing with the sanitary cond tion | of the Colony the most striking feature 18, perhaps, the p of given of the success of the (iovernnient's anti-in-la ial measures. These were in ugu ated in 1899, but not much was done during the first year or two. A table showing the admissions for malaria to the two largest hosp tals of the Colony-the Government Civil Hospital and the Tung Wah Hospital
-reveals the gratifying fact that
It has often been pointed out that average admissions as well as the average although China is in theory under imperial deaths have been substantially reduced as a authority the actual state of the administra- result of the war against the mosquito. tion bears a closer analogy to that of a Con- Taking the returns of the last ten years it federation than to an Empire as generally is seen that for the first five the average understood. In theory the main factor in the admissions into the-e two hospitals were government of the country is absolute power 982 and the average deaths 122. During as exercised from Peking. In reality, as is the last five years the average has fallen to well known, this authority is largely 490 admissions and 74 deaths, notwith-qualified, and in many matters thetically. The introduction of representative standing the fact that during the last two Provincial Viceroys are able to act with years many cases of malaria which have what is practically complete independence. occurred among the men on the railway This has often been the cause of serious works have been brought to these hospitals friction; but, upon the whole, it is astonish. for treatment. The visible increase during ing with what adroitness difficulties of this the last two years in the admissions to the kind have been overcome and government, two principal hospitals has been due to that albeit in a somewhat clumsy form, has been one fact. On an average over 2,400 men sustained. At the same time the trouble were employed on the railway works last has by no means been overlooked by the year, exclusive of European contractors and central authorities; and indeed the com- their employees, and the medical officer to plaint has often been made that they are too the railway reports that 1,168 meu were ready to shield themselves from responsi- treated for malaria at the North and Southbilities, international and other, on the plea Face Camps. Only 89 cases, however, were that they are unable to interfere with the sent to hospital. Parenthetically, it may be rights of the Provincial Magnates. This mentioned that there is in the medical actual state of affairs is what will in reports no indication of any doubt as to the reality have to be considered in any reform cause of the extensive prevalence of malaria that may be initiated with a view to at the railway works. The layman is prone improving the internal government of the to think that the breaking of new soil give country, and more especially in connection off a malarial miasma, but the medical with the problem, of which we bear so officers are apparently satisfied that the much, of introducing some form of mosquito is entirely responsible. It may be representative government. It will certainly that the breaking of the soil disturbs the be no easy task to discover the exact point peace of the mosquito who takes his revenge at which a compromise can be made between on the disturbers. At any rate nullah very antagonistic principles. If a popular trai ing, in order to get rid of mosquito element be introduced into the administra- breeding pools, is the anti-malarial measure tion, it must take the shape of local which the medical officers recognise as of assemblies acting under or rather in co- first importance. It has not been adopted, peration with the Provincial Authorities, however, at the railway works because of But on the other hand, if this weight is to the great expeuse it would entail, but the badded to the power of the provinces, a employment of kerosine oil as a preventive similar force must be brought into play to of mosquito-breg in the pools, and the support imperial authority in dealing with administration of quinine to the men as all matters that affect the welfare of the a daily routine have combined to effect a Empire as a whole. If anything, there- stealy decline in the number of cases. Therefore, is done in the direction of popular is Luroom for doubt that the nullah-training represe tatin, it would seem that the which has been done on the slopes behind only means of ob'aining satis'actory the city of Victoria, and the other means of re-ults woul be to in-titute simu't- wartare against the mosquito which the aueously, an Imperial P rham at to deal Government has employe! dur n the past with the large matters affecting the whole eight or nine years, prove their value in the Empire, au local ssemblies to manage reduce mortality from malaria. This such in tters as may fairly be ousilere lo reduction is very marked among the Euro a rely Provincial character-something, peau troops. They have in the past suffe din fact after the style of Amer can institu- severely from malaria, but last rear there! tions, with, however, a safeguard against were fewer cases among them than in any previous year. Tha the deaths from malaria among the Chinese in the city were more numerous both in 1907: ni 1906 thau
the difficulty which has of late become apparect in that country from the complete independenc f individual States imat ers which may have a n tional baring, as far they were in 1904 and 1905 cau con.example the question of Japanese immigra-
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