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THE HONGKONG DAILY · PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY
THE TYPHOID OUTBREAK.
DISCUSSED AT THE SANITARY BOARD,
THE M. "O. H. AND THE MILK SUPPLY.
ANTI-MALARIAL MEASURES ALSO DISCUSSED.
The Sanitary Board of Hongkong sat; is in reality merely a strainer and the for considerably over an hour, yesterday water after passing through is no better afternoon when three important subjects were dite:ssed at great length, viz. (1) the sutbreak of typhoid fever in the Colons and its probable source of infer- tion: (2) anti-malarial measures in the Culnoy; and (3) the general question of the granting of permission to instal water closets, with particular reference to Chi-
nese houses,
ROTE: 1924
Regarding the Medical Oficer of cast-iron throughout. He would like to Health's rearks in respect to the Duicy point out that the question of the water Farus as the possible source of the out-supply had been considered at greal break, if the milk supply had been con length, and the purity of the water and Laminated he would have thought that the possible contamination of the unteb- the incidence of typhoid would have heciment areas was a matter for the Water greater., and assuming that the water Authority to deal with. They received supply to the Dairy Farin. was infected, reports from the bacteriologist, and if then the Public Works Departmens were there were points in the report requiring to blame for not warning the public explanation they asked for them, and they They had every month a report from were courteously given. Government, as to the state of the water supply
The Dinor of Prasic. Works ex- plained that the Dairy Farm did not draw its supply of water from the town supply It had a supply of its own.
than the water Brought to the apparatus. Certainly the Dairy Farmy has ample
·Dr. Kora apologised, and said that he means at its disposal for sterilising its water by boiling, but it has been ad-held no,brief for the Dairy Farm, hat he mitted that for the cleansing of one in portant apparatus unsterilised water has been used. The investigation al pessible sources of contamination of milk at the Dairy Faro has not been completed hut it is quite possible that the cause of the epidemic has been this weak point in the defensive pronour of the Dairy Farmi
THOUSANDS OF TYPHOID CARRIERS,, Dr. Kocn asked if the catchments and the water had heen examined, before and after filtering.
The MEDICAL OFFICER. Or flera saNi
water
he obtained last week from the Dairy Farm samples of water before and alter could not see that it was fair to throw altering. This was really a matter for the the blame upon the processes used at the Water Authority but as a possible sourcė Farm in an attempt to get at the source of contamination he had the of infection. There were other possible examined. The result was that the so. sources of infection. At the last meeting ralled Altered water of the Dairy Farm the Medical Other of Health made refera was not one jot better than the unfiltered ence to certain latrines for the use water. contractor's employees which did not rom- ply with the regulations. “
Both were hand.
There were sent at the meeting: Mr. S... Smith (Chairman), the Hen, dr. 11. T. Creasy (Director of Public Works), Dr. W V. M. Koch, Mr. S: W. "Tso. Mr. Wong Kwong-tin, Dr. W. W. Pear-e (Medical Ofbeer of lealth). Dr. A. ti. Mr. Severn (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. G. S. Kennedyrst passes through the Government filter meat, although they complied with the cases us against 41 Europeans clearly
beds and has als lately been chlorinated. I regulations.
Skipton (Secretary to the Board).
THE TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.
•POKYULAM RESERVOIR A QUESTIONABLE
SOURCE ON WATER SUPPLY. The CHAIRMAN called in the Medical
Offer of Health to reply to Dr. Koch's question us to "What progress has been unile in the invpatigation of the source of infection in recent cases of typhoid
fevers"
Pokfulam Reservoir has long been
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, Ex known "to be a questionable source of, water supply but the water derived from plained that these latrines were not in it and distributed to the Colony generally accordance with the desires of the Depart
to express the People who draw water directly from Pok.j. Dr. Kuwenton fulam reservar run great risk from time apinion that flies were the principal ear to time of drinking water which has been riers of the infection. He could not see polluted by fouling of the Pokfulam catch how milk could be blamed. As to the negt area. Their only defence is to boil water supply, he had been in the habit their water. It is probable that recently of drinking water direct from the pip there has been an unusual fouling of this and fortunately he had not had an attack catchment area owing to the number of of typhoid up to the present. He had coolics employed in constructing the new
come to the conclusion that if the milk motor"rond from Mount Kellet Road to supply and the water supply were 'con-
He bad recently larger number of cases.
case under his charge-in which a per son arrived from the Sam Shui district, which is in. food, suffering from typhoid,
|
31r. WONG KWONG-TIN sail-that he was proud of the Chinese rules for caling: never eat anything raw and never drink anything without boiling it. He thought that the figures showing only 23 Chinese portrayed that the outbreak was due to eating raw vegetales and drinking milk not boited.
would have
Mr, S. W. Tsu thought they to look nearer the homes for the possible, source of the outbreak and, suggested that suggested a campaign against Ries.
flies contaminated the fool: He further
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH: Would": you be prepared to carry out n campaign against dies! Ile said it was JE.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, said the Peak Tram Station. The heavy rains taminated, there would have been a much possible to state the different kinds of
Before replying, directly to Dr. Koch's question I propose to say something with the intention of correcting popular beliefs as to the cause of typhoid. It is con- Innaly supposed that had smells cause this disease and that the so-called "germs" of the disease live for long periods in
oil whence they may emerge into the zir and by being breathed into the lungs
set up this disease.
of June and Tuly must have washed into the fierypin a great deal of filth which may well have been mixed with exereta from typhoid carriers.
..
three weeks at least before notification
DAIRY MARM WATER SUPPLY UNSAFE, The incubation period of typhoid fever his so long--two to three weeks-and its onset so insidious that every case notified may be expected to have been infected Typhoid fever is a parasitic disease. is made to the Medical Obeer of Health, While in cases which are clinically re- cuprisge these parasites are contained in Typhoid, bacilli mpidly die out in reser- the blood of the patient the port of entry yoirs so that any attempt to detect them of the parasites is in the digestive sys several weeks after their presunied date tem. A man acquires typhoid by eating or drinking something which has been of access to the water is usually a failure. contaminated by the microscopit parasite However, the bacteriological tests of the known as the typhoid Incillus, Every Dairy Farm water side at my request patient suffering from typhuid vaids is his
has undoubtedly shown that the water is faeces or arine, or both, enormous amo hers of these parnsites. An undetermined badly contaminated with filth which may number of persons are carriers of reasonably be assumed to have been mix- The hamun typhoid bacilli. Such persons may have led with human excreta. suffered from: reengnised typhoid fever element en the entirely eliminated or they amy never have loen recognised from work on a Dairy Fan, und although sufferers and yet he carriers by de jeeta of such persons should contagiate food or drink the consumers of such are liable to be infected and to suffer in their tara.
There are many ways by which food and drink can be so contaminated, viz:
1. By the handling of food by carriers chika and ther. persons dunéstically employed...
which showed that it could not be the local milk of water supply.
"
He was of the opinion that there should be attached to the Sanitary Board' some- thing in the nature of a Public Health Laboratory for the purpose of traching such
outbreaks. This outbreak of typhoid was
not going to be the only outbreak. There would be other outbreaks with which the Board would have to contend, and as far as he could see it was only by the mercy of providence that they were not hit more often. To his mind it was a great pity that they had not been able to get at the source of it.-
carriers in the Colony. There were thou sands of carriers.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC Works said
that the public water supply after älter- ing was chlorinated, which was an addi- Lional reason why it was not likely to be
contaminated.
ANTI-MALARIAL MEASURES IN THE COLONY.
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN, In reply to Dr. Koeb's second question, asking for a report or statement on, the in the Colony, the CHAIEMAS said the present state of anti-malarial measures
Sanitary Department was originally an and the activities of its Inspectors were At 10: anti-plaque Department and its activities still 50 per cent, anti-plague. same time they did not lose sight of other dangers and malaria was one of them.. "A MILK-BORNE INFECTION.
if it was true to say that there would ine The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, reply no malaria without presquitoes it w
Therefore t it is possilge for the Dairy Farm Coming, said he did not agree with Dr. Koch equally right to say that there would the pany to use no ansterilised water in their that his previous remarks were based on mosquitoes without water.
a question of ridding districts, workshops it is desirable that their water theory; neither did he agree with Dr. was
a L supply shall be modified so that no water Koch that because there was a small nun where bouses were, of stagnant water by shall be used that has not passed through ber of cases that it could not be a milk training nullahs.
With regard to the city of Victoria, the the Government filter beds. This could borne epidemic. Erga-though every pos doubtless he managed by bringing water sihle precaution was taken at the Dairy training of nullabs had been a success. to the Farm from the Peak or more Farm, they had to remember that the Years ago Victorin was a most unhealthy directly from the Elliot filter beds. The water supply to the farin was not above place. It was now comparatively healthy. Sanitary Board can if it wishes require suspicion. There was always the chance With the great expansion of building the Dairy Farm to use no water but that of some accident happening. He honestly during the last five years, especially in By the eating of shell fish, which, comes from the Government mains, thought that this was a milk-borne in- Kowloon, it was only natural to think!
fection
that malaria had also increased in the oysters, bred in sewage contaminated
The Maonger of the Dairy Farm has now water.
Dr. Kocs pointed out that there had same ratio. promised to cut out entirely the use of unsterilised water, but it would be safer been cases in Kowloon, and that milk
Cli
By the eating of raw vegetables, such
Aa
as lettuces which have been manured to have water from the public supply alter | was supplied to residenta there by farms be words what steps' were being taken.
human sources.
ooly say they were always on ly fresh liquid manure derived from filtration and safer still for Pokfulam other than the Dairy Farm, though the the look out for bad drains. The ques reservoir to be cut ont of the Public great majority of people got their milk tion of inefficient drains in several parts These methods of infection undoubtedly Supply. The explanation offered especi- from the Dairy Farm which was getting of Kowloon had been the subject of strict serunt for the usual incidence of typhoid ally as regards the use of upsterilised water from a questionable source of sup- enquiry and the Department was urging in a colony like Hoogkong. The natural water for orc eleansing process at the ply, the Pokfulam réservoir. defence against this mode of infection lies Dairy Farm is theoretical and merely, in avoidance of unecek vegetables, oys-bows a possible way by which milk may rers, etc., from impeachable sources, and bare been contaminated, for the Dairy draw its supply from the Pokfutasu reser- most of all in domestic cleanliness.
Another important source of infection lies in the carrying of Gith on the legs and proboscis of fies from night soil re reptacles, to food in the kitchen, pantry or dining room. In this case again the premations are abolition of the dry, domestic
latrine in which the excreta are not covered by earth or some disinfectant and the substitution therefore of the water closet will greatly reduce this chance of infection,, but when this cannot be done the utmost precaution is needed to protect food from flies. Hongkong the domestic fly breeds chiefly i dirty duet bins.
COMMON ROURCE OF INFECTION.
the Public Works Department to see to The DIRECTOR OF PELIC WORKs again where building was going on. Inspectors the proper training of aullahs in places pointed out that the Dairy Farm did not
were continually on the look out for likely Farm Company follows this washing by voir. The Dairy Farm not its supply by breeding places for mosquitors, and they other processes with the intention of a private pipe from the Pokfulan: catch were constantly sending specimens of lave to the Department for examination. He would like to say that at the begin getting rid of any contaminating, matter ment area and not from the reservoir. which may have thus gained access to the The CHAIRMAN aid that the Depart ning of the present year the
question apparatus. As, however, even the best ment held no brief against the Dairy regarding Kowloon was taken up by the intentions are fiable to fail sometimes, Faral. They all knew that the Dairy Medical Officer of Health. Dr. Woodman. it can not be said that the Dairy Farm Farm had probably the best mille supply and an Officer of the PW.D., who form is safe as long as its water supply is cast of Suez, and there was no doubt that ed a business-like committee. They were the methods used by the management for, assisted by an Officer kindly leat by the unsafe.
The MEDICAL OFFICE OF HEALTH went sterilizing containers were sound and that Military authorities who was something on to say that he bad drawn out a rough draft showing the incidence of p to the publie they took every possible afraid their proceedings had fo typhoid and typhoid in the Colony for the present month. The number of Chi- nese and Japanese cases were 14, other vases 55.
The
Dr. Kocu: Since the last meeting, this day fortnight, how many cases have been reported?
...
He wis
in every other process of supplying milk of an expert on such matters. not gone
precaution. He thought the Medical Officer of Health would agree with him
un that point.
year.
the
Re-
lection of data, which, however, was very far; in fact not further than the col Grst stop towards useful progress. The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH: Cer search work was necessary as well. They
were short-handed and the Medical Oti-1 The present epidemic however is not to
tainly.
On the other hand, continued the cers of Health could not be expected to he explained merely through the above possible sources of infection. During the The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH said CHAIRMAN, it was just a possible source do much research work after a full day of last fortnight so many cases have occurred that at the last Board meeting be stated of contamination. It was not a large routine work. But they were not losing that it has been evident that there, has that there were only three cases of para- epidemic; in fact it was considerably sight of the question, and he thought their Dr. Kock called, attention to the pre been some common source of infection typhoid and one case of typhoid at the smaller than the outbreak twelve months efforts would bear fruit in the future. The first question to be considered was Peak. A great number of other cases had ago. The figures for June were 19 a
against 48 last year whilst the figures for sence of mosquitoes on the Peak, particu abat of the probable contamination of been reported since then.
July were less than half of these for last larly in the Mount Kellett area. These water as supplied to the public by the "CONJECTER AND GENERAL, IDEAS.”
areas, he thought, should be attended to water taps from which they would batur.
The CHAIRMAN said that he was urging Dr. Kocy said that it was very interest- The second point they had to remember, ally take their supply. As the disease bas ben, widely spread throughout the Colonying to hear what the Medical Officer of was that thin first cases were confined to the Government that the whole of thi of the different sourece of Health had said, and especially to know a very small area in the Peak district, district required to be cleared and that water supplied to diferent of slime he naked his question a fort amongst the banesteads of Mount Kellett strict in the tinies should be Dr. Kocs also referred to the drainage- Colony and, as the majority of those in-night ago, when they were told that it Then suddenly it spread. Cases were re-filled up.
that the ported from Kowloon; cases were report- fected had their milk from the Hongkong was "Peak Trainway, gossip.
arca above Seven Road where there were Dairy Farm, attention was early directed cases had accumulated in such numbers. ed from Kowloon of two children who had to the milk supply being the cause of the It struck him that as there had been never been across the Harbour at all several bullahs which needed building up, epidemic. Milk may be contaminated, as absolutely no chance of getting at the Cases were reported from Quarry Bay, and pointed out that the Sanitary Depart cus food in private houses, by carriers source of infection they had fallen back where they had their own water supply ment was not a water-tight compartment. employed in a dairy. It may also be con- on to conjecture and general ideas as which made the Department think that They were here to look after the health taminated by the use of contaminated to the source of the outbreak. They the question of contaminated water was of the Colony and if one department saia water used for cleaning milks pails and knew a long time ago that in every an extremely unlikely. Remembering that, you can only do this and another said you can only do that, he would like to dairy machinery.
also be con- nual report of the Department there was the question of the milk supply was con amated by the use
typbald fouled a warning contained against the use of aidered. As he had already pointed out, know where they stood.
Mr. WONG KWONG-TIN suggested the water to adulterate the milk, but this salads and greens. He well remembered the method of supplying milk from the appears to have no application in the a lady who lived down below who went Dairy Farm was exemplary, Tut they had free distribution of quinine to Govern present epidemic. The Hengkong Dairy to the Peak and there developed typhoid, to bear in mind that the Dairy Farm was ment contractor's employees engaged in Farm derives its water supply from Pok- It was then suggested that she had con- entirely dependent upon water which on cutting into new land.
There was no further discussion on the tracted the fever from eating raw anlad, analysis proved to be had. It was really but is afterwards turned out that the asking too much for them to believe that subject.
their extraordinary careful methods were lady had never enteu raw salads.
It
fufam reservoir and the water is unfiter
ed. It is true that the Dairy Farm Com pany has its own so-called Alter. Lut this
(Continued on pige 7-).
4 DAYS ONLY"
LANE, CRAWFORD'S
ترسم لولو
SUMMER SALE
COMMENCES TO-DAY
ENDS SATURDAY.
BARGAINS
IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
HOUBIGANT'S
QUELQUES FLEURS PERFUME
AND
CREME EN BEAUTE.
We have Just Beceived a Fresh Supply of the above- place Your Order Early to avoid disappointment.
THE CHINA DISPENSARY
3262
3263
3264
82, Quia's ROAD CENTRAL
WIRELESS MORSE
CODE
COLUMBIA RECORDS
(PART 1-ALPHABET, ELEMENTARY.
•
1-FIGURES, KASY LANGUAGE.
[PART 3-MORE DIFFICULT, PLAIN, LAUGAUGE, HIGHER FEED
FIGURES.
4-STOCK QUOTLTIONS, ETC, HIGHER SPEED THAN
PART 3.
PART 5-MISCELLANEOUS MATTER SIMILAR
TO REGULAR
WIRELESS TRANSMISSIONS. 6.-CONTINUATION OF PART 5. BUT MORE DIFFICULT,
REPRESENTING REGULAR COMMERCIAL WORKING.
$5.00 PER SET (3 RECORDS)
AT
ANDERSON'S.
Powell
12, Des Voeux Road. C.
SUMMER SALE
LADIES
SHOES
Commences Saturday, July 26th.
The whole of our Stock has been Greatly Reduced;
in many Styles below cost.
This Block must be cleared to make room for Autumn deliveries."