Page
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
NO PLAGUE FOR A YEAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER STE, 1924
TYPHOID STOPPED ALMOST WITH A SNAP."
INTERESTING STATEMENT AS TO ITS CAUSE.
De
A further interesting statement typhoid and one en plague were made at the fortnightly meeting of the Sanitary Band held yesterday, afternoon. The meeting was presited over by Mr. N. L'ing the rat plague. Smith Spresident). There were also pre- seat. The Hon. Mr. C. Alabaster, K.C., Dr. W. V. M. Koch," Messrs, S. W. Two, Wong, Kwong-tin, Ur. W. W. Pearse (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. D. Davies (acting Secretary to the Bouril).
COLONY FREE OF PLAGUE.
Pursuant to notice," Mr. S. W. Teo
asked:
Dr. Kot said he would like to reho the congratulations of Mr. Tso on the absence of plague. It had to be remem. bered that it was a question of suppress- Pingue itself was not communicable frous man to man. It was a question of rats, and so long-
as the Government persisted in its policy of exterminating rats so long would we be free from plague. He hoped that the efforts of the Pepartment to exterminate rats would evatime.
TUNG WAH HOSPITAL CHOLERA „REPORT. Referring to the iceth Nes. A on the
STATEMENT ON TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.
i
The PRESIDENT then said: I hope I shall | be excused if I make what I trust und be a final statement on the subject of typhoid. Now that we are apparently out of the wood it is possible to discuss the question calmly and without preju dice. What I have to say will be purely on the question of facts and statistics and I shall try to avoid saying anything that, should not be said by a layman.
TYPHOID ALWAYS WITH US.
OBITUARY.
MR. C. RICHARDSON.
We regret to learn of the airath of Mr. Charles E. Richardson. of Messrs. Richardson & Co., four rerchants, of Hongkong and Swatow.
Mr. Richardson and been in indiferent
health for some time past, but the first news that he was seriously ill reached here on Friday by telegram and he died the same night. Mrs. Richardson pres parel to impudiately leave for Swatow jon receipt of the cable, but her husband had passed away within only a few hours of her sailing from this port.
The late Mr. Richardson had been, a
resident of Hongkong for over 13 years. and a few years ago started in business on his own, being principally incrtested. in the four import trade. He was a Christian Scientist, and both he and Mrs. Richardson have taken a leading port ju the Christian Science community of th
The deceased was highly es were by all who knew bin. and the derpest sympathy will se felt with Mes, Richardson in her sad berpavonent
I do not know if members of the Board digested the very interesting statistics on the subject compiled by the MO... and circulated a week or two age. What stands out in those statistics, is firstly, that typhoid is always with us ma, the M.O.. stated nt. our last meeting. Secondly, there is generally a fairly con stant ratio between Chinese and non-Colony, Chinese caSES, Taking the five years 1919 to 1928, we find the no Chinese cases averaging per cent. and the Chi- nese, 72 per cent, of the totals. The same roughly hold good for the first six months of 1991 and has held good since
TO ASSIST MOTHERS' UNION. August 7th, when the epidemic proper
Now during the period JulyCon was held yesterday afternoon in A sale of work in aid of the Mothers' erasert. 11th to August 7th of this year the non- the Helena May Fastitate, and was well rose to an extraordinary attended by the European ladies of the L'olony. All kinds of useful and fancy (tive feature of the stalls being the child- ren's clothing made by members of the Union Many firms meat gifts in the form of goods for sale. The officials of the Union who had charge of the arrange. wer Mr. E. F. Ancott (Pre-
"In view of the approaching plague / Agenda, which dealt with n report by the Chinese cases
s the Bourd to prevent or mitigate the disease? How many plague cases occurred in the Colony during the last plague "sea- son!
.H
SALE OF WORK,
Medical Officer of Health on the cholera out of a total of 64, or say 70 displaced for sale, an attrac
in the Tung. Wah Hospital in 1902, the PRESIDENT said there were one or two minutes pointing out à recommendation in the report for euvers for ball valves
(1
Mr. ALABASTER: It was not the same Water Authority in those days!
per cent. non-Chinese to 30 per cent. Chinese. This may be interpreted in two ways, either it is a mere matter of chance or it is not. Dr. Koch, I think, "suggests the fermer, for, in a question naked sixsident); Mrs. T. Orton (treasurer); and weeks after the percentage had got bäck | Mr... H. E. Fielder (secretary), The to normal (it may so use the expresstall-kolders were: Mrs. Westlake. Mrs. Grimshaw. Mrs. Hast, Mrs. Hynes. Mrs.
Of course Sellwool, Mrs. Maughan, Mr. May,
Mrs. Groddard and Mrs. Williams.
The Casirsan sail : With your permis and taps and asking that the attention So I think strictly - thứ 1,0),II. Shouli | of the Water Authority be drawn to this. supply the answer to the first question. He did not know whether the Watersion) he uses the words "In view of the Wooley, Mrs. White, Mrs. Eldridge, Mrs. and myself the repull, but under the Authority was aware of this.
· circumstances I can answer both myself, With regard to the second question which
will take first, cases of plague, either in man or rats, were notified between the 47th Septem- ber, 123, hd the present dair, so that for the first time sincr plague was dis covered here, over 30 years ago. the Cohng had been Tree from known plague
Board.
Raswer is none. Nor
The Pastas agreed that it was "not.
IMPORTATION OF FOOD STUFFS,
A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNMENT." The PresipExr, referring to the im pertation of food stuffs, said he noticed that the members were in favour of the i proissed recommmendation for legislation, for over twelve seentive months
With regard to the first questium, the | Me. Alglaser Und raised the question of periodical "élexusing of bugtses under by- lve being "importest from Canton in 1915 law of the hydras governing Prevention He was afraid that was the first he hail What happened and Mitigation of Ejderie,. Endemic, seen of these papers.
then was that a vertain amount of ice Contagious or Infections Disease will con-
was known f.
heported into the tinue, antess, stopper by order of the
¿Calony. The Board raised the question Arrangements are now being made for whether this should be permitted with was finally the laying down of rat poison through - 07 without restrictions.” It
decided for remanded prohibition to the out the City and Kolon at the end of Government in Oxtober 1918 the Board this month. This will be repeated early unanimous recommended that the im in 1923. The Board has power under by-portation of ice from Canton be prohibit- law of the aforementioned by-laws to ed. This went up to the Government but order special cleansing and disinfection it did not seem to have, passed into legis in any districts in which plagte thay belation. It was found, as a matter of declared to ëxist--if this by-law be put fact, that the importation question had in free the Medical, Officer of Health entirely eased. No doubt as regards the legal question it was the intention of the may order the removal of ceilings, hollowBoard that this should be brought under partitions, etc., which may afford shelter the General Importation and Exportation L OALS
The Medical Officer of Health Ordinance by which any sort of importa- " will, as heretofore, make recommendation, was prohibited. -
As regards the motion" before the Board, Lions to the Board when he considers it desirable lo take action under this by he ventured to add two words in con. sequence of Mr. Alabaster's minute "Any
Food article of food or drink."* defined as any article used for food drink other than drugs or water. thought the Board would agree to the addition of these two words.
law.
Under by-laws of these by hows the Board may order the closure and vacat ing of houses which, by reason of plague, are considered unfit for habitation. This
or
SHIP OVERDUE. CONCERN OVER ABSENCE OF
safely.
TAITO MARU"
of typhoid."" persistence typhoid is persisting is the sense that it has persisted for the last eleven years. But I think that Bost people will ineline to think the perettage of 70 per cent. in a section of the population which num bers much less that ten per cept. of the total population, rebarkable, and indicat-
The Trige Mar, for which the ing some common tausc
loent agents are Messrs. George Grimble Thuring these 27ys there were, as & Co., is overdue. She was scheduled to have paid, 41 non Chinese cases. May I Talay Bay Inst Priday with a
earge of limestone for Hongkong. say at this point that in his investiga- Her course was one which would have tions, the M.O.. does not, as has been taken her into the area of the recent suggested, sit at his desk and guess. on, that concern is felt for her Complete information is invariably col teeted within 24 hours of every onthien tion, showing, as far as can be discover- cd, the diet und habits of life of the vie- į
As to the effects of the steps taken by tin, the drainage system of his house and this Department, it is not for a layniar all other relevant particulars. I have on to say. Statistics of innoculations for the table before me the detailed reports pue thing, would be necessary.
been suggested, however, that if any on these 4-4 cases. They are in plain Eng-statistician cares to take the incubation fish and I am sure the 1.0.1. will be period and add it to the date on which Klad to show them to any interested per the M... advised the public to boil son. Of these $1 non-Chinese cases, four milks he will find that this practically were imported, leaving 40. Of these-40 no less than 12 were children, whicti would seem to dispose of the shellfish or raw salad theory, even were it other wise likely.
THE SUSPICION OF MILK.
from
Up to a late hour yesterday no news had been received of the missing vessel.
snap.
It has
incides with the date when the Euro- an epidemie stopped almost with * May in conclusion, strongly depre eate the prevalent idea that one must be either attacking or defending the Dairy Farm Company. My personal opinion Take next the question of water.
may be considered valueless, but speak water is suspected, how are we to ue- count for the simultaneous pollution of ing purely as a mouthpiece of the De. Pokfulain, Tytam, Quarry Bay and Kowpartment to which is entrusted the safe- loon Reservoirs? And why should bad guarding of the Colony's food. I have no water affect a few thousand Europeaus hesitation in repeating what I said in and leave almost unharmed a taillion odd July, that we have the best milk supply Chinese Turning then to milk, which East of Suez, probably one of the best is essentially a European drink (even in the world. All our lives and particu- though some Chinese take it), and parti larly the lives of our children manifestly cularly a children's drink, what do we dopend, to a very great extent upon this find? Five of the 40 victims ilved at a wonderful institution, but I am sure that hotel where Dairy Farm milk is very Dr. Koch and every other member of was creasionally augmented
ather this Board will agree with me that, in a Sources. One case possibly drank no matter of this importance, it would be milk at all-it was difficult to get.. the unjustifiable to be either pro-Dairy Farm or anti-Dairy Farm. The only proper facts as his house-boy was the only per- son who could tell anything. All the attitude for a public servant (und in this remaining 31 had definitely been drinking term include every member, official or unboiled Dairy Furu nilk at the time of unofficial, of this Board) is surely to be out of 40 non-Chinese cases, not taken at random, but comprising the only eases The Causas then proposed: That the reported during the epidemic proper, at
least had been drinking Dairy Fart open to criticism because if so it cua- Government, be respectfully requested to milk, although five of those 29 muy postained a lot of controversial points. It all-boiled itself down to this. It simply amend the Public Health and Buildings sibly have had other milk as well. It is Ordinance so as to give the Board powerpicion of milk is more than a hypothesis, had been done to find out the cause of not claimed by the M.O.. that the sa repeated what they all knew. Nothing to make bye-laws prohibiting the importa but it is at least a workable hypothesis, the disease and nothing had been done tion into the Colony of any article of and it is difficult to find any other bypo- to find out the origin. When typhoid food, drink or ice from specified places thesis that fits all the facts. and to impour conditions of aportation 19th the 31.0.1. said to me, I am now opportunity, in his opinion, of trying to Now as to the step taken. On July occurred, as it did in this Colony in a small number of cases, there was every couvinced that this European typhoid is find out the source and brigiu That was Dr. Koen seconded and the motion was milk-borne." As he showed no external what he had been driving at all along. carried unanimously.
He
Mr. ALABASTER: Duds that include ice?
has frequently been done in previous The M.0.1. piated but that ice was untracting the discase. That is to say, uro-truth and anti-camo¤ßage.
years, but during the epidemic of 1922 it was not done, because no blocks of
buildings could be found which might be hired by the Board for the housing of tenants so displayed from their houses.| The practicability of this by-law is thus limited, but the Board can at any time consider its application."
made from water.
of food, drink, or ive generally,
xt
.
to
Mr. Tso aid he was sure the publie would be pleased to hear that the Colony had been free from Blague for over a
DAIRY FARM WATKE SYPPLY. “. period of twelve months. It could hardly
Item No. 5 on the agenda related be expected that plague roald. Le stamp-|
the Dairy Farni Water Supply. Tho ed out in the Colony on account of the shifting nature and the coastant increase PRESIDENT said the item was laid on the of the populatipa. The Sanitary Depart table and that my discussion would be ment was originally established to deal required, with such cases. After 30 years of hard
SUPPLY OF ANTI-HARIC EMULSION.
symptoms of a drowning asan clutching
DR. KOCH HOLDS TO 18 PREVIOUS STATEMENT. Dr. Kock asked if the statement w
at u straw, I asked what he advised, and They all knew that rats and water CGI-
There was no further discussion on the subjeck
be recommended an advertisement in the ried typhoid and they all knew that green Press that milk should be boiled; his only vegetables were also dangerous. But the fear was that it might-ercate a scare. I point was: low did typhoid get."there? said I was prepared to face the music in It was a very interesting statement but He did not wish to raise any controversy.
it carried them no further..." due course, and the advertisement was at once published. Meanwhile, he and his assistant bad, of course, been making the closest possible investigations of the Dairy Farm's methods. One weak SPECIAL FOOD. LICENCER AT WHITHIELD. point, or a possibly weak point, was dis
The PRESIDENT moved that the special covered a cooling apparatus too large food licences at Whitfield be cancelled to be put into the steam sterilizer. The at the end of this year?
The motion was agreed to. Company gladly undertook to take the precautions that were considered neces
Referring to items Kos, 11 and 12, sary, and the M.O.H. is satisfied that the dealing with the reports of the Govern steps necessary to provide for safety in ment Bacteriologist and Auslyst on the the future are thoroughly understood by Shaukiwan, Chaiwan, Kowloon and La- the management. I have suggested a chilok water supplies for September, the further advertisement cancelling the ad- PREHIDEST said one or two questions had vice to boil milk, but the MO.H. doce been raised, he suggested that the mat- The PRESIDENT: From the Bacteria-not wish to lay himself open to a charge ter be deferred pending a report by the
of manslaughter if someone, in the future, Water Authority, contracts a milk-borne disease.
work they were now able to show, fur ¡toju No. & relating to the supply of 40 first time, a clean hill. He hoped anti-rable emulsion was also laid on the that the efforts in this direction would table, the PRESIDENT stating that the not be handicapped. He was pleased to public would be interested to know that bear the statement made by the Head | anti-rabir émulsion was obtainable at any of the Department as to the measures time of the day and night and on any taken to prevent and mitigate the spread lay of the week.
of the diseBDO. He hoped the public Dr. Koc: On application to whom? would take note of these racasures and:
co-operate with the Department in carry-logical Institute. It is free at the ing out this arduous work
Government Civil Hospital
(Continued on next Column).
B
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$14.50 To $35.00
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$20.00 and $25.00
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
GREEN ISLAND CEMENT CO., LTD.
Best Portland Cement
SHEWAN, TOMES & CO.,
GENERAL MANAGERS,
HONGKONG.
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SOLE AGENTS
This was all the. business before the meeting.
WE. POWELL, Ling
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