C. O.
10708
403
RECR (REG 19 JUN 95)
REPORT OF MESSRS. F. H. MAY AND J. R. CROOK ON THE WORK CARRIED
OUT BY THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLAGUE.
HONGKONG, 28th September, 1894.
SIB,
We have the honour to submit the following report on the work in connection with the plague carried out under our direction and supervision in accordance with the instructions of the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary Board.
2. The bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board for dealing with the plague having been approved by the Governor in Council on the 11th of May, work under the bye-laws was begun the following day.
3. The first step was to institute a search from house to house with a view to discovering and isolating as soon as possible persons suffering from plague, and ascertaining the sanitary condition of the houses.
Accordingly on the morning of the 12th of May four search parties, consisting of Mr. Mar, Inspector QUINCEY, Sergeant McIVER, and P. C. MACAULAY, accom- panied by Chinese Constables and Detectives, began the work of house to house visitation in the Taipingshan district; while a fifth party under Acting Sergeant SMITH was told off to the Western (Police) District.
Next day Inspector GERMAIN, the Senior Inspetor of Nuisances, was added to the parties.
4. On the same day the services of Mr. CROOK were placed at the disposal of the Permanent Committee, and that officer, by their direction, at once organised gangs of coolies to carry out the work of cleansing houses in which plague was found to have occurred, or which were reported as in a filthy condition. In con- sequence of the long drought special flushing of the sewers, drains, and streets was also undertaken under the supervision of Mr. TOOKER and Mr. Ducky.
5. On the same day two European Police Officers (Sergeant PHELPS and P.C. COLLETT) were placed on duty during the day time at the Tang Wa Hospital to keep tally of the plague patients brought to the Hospital and forwarded to the Plague Hospital, and of the bodies of persons dead of the plague brought in and forwarded for burial.
No removals of dead or living were permitted during the night, and Indian Constables were placed on duty at the Hospital gates to enforce this rule.
6. It was soon found that the search parties were numerically too weak to cope with the work, and on the 15th of May Sergeant MOFFATT was placed in charge of this particular work in the Western District, while Sergeant HALL took similar charge in the Eastern District,
7. It became necessary to strengthen the cleaning and disinfecting gangs at the same time, and with this object the services of eight Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Royal Engineers were obtained from the Military Authorities.
They were placed in charge of the cleaning and disinfecting gangs, two being employed in flushing streets and drains, and six flushing house drains in Taiping- shan and cleaning infected houses.
The fumigation of the infected houses was at this time carried out by the Inspectors of Nuisances,
J. J. FRANCIS, Esq., Q.C.,
Chairman of the Permanent Committee of the
SANITARY BOARD.