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and direction of Inspector J. Reidie (who has I regret to say recently contracted the disease himself); he performed these arduous duties in most satisfactory manner, working early and late during the height of the epidemic, and he is in my opinion worthy of the highest commendation for the self-sacrificing manner in which he devoted himself to this most important section of the work of combating the epidemic. I am glad to be able to report that only one other European case has occurred this year, and that that patient has recovered. The Police have assisted greatly in the removal of sick persons and dead bodies to the Hospitals and Mortuary, and the Board's Matshed Shelters have been used by persons who were displaced from their dwellings during the disinfection of their premises.
As in former years, all persons who had been in contact with Plague-infected patients have been detained, with the assistance of Chinese lukongs and district watchmen, pending the disinfection of their clothing and bedding, Government clothing being supplied to them to wear in the meantime, but in no case has such detention exceeded 24 hours and in most instances it has not been for more than six or eight hours.
The excreta in the public latrines has all been regularly disinfected with Chloride of Lime and the same disinfectant has been freely distributed to all Chinese tenements by the district Inspectors of Nuisances; infected dwellings have been sprayed throughout with Perchloride of Mercury (1 in 1000) and the floors washed with a solution of Jeyes' fluid.
There is good reason to believe that the epidemic reached its maximum in the week ending May 27th, and that the next few weeks will show a very rapid decline in the number of cases reported.
I