MINUTE BY THE COLONIAL Surgeon.
Nothing can be done here on the dry earth system, as the proper soil cannot be procured in the Island or none at hand, so that the expense would be very great. The same system is pursued all through the town. In the Chinese quarter proper tubs are under every bed and only emptied once in 2 to 5 days; the average being 3 days. There is no choice but to procure earth from a great distance, to use charcoal or make water closets; all of those systems would be a great expense.
The stench in the Warden's Quarters at times in the hot weather is sickening, and the previous Warden's health suffered very much in consequence.
PH. B. C. AYRES.
29th May, 1877.
(Signed)
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
I fear the Colonial Surgeon is not as fully alive as he should be to the grave consequences of allowing the existing system of Gaol latrines to continue.
Under the present system, a solitary case of cholera or of typhoid fever in the crowded and badly situated Gaol of Hongkong, might speedily destroy a large proportion of the Community.
Nor is the danger confined to that part of the town of Victoria (the centre of the European Quarter) where the Gaol is situated. On proceeding towards the place (Lap-sap-wan, West end of Victoria District) where the contents of the prisoners' tubs are ultimately deposited, I found the stench so great as to be offensive outside a radius of an eighth of a mile.
I am not disposed to allow this to continue till some calamity compels the responsible officials to carry out the instructions given more than once by the Secretary of State on this subject.
An abundance of proper earth can be obtained (especially from the neighbourhood of the Wong-nei-chung Valley) for the Gaol.
Means must at once be taken for collecting, kiln-drying and properly sifting this earth, and using it according to the printed instructions which accompanied the Secretary of State's despatch of 2nd December, 1867.
I shall hold the Chief Authorities of the Gaol, and especially the Colonial Surgeon, gravely responsible if any unnecessary delay occurs in carrying out these instructions.
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
6th June, 1877.
EXPLANATION BY THE COLONIAL SURGEON.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 11th June, 1877.
SIR,--I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No.389 of the 7th instant, and deeply regret to think that His Excellency the Governor should think I am not fully alive to the evils referred to.
2. In 1875, partly at my instance, an attempt was made to put the dry earth system into operation in the Victoria Gaol. During the time it was on trial and apparently working satisfactorily, I was attacked with typhoid fever, and was subsequently absent for some months on sick leave. Before my return the dry earth system had been abandoned as impracticable, for what valid reason I was never able to discover.
3. Dr. MOUAT, the Inspector General of Gaols, mentioned in the Indian Report as one of the promoters of the dry earth system in India, being a personal friend of mine, I have been able to obtain from him the results of its success, and these results I have been able to verify for myself when I was in charge of Indian Gaols and Hospitals.
4. At the same time, I may perhaps point out that being only consulting physician of the Victoria Gaol, I have myself no practical means of putting in practice the dry earth system in that Establishment, and that my duties in regard to it are limited to indicating to its Superintendent whatever sanitary measures may occur to me from time to time desirable.
5. I am however by no means desirous on this account to limit myself to giving good advice, and would be glad to assist His Excellency the Governor practically, and in any way which the Government may wish, in the work of Sanitation. On this matter I would respectfully invite the attention of His Excellency to the sanitary portion of my Annual Report, which deals with a variety of subjects, requiring reform.