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154. In the crowded areas where the houses are packed with humans and their belongings, the periodical cleansing of premises is a most important factor in the prevention of the spread of this disease. All the furniture, moveable fittings and household goods are removed from the rooms and cubicles and all floors and woodwork washed down with an emulsion of soap and kerosene oil. This is done either by the Sanitary staff or by the occupiers under the general supervision of the district inspector. Altogether 196,812 floors were dealt with.
155. Thirty members of the cleansing staff were employed in setting traps, bird liming boards, distributing barium carbonate baits, and collecting rodents which had been taken living or dead. By far the greatest number of rats were taken dead from the numerous rat reception bins or tins which are placed in convenient situations throughout the two cities. The Chinese take exception to rats being found on their premises by the Sanitary staff, probably through fear of extra sanitary measures being taken against them, and it is not uncommon for them to kill the rodents found in the Government traps and to throw the carcasses into the reception bins. The total number of rats collected was 157,828, of which 11,520 only were taken alive. All rats collected were sent to the Public Mortuaries for examination by the Medical Officer in charge.
156. During the year no rats were found to be plague infected.
Preventive Measures Against Smallpox.
157. Under the Vaccination Ordinance all Public Vaccinators are under the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services who is Superintendent of Vaccination. As Registrar of Births and Deaths the Head of the Sanitary Department is responsible for ensuring the vaccination of all children whose births are registered.
158. Vaccinations were performed by
(a) The Public Vaccinators.
(b) The Medical Officers in Government Hospitals.
(c) The Medical Officers in Chinese Hospitals.
(d) The Medical Officers at the Chinese Public Dispensaries.
(e) The members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade under the Assistant Commissioner.
Altogether 154,451 vaccinations were performed.
159. During the year the Sanitary Board rescinded its resolution of 1917 which allowed the home treatment of smallpox. It is difficult to imagine anything more insanitary than a smallpox case running its course in the dark and ill-ventilated cases.