634
258
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
+
certainty that they would always do so; on the contrary, they are of opinion that the employés on the premises would be certain to boil, at any rate, their tea on the premises, and boil water every evening for bathing, the consequence of which would be that the smoke would become a nuisance to the other tenants, and that the lighting of fires in unsafe places would endanger the whole house and the surrounding houses too.
107. The statement of the native merchants that the Chinese tenants and employés would have to boil water every evening for bathing purposes would not surprise any one really acquainted with the habits of even the poorest Chinese. No doubt certain Europeans in Hong Kong, as well as in California and Australia, denounce the Chinese as a dirty race, who never bathe; but the fact is that, in this important sanitary practice, they are a clean people, and even in the lower classes set a good example, which our soldiers and sailors here would do well to follow.
108. Dr. Stout, of the State Board of Health of San Francisco, and one of the oldest physicians in California, refers to this in his evidence laid three years ago before Congress, Having stated that he lived in the midst of the Chinese quarter, to which no doubt the majority of the residents had come from Hong Kong, he was asked:
“Q. During your residence there have you known of any disease, any pestilence originating and spreading in there, or spreading from there?
«A. No, sir; none.
"Q. The Chinese live in that quarter very closely, do they not?
"A. Quite closely, sometimes.
"Q. How is it that you account for the fact that under these circumstances they are apparently so healthy?
"A. Their frugal life gives them more immunity from disease. They eat only what is necessary to live upon. They eat to live and do not live to eat. They are clean in their habits, and they drink no whisky. I have never seen a drunken Chinaman in my life. They consequently obtain a better resisting power to the attack of disease.
"Q. What is their habit in regard to ablutions?
"A. They constantly wash themselves.
-
"Q. The whole person, or only the face and hands? "A. My observation of the men is that they keep themselves clean. Their clothes are clean. As mechanics or workmen they keep themselves very clean.
Q. What is the comparative mortality among the Chinese and the whites of this city, the death-rate?
"A. The death-rate is greater among the whites than among the Chinese.
"Q. What is the comparative mortality among adult Chinamen and adult white people?
"A. The amount is greater with adult white people.: "Q. Have they had epidemics in the Chinese quarter?
634
258
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
+
certainty that they would always do so; on the contrary, they are of opinion that the employés on the premises would be certain to boil, at any rate, their tea on the premises, and boil water every evening for bathing, the consequence of which would be that the smoke would become a nuisance to the other tenants, and that the lighting of fires in unsafe places would endanger the whole house and the surrounding houses too."
107. The statement of the native merchants that the Chinese tenants and employés would have to boil water every evening for bathing purposes would not surprise any one really acquainted with the habits of even the poorest Chinese. No doubt certain Europeans in Hong Kong, as well as in California and Australia, denounce the Chinese as a dirty race, who never bathe; but 'the fact is that, in this important sanitary practice, they are a clean people, and even in the lower classes set a good example, which our soldiers and sailors here would do well to follow.
108. Dr. Stout, of the State Board of Health of San Francisco, and one of the oldest physicians in California, refers to this in his evidence laid three years ago before Congress, Having stated that he lived in the midst of the Chinese quarter, to which no doubt the majority of the residents had come from Hong Kong, he was asked:
“Q. During your residence there have you known of any disease, any pestilence originating and spreading in there, or spreading from there?
«A. No, sir; none.
"Q. The Chinese live in that quarter very closely, do they not?
"A. Quite closely, sometimes.
"Q. How is it that you account for the fact that under these circumstances they are apparently so healthy.
"A. Their frugal life gives them more immunity from disease. They eat only what is necessary to live upon. They eat to live and do not live to eat. They are clean in their habits, and they drink no whisky. I have never seen a drunken Chinaman in my life. They consequently obtain a better resisting power to the attack of disease.
"Q. What is their habit in regard to ablutions?
"A. They constantly wash themselves.
-
"Q. The whole person, or only the face and hands? "A. My observation of the men is that they keep themselves clean. Their clothes are clean. As mechanics or workmen they keep themselves very clean.
Q. What is the comparative mortality among the Chinese and the whites of this city, the death-rate?
"A. The death-rate is greater among the whites than among the Chinese.
"Q. What is the comparative mortality among adult Chinamen and adult white people?
"A. The amount is greater with adult white people.: "Q. Have they had epidemics in the Chinese quarter?
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