All loyal Chinese subjects, respectable and law-abiding, are also urged to cooperate with the Government in dealing with this dangerous disease.
By these Commands, you are warned not to believe the wild and baseless rumours which have been circulated by irresponsible parties, lest you incur severe displeasure and render yourself liable to punishment under the law.
Enclosure 2 in "The Daily Press"
HONGKONG, May 23rd, 1894.
THE PLAGUE.
ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE. The following are the returns for the twenty-four hours to noon yesterday:
Ken- Chinese Hy City. To De- geia. Town pital tal. crease. he dy How. 0 24 27 10 19 Admissions.......... 3 4 10 18 27 Under treatment 31 120"A quiet day; plague in a measure abating," practically sums up the reports received yesterday. The concessions made by the Government in no longer insisting upon the transfer of patients to the Hygeia and in giving permission (speedily availed of) to establish a Chinese hospital under Chinese control acted like oil on the troubled waters, and no further disturbances took place, or were hinted at, after the Glassworks had been converted into a hospital.
The native prejudices, however, not having been in every way pandered to by the authorities and their first demands having been so promptly granted, the hostile section of the Tung Wah Hospital made themselves more or less of a nuisance both to the Registrar-General and His Excellency the Governor by deputations and "humble petitions" praying that the aegis of British regulation in this matter might be removed, and that the disease might be left to the sole management of their own countrymen.
The house-to-house inspection, said these estimable gentlemen, must be done away with at once; the unhappy patients of the bulk should be brought to the Tung Wah branch Hospital, and those of the sick who so desired should be permitted to introduce the full disease into their native villages on the mainland.
Splendid illustration of the intelligence and perspicuity, to say nothing of the gratitude, of these so-called representatives of the native community! But fortunately the Government had reached its tether in the matter of concessions, and when this deputation approached the Governor, His Excellency very firmly put his foot down, admonished them for the absurdity of their ideas, and told them in plain words that he would have none of it.
The house-to-house visitation, which daily discloses the sores of plague and sometimes discovers the dead bodies of victims in the rotting damps of basement floors, is to be still more vigorously carried out. Fifty volunteer inspectors for this highly necessary work are asked for, and in view of the danger and gravity of the situation, not only to the trade and commerce of the port but to the health of the entire population, these volunteers will doubtless be speedily forthcoming.
The insinuations which have been cast upon the military employed as special sanitary officers, and the reports current that it is this to which the chief objection to the house-to-house visitation is due, caused us to make enquiries in this direction. We learn on the best authority that since their enrollment in this work the military employed have worked very zealously and effectively, that no complaint of their conduct has been made, and that as a matter of fact the majority of the householders were not aware that the men visiting their houses were military until they were incited by the anti-foreign leaders behind to make demonstrations of violence.
The soldiers employed are all picked men, and the majority are non-commissioned officers. Twelve men of the Shropshire regiment are still engaged in the work of inspection and twelve engineers in disinfecting. Each sanitary officer is accompanied by a coolie, and there are now twenty-one men on this special duty in the infected area.
We might mention, to remove any misconception, that the Government have not completely abrogated their authority even over the Chinese Hospital at the Glassworks. Dr. Penny, R.N., makes visits twice daily to see that things are in a sanitary condition, and European police are on duty at the gates keeping statistics of cases.
It is said by some who have had an intimate acquaintance with the development and character of the plague since its appearance here, that the attacks now do not appear to be quite as virulent as a week ago. It may be added that several of the new cases in the Glassworks have been discharged on diagnosis as not suffering from plague. Whether such are being sent to the Hospital accidentally or intentionally it is difficult to say, but plausibility is lent to the latter suggestion by the natural desire among the Chinese to be able to record in their statistics a high percentage of "discharged cured" than the European doctors were able to do.
The patients under Chinese medical direction are treated with a decoction made from the root of an aquatic plant which is said to have been wonderfully successful in dealing with serious cases at Canton. After being infused in hot water for some time the liquid is strained off and administered at regular intervals, while the pulp is applied externally to the buboes as a poultice.
A fatal case has been reported from Queen's Gardens. A day or two ago a coolie employed at the Royal Engineer mess was taken ill and died before knowledge of the nature of his ailment—which was plague—was known to his companions. The premises have been thoroughly disinfected.
Large numbers of coolies continued yesterday to leave the colony, both by steamer and passage boat, and the exodus appears to be increasing.
At the Magistracy yesterday a hawker was fined $10 for creating a disturbance near the Tung Wah Hospital on Monday.
At a meeting of the Consular Body, held at Shanghai on the 15th inst., it was unanimously decided to request the taotai, through the Customs, to enforce No. 5 of the Harbour Regulations, as a measure of precaution, against vessels arriving from the South. The Regulation in question is as follows:-"A vessel arriving with a contagious disease on board shall not come nearer the lower limit of the Harbour than one mile, shall fly at the fore a yellow flag, and shall not allow any one to disembark or come on board without permission from the Harbour Master's Office."
There is some talk of closing the schools at which Chinese scholars attend. We believe that Dr. Bateson Wright has applied to the Governor for permission to close Queen's College, and it is probable that if the disease does not receive a decided check during the next few days that this precautionary measure will be adopted.
DEPUTATION TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
IMPORTANT PRONOUNCEMENT.
At one o'clock yesterday afternoon a deputation from the Tung Wah Hospital, accompanied by the Hon. J. H. Stewart-Lockhart (Registrar-General) waited on His Excellency the Governor at Government House for the purpose of representing a certain feeling existing among some sections of the native community.
The deputation presented to His Excellency a long petition, the principal points of which were:
(1)—That the house-to-house visitation should cease.
(2)—That sick persons should be allowed to return to their own country.
(3)—That the patients on the Hygeia should be sent to the Glassworks Hospital.
(4)—That all sick persons should be sent to the Glassworks Hospital.
After listening attentively to the recital of this document, His Excellency said that he would take the last point first. In reply to that, all he had to say was that sick people might elect to go to any hospital they liked. There was no interference with their choice whatever, and no intention on the part of the Government to force patients into any particular hospital for treatment.
As to the request that the sick on the Hygeia should all be moved to the branch Hospital, he altogether declined such a responsibility. The idea, he said, was absurd...
182
....
All lorgal Chinese subjects.
and respectable.
are also urged cooperate with
to assist and
the Government in dealing
with this.
and
and
dangerous
discase.
Abey
these
Commands
not believe the wild
baseless rumours which
have been circulated by hensible parties
may
innar
repre-
casc
you
severe displease.
and render yourself liable to
to the law.
Enclosure 2 mm
"The Faily Press
HONGKONG, May 23rd, 1804.
THE ALAGUE.
"
ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE. The following are the returus for the twenty- foar hours to noon yesterday:--
Ken- Chinese
Hy hedy How. City. To De- geia. Town pital tal. crease.
0 24
27
10
19
Admissions.......... Deaths
3 4 10 18 27 Under treatment 31 120 {"
$8 11 "A quiet day; plag in a measure abating,” practically sums up the reports received yester- day. The concessions made by the Government in no longer insisting upon the transfer of patients to the Hygeinland in giving permission (speedily availed of) to establish a Chinese bospital under Chinese control acted like oil on the troubled waters, and no farther disturbances took place, or wore hinted at, after the Glassworks had been onverted into a hospital. The native prejudices, however, not having been in every way pandered to by the authorities and their first demands having been so promptly grant- ed. the hostile section of the Tang Wah Hospital made themselves more or lass of a unisance both to the Registrar-General and His Excellency the Governor by deputations and "humble poti tious" praying that the aegis of British regulation in this matter might be removed, and that the disease might be left to the sole management of their own countrymen. The house to house inspection, said these estim- able gentlemen, must done away with at onge; the unhappy patiente of the bulk wast be brought to the Tang Wah branch Hospital, and those of the sick who so desta innst be permitted to introduce the fall di-gase into their native vil lages on the maiulal: Splendid illustration of the intelligence. and perspicuity, to say nothing of the gratitude, of these so-called representatives of the native community! But fortately the Government had reached the its tether in the matter of concessions, andhen this deputation approached the Go- vernor, His Excellencf very firmly pat his foot dowa, adhed fem for the absurdity of their ideas, told them in plain words that he would have none of it. The house
to house visitation, which daily discloses the asrep
istones of plague and sometimes discovers the dead bodies of viotims in the rotting damps of basement floors, is to be still more vigorously carried ou. Fifty volan fears for this highly necessary work are asked for, and in vif the danger and gravity of the situation, noy to the trade and commerce of the port but the Health of the satire popula- tios, these von Heard and probably more, will donbtless be speedily forthcoming.
The inuendoes which have been east upou the military employed a special sanitary officers, and the reports current that it is this to which the chief objection to the house to house visi- tation is due, cansed da to make enquiries in this direction. We learn bn the best authority that
since their enrollment in this work the military employed have worked very zealously and effectively, that no complaint of their conduct has been made, and that as a matter of fact the majority of the householders were not aware that the men visiting their houses were military. autil they were inoited by the anti-foraigo leaders bebiud to make demonstrations of vio- dietiveness. The sogliers employed are all picked mo, and the majority are non-commissioned officers. Twelve momof the Shropshire regiment ara still engaged in the work of inspection and twelve engineers in disinfesting. Each sanitary offloor is accompanied by a lakong, and there are now twenty-one men on this special duty in the in acted area.
We
4
11.
C. Ó.
10934
We might mention, to remove any miscou- ception, that the Government have not completely abrogated their authority even over the Chine Hospital at the Glassworks. Dr. Penny, R.N.. makes visits twice daily see that things are in a sanitary condition, and European police are. on duty at the gates keeping statistics of cases.
It is said by some who have had au intimate acquaintance with the development and character of the plague since its appearance here, that the attacks now do not appear to be quite as virulent as a week agh. It may be added that several of the new cases in the Glass- works have been discharged on diagnosis as not suffering from plag. Whether such are being sent to the Hospital accidentally or intentionally it is difficult to say, but plausibility is leut to the latter suggestion by the natural desire among the Chines to be able to record in their statistios a high percentage of "dis charged cared" than the European doctors were able to do.
The patients under Chinese medical direction are treated with a deodation made from the root of an aqustio plan which is said to have been wonderfully successful in dealing with serious cases at Canton. After being lofused in bot water for some time the liquid is strain d off and administered af ragalar intervals, while the pulp is applied exte ally to the bubuos as a poultice.
A fatal caso has been reported from Queen's Gardens. A day or two ago a coolie employed at the Royal Engineer mass was taken ill and died before knowledge of the nature of his ail- mont-which was plagje-was known to his com. panions. The premises have been thoroughly disinfected.
Large numbers of coplios continued yesterday to lease the colony, both by steamer and passage boat, and the exodus appears to be inoressing.
At the Magistracy yesterday a hawker was fined $10 for oreating a disturbance near the Tung Wai Hospital on Monday.
At a meeting of the Consular Bidy, held at Shanghai on the 15th lust, it was nnanimously decided to request the laotai, through the Cus toms, to enforce No. 5 of the Harbour Regn- lations, as a measure of precaution, against vessels arriving from the South. The Regu 1stion in question is as follows:-" A vessel arriv- ing with a contagious disease on board shall not come nearer the lower limit of the Harbour than one mile, shall fly at the fore a yellow g, and shall not allow any one to dissabark or come on board without permission from the Harbour Mastor's Office."
There is some talk of closing the schools at which Chinese scholats attend. We believe that Dr. Bateson Wright has applied to the Governor for permission to closy Queen's College, and it is probable it the disease does not receive a decided check during the next few days that this pre- cautionary measure will be shopted
DEPUTATION TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
IMPORTANT PRONOUNCEMENT.
At one o'clock yesterday afternoon a deputa- tion from the Tung Wah Hospital, accompanied by the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lookhart (Register- General) waited on His Excellency the Govoraor at Government House for the purpose of re- presenting a certain feeling existing atong some sections of the native community. The deputation presauted to His Exellency a long patition, the p insipal points of which were
(1)-That the house to house visitation should
coase.
(2)- That sick persons should be allowed to return to their own country.
(3) That the patients ou the Hygeia should be sent to the Glassworks Hospital.
(4)-That all sick persons should be sent to the Glassworks Flospital.
After listening attentively to the racital of this document, His Excellency said that he would take the last point first. fo eply to that, all he had to say was that sick people night elect to go to any hospital they liked. There was no interferoves with their choice whatever, aud Do intention on the part of the Government to force patients into any particular hospital fo treatment. As to the request that the sick o the Hyg. al all be moved to the branch Hospital, he altogether declined such a rispon sibility. The idea, he said, was absurd, a+if the]
182
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