CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7] — Page 474

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Service to relieve Ir. Thomson from his duties as

Medical Officer of the Gaol so that his entire time

should be devoted to plague work.

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10.

On the 20th. May I authorized the employment

of a launch and two junks, in which patients could be

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taken to the Hague. Fospital from the Eastern district,

or dead bodies sent for burial that they might not be

carried through the streets. At the same time

additional accommodation in the shape of good and siry

- matsheds was provided at Bennedy Town" and two

additional nurses were engaged.

11.

Peeling that if the disease is propagated by

vermin the Chinese coolies ought to have an opportunity

of washing, I directed the Public Works Department to

erect a number of matsheds with arrangements for hot

water. It was generally assumed that the Chinese coolie

would not avail himself of the means of cleanliness,

but the thousands who have since flocked to these bath

houses have shown that they are ready to avail theme -

selves of any opportunity for securing personal clean-

liness and the Sanitary, Board has requested that more ›

matsheds may be erected, and provision made for

permanent baths, I have suggested that the working

TomoN

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