CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6] — Page 596

589

Simpson's report. The entrails of the fowl are eaten practically uncooked by the poorer Chinese, and some cases within the last month first diagnosed as Cholera but which on examination turned out to be plague, the intestinal canal giving, as the Bacteriolo- gist reports, a pure culture of plague bacillus, afford strong

evidence of septic inoculation by fowl.

8.

Most of the remedial measures 'recommended by

Professor Simpson are being carried out, but the Medical inspec-

tion of Shipping and Junks was tried in 1894, and I have the

authority of Dr. Bell, one of the Fort Health Officers then en-

gaged in that duty, for stating that neither on board the Ships

from Canton nor the Junks was a single case of plague detected.

The campaign against rats is being actively prosecuted and every

rat caught is bacteriologically examined, houses are being

rendered rat-proof, temporary accommodation of healthy inmates of

infected houses is provided, houses and clothing are disinfected

and emigrants are inspected. The prevention of importation or

exportation of rats in cargo will never be practicable in a port

whose tonnage nearly equals that of London. Nine-tenths of the

Ships are at their buoys ar at anchor, and the cargo is landed or

exported in hundreds of lighters and junks which pass between

the Ships and the praya where cargo is taken and landed over

gangways. Haffkines prophylactic has been used upon the Members

of the Sanitary Staff 5 of whom have caught plague this year,

of whom 2 have died. Dr Hunter the Bacteriologist was inoculated

six weeks ago. He has not been well since and does not intend to

renew the process next year.

1

The resumption of Insanitary areas for

purposes of demolition and reconstruction is one of the most important provisions of the Crdinance. Its execution will involve

a