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184. From the above it will be seen that the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the Chinese Public Dispensaries render- ed most valuable assistance in the attempt to control smallpox by vaccination.
185. Apart from vaccination little was done to prevent the spread of smallpox. At a maximum not more than 25 per cent of the cases were discovered during life and of these the great majority entered the Tung Wah Infectious Diseases Hospital where they were treated by herbalists and where the precautions against dissemination were far from satisfactory.
Preventive Measures against Cholera, Dysentery, Enteric, etc.
186. The measures which may be taken to prevent the spread of bowel diseases are those which prevent dissemination by water, by food and by flies. The Hong Kong public water though subject to certain risks of contamination at some of its several sources, is filtered and chlorinated and when it reaches the consumer it is of a high grade of purity.
187 The measures taken to preserve the wholesomeness of foods for sale and under preparation for sale are still far from satisfactory.
188. With regard to flies Hong Kong is comparatively free from these pests; the same cannot be said for New Kowloon within a mile of the refuse dump.
Preventive Measures against Tuberculosis.
189. The measures taken against Tuberculosis were:- (a) The periodical general cleansing of premises.
(b) Action to prevent the erection of unauthorised cubicles especially those which have defects in the matter of lighting, air space and ventilation.
(e) Action by the Building Authority to ensure the erection
of houses having a proper supply of lighting and ven tilation.
190. The overcrowded condition of the City of Victoria, its confined area, the difficulties presented by topographical features, and the absence of accommodation for evicted tenants make the question of hygienic housing of the populace one of extreme difficulty. The sanitary staff are working against great odds and they cannot hope to attain results such as are attained in other cities where the task is easier and the personnel larger. The wonder is not that so many contract tuberculosis but that so many escape.
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Preventive Measures against Helminthic Diseases.
191. With the exception of the action taken by the Veteri- nary staff at the Abattoirs there never has been any routine campaign against helminthic disease. Whatever be the percent- age of the population carrying ankylostomes very few cases of ankylostomiasis come under the notice of the hospital authorities.
General Measures of Sanitation.
Domestic Cleanliness,
192. Every domestic building or part of a building occupied by the members of more than one family must, unless especially exempted by the Sanitary Board, be cleansed and limewashed throughout by the owner, to the satisfaction of the Board, not less than once in every year, and notice in writing that such cleansing and liwewashing has been completed shall be sent by the owner to the Secretary within three days after the date of completion.
193. It is the duty of the occupier of any domestic building to cause such building to be kept in a cleanly and wholesome condition and to see that the drains, traps, gratings, fall pipes, and sanitary fittings and appliances, are free from obstruction and in an efficient state of repair.
194. In Hong Kong there are 13,588 Chinese houses with 46,189 floors; in Kowloon there are 9,950 houses and 28,926 floors During the year 134,424 floors in Hong Kong and 77,243 floors in Kowloon were cleansed. During the cleansing process all the furniture moved and the walls and floors washed down with kerosene oil emolusion.
195. Considering that each inspector has to supervise a dis- trict with approximately 25,000 inhabitants, most of whom are ignorant of the rudiments of sanitation, the thoroughness of the cleansing operations is remarkable.
Scavenging.
196. Scavenging is carried out departimentally. There are twenty-one refuse lorries in use, fourteen being for Hong Kong and eight for Kowloon. 370 tons of refuse was collected daily and removed to the various refuse depots. The bulk of the refuse was ultimately disposed of by dumping in the sea at a distance from the city and in such a situation where the currents run in a direction away from the island. Some of the refuse from Kowloon was used to reclaim low-lying land near the sea-shore.
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