1912-07-03 — Page 3

Page

SANITARY BOARD.

THE REMOVAL OF CEILINGS.

A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held yesterday. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe (President) occupied the chair, and there Hon, Mx. W. wore also present: Chatham, M.G. (Vice-President), Col. train, Dr. Fitzwilliams, Hon. Mr. E.

Chan Kai Ming. Dr. Clark (Principal Medical Officer), Dr. Pearse (Medical Mr. Bowen Officer of Health), and Rowlands (Secretary).

RATS IN DRAINS,

THE FONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3BD

The motion was carried unanimously. The select committer was composed of Mr. Carter, Colonel Irwin, the Medical Officer of Health, and Mr. Chan Kai Ming-

Mr. CARTER asked if the committee could co-opt a civil engineer.

The PRESIDENT replied that ho did not

the committee.

RATS AND PLAQUE INCIDENCY_

The

MEDICAL

The

19'%.

SINGAPORE SENSATION.

TWO EUROPEANS AND JAPANESE WOMAN ARRESTED.

A sensation such as has not beon felt in

time

INTIMATIONS

SUN PILSENER

BEER.

Nothing

liko it.

The Building Authority is prepared to of this destruction of ceilings was that permit the erection of ceilings in the top they afforded a shelter to rats, but that

principle never applied to the ceilings ! doors of buildings in which the roof of top floors where the ceiling is not a purlins are supported on trusses, provid- pitched roof and is necessible either by ed that such ceilings are supported by a trap door or other means. If such a Singapore for some time was created you. substantial timber bearers and consist of ceiling is properly constructed it is as torday, says the Straits Times on the 2011 readily cleansable as any floor in any ult., by the arrest, in rather dramatic eir- longued and grooved hoarding, and have house. If these top floor ceilings were cumstances, of G. Babatier, proprietor of no openings other than a hinged and to be destroyed then the houses in the the Royal Hairdressing Baloon, Raffles think so, but he thought they might ask closely fitting traj door of sufficient sizni Colony will be mero cylindrical boxes ar. The aspect that took the public eye Square, and an assistant named J. Muk with two or three floors. The top floor. Hallifax to L. Carter, F. B. L. Bowley, Ng Hon Tsz, A drainage engineer at the, disposal of the ceiling and the roof. No new ceil- houses constructed as the majority of shop in Rafles Square, but the really in- ings will, however, be permitted in, houses in the Colony were with pitch, portant movement was enacted elsewhere,

tile roof. Such houses without a ceiling entertained for some

. Actuated by suspicions which had been tenement houses her in eating houses, would become unbearably hot in summer

the authorities Mr. F. B. L. Bowley asked the follow-restaurants, hotels or clubs in which food, owing to the effect of the rain and the issued a warrant to search the house and is prepared or served. All such ceilings au on the roof. To interpose an area with this, Asst. Superintendents Hamil

business premises of M. Sabatier. Armed ing questions standing in his naine.:--

! of space between the surface and the ton and Sheedy, Chief Detective Inspec "(.) Has any case of plague occurred must be maintained in

a thoroughly living room was the scientific way of tor Nolan, Detective Inspector Taylor Mr. W. L. CARTER, pursuant to notice, this year at Nos. 88 or 90 Wellington sound and clean condition, and permits, keeping an apartment cool. The bye- and Detective Sergeant Tyrell raided the for the same will be withdrawn in the laws gave great powers to the Medical house at 77 Prinsep Street, where reside noved: "That a Select Committee of this Street!

(.) Have-any rats () infected or event of the premises being subsequently of Health with regard to dealing M. Sabatier and his European assistants. Beard be appointed to consider and re

with private property. Those powera The only occupants of the house at the port to the Board on what measures ean() non-infected been found this year on used for any of the purposes specified in were delegated by the Board, and the time wore M. Sabatier's Japanese wife and Í taken to prevent the breeding of rat the premises mentioned in the first ques the foregoing paragraph.

Board made the bye-laws. If it happen- another woman. The officers searched the in the storm water drains and sewers of tion ?!?

PRESIDENT-Before proceeding that an executive officer in an excess house and found what they had come for, OFFICER. replied-The with these papers. I think it will for the Board to consider whether the currency notes.

of zeal should not rather harshly it was an outfit for the manufacture of false the City." He said that he would like

This was impounded, to point out that in the six years which answer to the first question is that no facilitate the discussion to which they powers delegated should be amended in along with a quantity of notes, and, as followed the original outbreak of 1894 case of plague has been reported to me may give rise if I inform the Board that any way. It seemed to him that it was a precautionary measure, the police also The Colony had a comparativa immunity at this address. The answer to the second after careful consideration. I propose down the principles upon which the ex- the house was furnished. These latter in within the province of the Board to lay seized a number of weapons with which from plague. In 1801 there was a severe question is-1 cannot say, but 248 rats, that in future should any persons apply cutive officers should act in carrying out cluded firearms and Japanese daggers, epidemic, when the casca numbered 1,000, two of which were plague infected, have for any exemption from any order made their powers and be submitted that the Two daggers and a revolver were found which was likely to be equalled this year, been removed from the nearest rat bin by the Medical Officer of Health under principle contained in the resolution under the bed mattresses. and something of a panic occurred in at No. 237, which is less than 100 yards the Bye-laws for the prevention and the minute by the Building Authority, the house to look after the confiscated pro- was a reasonable one. He referred to Mr. Sheedy and Mr. Nolan remained in that year. Apparently a strongly-worded from the premises. In explanation of petition widely signed was sent to the the second question I might add that few mitigation of epidemic, endemic, and and said that if it were proposed that the perty. The other officers, with a posse

native police, went to the hair-dressing Secretary of State, upon which Mr. if any rats are ever obtained from private contagious or infectious disease in an ceilings were to be constructed so that loon in Kaffles Square, being joined on infected area such application shall be they could be cleansed on both sides the the way by inspector Man. The advent Chamberlain promptly acted. Professor premises, especially Chinese private pre- Simpson was-sent-out-to-investigate into mises. When-the-system-of-rat-bins-was referred to the Board for consideration Building Authority would have no objec of this business-looking party in the tion to the modification he proposed. He centre of the town created no little furore, the causes of plague and Mr. Chadwick introduced, 600 were distributed through- and an expression of opinion. Further, thought the Building Authority went too which caule to i efimus when it cordon out the city and Kowloon in which in-should any circumstances arise which far when he said that such ceilings

formed round the hairdressing quire into the generat sanitation of the habitants in the neighbourhood were in.make reference to the Board desirable, should have no openings other than a saloon. The two detectives entered first, piaer. In these days the Indian Plague vited to dispose of the rats found on even where no application is made. I hinge and closely fitting trap door and, while Mr. Tyreli accosted the pro- There were many other means of access prietor, Mr. Taylor attracted the atten Commission had not reported, and it was their premises. This particular bin propuse to make such reference. Tho

to top floor evilings which might be more tion of Muller, who at the moment was not known that plague was transmitted situated within 100 yards of this house Medical Officer of Health concurs. My satisfactory, and he saw no reason for preparing to exercise his art on the WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS, from rata to men, but Professor Simpson bad three times the average number of reason for making this proposal is that, laying down any hard and fast rule. He lathered chin of a client. The operation I think that is however carefully. the executive officers ventilation boards with which they were M. Muller was requested to accompany understood it was intended to abolish the was completed by & Japanese assistant, as very soon noticed that wherever infected rats placed within it rats were found plague occurred within sufficient evidence to show that there were of the Sanitary Department may con- so familiar in the Colony. It was a the police. The two prisoners were taken two or three weeks, and he also had his rats either in the house or in the immedi side any question of the kind, certain well-known fact that the space between to the house in Prinsen Street, while the attention drawn to the subject of drain ate neighbourhood.

members of the Board and of the public ventilated. He could not see why eat of a large crowd, was left under the pro the roof and ceiling must be properly shop, how the cynosure of the attention Mr. BOWLEY-As the Medical Officer of

may hold the opinion that the ordersing-houses, restaurants or clubs should tection of Inspector Mann and a couple fealth has made a long statement I

of the Board are being carried out too not have a ceiling to the top floor. They of native policemen. At the house the would like to put a supplementary ques-stringently or possibly without due con were easily cleaned and to forbid them various impounded articles were put toge sideration of the merits of any particular seemed an unecessary interference with ther and sent to the Central Police case, and it will therefore very much the liberty of the subject and the right Station, where later in the day the prison- of the property owner, His argument er were also conveyed. The Japanese strengthen the hands of the exreative would apply equally to any partition woman was also arrested and the three opinion of the Board in each case of the sides, and be asked the Board to accept as a general principle that structures during the cleansing operations which kind. It will not be possible to make which could be cleansed on both sides

this proposal apply to infected premises, should not be destroyed. took place there?

as the Medical Officer of Health must

was sent out as a sanitary expert to en-

Mr. Chadwicic from his investiga- tion agreed with Professor Simpson. The elast which had been prepared by the

Medical Officer of Health bore out Pro- fessor Simpson's contention. There were 1wo kinds of rats, the house rat and the drain rat. They were equal approximate 1y in numbers, but the proportion of in-

tion.

The PRESIDENT1 cannot guarantee that it will be answered at once.

Mr. Bowler-The question is whether

was

Ficted drain rats was very much larger any rats were found on these prenio officers if their action is backed by the which was accessible to cleaning on both spent the night in the lock-up.

The pr

THE REMOVAL OF CEILINGS,

I

Mr. OHAN KAI Misa, in seconding, said he always held it was most Ice grade step to insist on the wholesale de struction of ceilings; each case should be decided on its merits, and ceilings which could be cleansed should be allowed to

remain.

My CARTER said the President's slate- ment amounted to a vote of confidence in the Board. As they were likely to receive

of

The charges which have been provision- ally preferred against the two male ac cused are as follow:-1, Forging 81, 86 and 810 currency notes at 77 Prinsep instruments and papers for the forging Street; 2, being in possession of certain of currency notas; and 3, being in posses- sion of certain papers on which impres- sions of 81, 35 and $10 notes are printed. The woman, whose name is given as Chio Sabatier, is charged with being in posses

sion of forged notes knowing same to be forged.

PRESIDENT YỪAN AND HIS DETRACTORS.

It is reported that President Yuan Shib-kai recently telegraphed to Li Yuan Hung and all the Tutus as follows:

"L, Yuna Shih-kai, from my earliest

gain.

OBTAINABLE EVERYWHERE,

H. RUTTONJEE

& SON,

133

Chs. J. Gaupp

& Co..

ALEXANDEA BUILDINGS,

CHATKE ROAD,

Always haro on hand a very large complete

stock of

SCIENTIFIC AND

SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

(Transits, Levels, Plane Tables, Prismatic and Sight Compasses, Hand Lovels, &c., &o.)

also

DRAWING

INSTRUMENTS

AND MATERIAL Squares, Set Bqasros, Straight Edges..

Scales, Inks, &c., &c.)

than the proportion of infected house rats. The figures for 1911 showed that the total number of rats killed was 87,238, of The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH which 200 were infected. Of these 54 per cannot say. It is not a very material act promptly to prevent the spread of cent were house rats and 66 per cent. point. Live rats do not wait when you disease where a case is reported from In such cases, drain rats. For 1912 up to June the num-are pulling down ceilings. They bolt by

any particular buase. be caught was 18,050, of which 415 was the nearest outlet. I cannot say whether however, any correspondence on the sub infected, 25 per cent. being house rats dead rats were found or not.

ject of action taken will be referred to the Board for information. In infected and 75 per cent. drain rats.

Mr. Nolan brought the prisoners into portion of infected rats was very small, A letter from Mr. Bowley was read in areas, however, where promptness is also

the second police court and asked Mr. but he would ask them to imagine what which he gave notice of his intention to essential, the urgency may not be quite a good many applications for exemptions David to remand them in custody for n would happen if Instead of 0.86 the pro withdraw the second of the resolutions so great as a large number of premisese thought it well that the Board should week. The prisoners made no remark or have a settled policy. He was glad that objection and the magistrato agreed to portion was 8.06. We would then have of which he had given netice.

would have to be dealt with, involving, a Mr Bowley had raised the point, but be the application. No bail was allowed.

did not agree Of course the

with him, and he proposed 10.000 cases of plague.

Correspondence relative to the removal eertain amount of time in carrying out

the following amendment; That this drain rat was not entirely confined to

any work which has to be done. A

Board considers that the removal of all the drains. It was an unsociable beast, of ceilings was submitted as follows:

Mr. CHAN KAI Mix minuted--At the special meeting of the Board could there-ceilings, stair linings and hellow walls and, apart from the drains, occupied un- used godown, and such places. The fact meeting referred to by the Medical fore be called to consider at the earliest should be the settled policy of the Sanitary that 75 per cent, of the infected rats be Officer of Health in his minute dated 15th opportunity any cases grising in an infect- Department and that this work should he as circumstances will permit; and that long to this species should make them June, if my memory serves, me rightly, ed area. There are certain houses in the proceeded with as smoothly and rapidly rivet their attention on the drain. Pro- the Kai Fong were invited to co-operate Central plagne infected area which for the Select Committee on the Removal of some special reason have not yet been Ceilings be instructed to amend Byelaw fessor Simpson and Mr. Chadwick were in the general cleansing work to be done

dealt with. I propose when the dis N, 1 of the Removal of Ceilings and youth, have always admired the excellent Stair linings Byelawa in conformity with examples of Tang and Yu, who uphold In this they readily of the opinion that the sewage system was in the infected area. a good one, but the storm water drains offered their services, but when they were cussion of these papers is concluded and the new Byelaw No. 3 for the Prevention the Empire without personal are dry for the most part of the year told that their ceilings must come down with the permission of the Board to and Mitigation of Epidemic, Endemic, When I reached middle age I became

laws.' They should ronenber that the of France and America accorded with AGENTS FOR and they are not pointed and are very they made a great noise and said that it request the Board to consider what steps Contagious and Infectious disense Bye deeply convinced that the Constitutions filthy. In 1908 the Daily Press in a lead- was too big an ordor. They pointed out should be taken to carry ont the removal Colony was spending large sums in fight the ideas of our sages. Last year Wu- ing article pointed out that if the rains that as they were only tenants they should of ecilings, stair-linings, hollow walls, ing plague, and that the Colony was losing chang mised the standard of revolt. large sums of money on account of the Other provinces followed, and hence occurred early in March or April there like to report to the owners, and if there etc.. in these special buildings with a

the part. Steatters going to Shanghai was comparative immunity from plague, was really no way out of it they preview to preventing the spread of plague quarantine restrictions imposed against after two thousand years of despotism, They are the only were told to miss Hongkong if they could republicanism was established. Having

seen a long-cherished desire fulfilled but if the raine were delayed then plague ferred to be allowed to take down thein or from them. occurred. The experience since 1808 seems ceilings themselves, and they particularly houses in the Central plague infected possibly manage it, and this habit was intended to retire and become a peaceful E. R. WATTS & SON, LTD.,

one which would grow. It was no use to citizen, but the people forced upon me

LONDON. The newspapers to bear out this contention. Mr. Chadwick insisted upon the houses owned by Euro-area which still retain their ceilings. In

a responsibility which I was obliged to years ago went out of their way to in his report in 1902 had some very peans being dealt with at first. They dealing with them I would draw attenhush the plague up. strong remarks upon the absence of begged hard to be permitted to cleansetion to the paper on the Agenda which advertise it, but this year the Times first take. I therefore swore allegiance to the plans, pointing out that because of this their houses without disturbing the cell deals with the question of permitting top intimation came from the Colonial Office Republic and it has since been my duty and not from their local correspondent. to see that no king or emperor reigned. The question of exemption was floor ceilings in certain types of build. They wore told they would have the Lately there have been rumours of my no proper scheme for the re-arrangement ings.

plague always with them, but he did not unfaithfulness; rumours that I wanted of the drains could be drawn up. Since never raised at this informal meeting.

sea why that should be so. They had a to become another Napoleon. This I then ten years had elapsed, and it was My impression is that the object of the

The next business was consideration of splendid record behind them with regard declare to be due to misunderstanding or an attempt to serve private ends. acre than probable that the Public meeting was to inform the Kai Fong

was no need to rush the work, which he Since the establishment of the Republic Works Department had proper plans. what they had to do and not that they the following motions, notice of which to malaria. In conclusion he said there to

imagined would not cost more than 850,000, the Powers have not recognized the Proceeding, be quoted from Mr. Chad- were to be consulted as to whether they had been given by Mr. Bowley ↑

The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH second- Government and order has not been wick's report to the effect that he was would consent to their ceilings being (1) That in the pinion of this Board

the withholding front the full Board of Replying to Mr. Bowley's remarks, wholly restored. Therefore this is a most said that during his seventeen years critical time in the history of China, and strongly of opinion that the drains taken down, as I distinctly remember the letter of the 31st May, 1912, address-service he had always endeavoured to my position, which is extremely difficult, should be opened up, and be made some the Medical Officer of Health said that ea to the Secretary of the Board by a exercito delegated powers judiciously, calls for the sympathy of the people recommendations on the subject. In 1903 it was imperative that the ceilings must one owner, requesting reconsideration and in this case he visited the house with Heaven knows my heart. This is no time the Public Health and Buildings Ordin- come down in any case. I said I had no by the full Board of the application for the President, who agreed that the ceil for doubts and prejudices. This matter He asserted affects the general welfare of the country, anco came into fores, and section 217 objection to these bye-laws being enforced exemption from removal of the top flooring should be demolished.

that the houses in point did not come and I hope the people will give it careful provided that in future no storm water. drain was to be covered except with the as regards plague-infected houses, but ceilings of Nos. 88 and 20, Wellington under the general principles which Mr. consideration." written consent of the Director of Public us regards the wholesale destruction of Street, was irregular and improper.

ceilings throughout the Colony, I said Works... Continuing, he pointed out that the drains being dry was the cause of that if it was imperative that this must the trouble, and he said that he could see be done, the Board should make a start with houers owned by Europeans so as no great engineering difficulty in the way.

́to sot an example to the Chinese and the of opening them up. It did not appear latter soon would follow. to be expensive. If it were spread over.

It seemed

$90,000 vr -$80,000. reflection that if they had started the work ton years ago it would have been completed now.

Mr. Bowley, in seconding, remarked that they would all agree that Mr. Carter

ings.

MR. BOWLEY'S CRITICISMS.

the

Canse

CHANGED.

ARMED COULIKS TO REPLACE TRUSTED BOLDIERS.

Bowley advocated. In regard to those (2) That this Board considers that ceilings they were aiming not only at the destruction of removal of any lawful the exelusion of rats from dwellings, but which when they left a dead rat in a ceiling or partition, which can be readily at the exclusion of infected rat Heas, KULING'S CHINESE GUARD TO BE and effectively cleaned and disinfected on ceiling, fell through the ventilation to the floor both sides without destruction or removal, holes and these on to

He way convinced this was is an unjustifiable interference with below.

of a certain number of

Recently the Klukiang, authorities for He dealt with Mr. Mr. Na How Tez minuted-I was pre-private property and throws unnecessary

plugue cases. a number of years they might complete

Bowley's arguments, pointing out that some reason unknown have placed Chinese affairs in connection with Kuling untler Mr. BOWLEY Baid that after the state Mr. Bowley did not realise that these the control of one of the leading gentry the roarrangement of the drains for sent at the meeting and can endorse the expenses on the Revenue of the Colony.

for statement made by Mr. Chan Kai Ming.ment which the President had just made ceilings were only to be permitted in of the hillfoot, by name Wang, a

Dr. FITZWILLIAMS—I think all UT to the Board he thought it was unneces- houses so constructed that the cross walls none too highly reputed among foreign- One of the first administrative acts of nearly all this trouble would have been sary for him to proceed with the first could not be carried up to the roof. The saved if the instructions of the Head resolution, as he understood that in ordinary. Chinese house did not need a

future if any similar correspondence took ceiling. Proceeding, he quoted the ex-Wang was to notify the Chinese guard of of the Sanitary Department dated 12th place the papers would be laid before the perience of Mr. Osborne at the Kowloon some 20 soldiers, many of whom have done June, 1912, had been conveyed with more Board at the earliest opportunity. That wharves, who having taken steps to ex-daty on the Estate for over ten years. brought him to the second of the resolu- clude rats from the coolie quarters had that they were dismissed. It was learned consideration for the householders. So had made out a ease for inquiry.

tions for dealing with the destruction or atamped out plague there although cases that he had chosen some coolics formerly Mr. CARTER-I think that the Secre-removal of ceilings which could be effec had occurred in Kowloon. He also re-employed on the Klakiang railway as the long as they were committed to the pre- sent system of drainage the stormwater tary's letter of 12th June should have tively cleansed. After a reference to the ferred to Mr. Heary Humphreys holding defenders of the resort. drains during the dry season must form contained some reference to the under-Medical Officer of Health having accused similar views that it was the rat which

It standing mentioned in the first half of him by implication of inconsistency in carried the plague.

The PRESIDENT having described his ex- dealing with that matter, be said that a happy hunting ground for rats. seemed to him that they ought to minute by the Medical Officer of Health under the bye-laws as they stood before perience of Chinese houses in Canton,

they were amended, when a district was Mr. BOWLEY replied to points raised in formulate a policy of attacking the evil dated 15th June.

declared infected the officers of the Board the debate. at the roots as well as lopping off he The following minute by the Building were required to remove the ceilings.

On the vote being taken the amendment The principle which inderlay the whole

was carried by six votes to three. branches.

Authority was read:--

The members of the old guard were in- dignant.

They have declared that they will not give up their places without a struggle.

The Kuling authorities have taken the matter in hand and have sent a protest to the British Consul at Kinkiang, Mr. H. F. King.

45

W. F. STANLEY & Co., LTD.,

LONDON.

WE ELIMINATE

GUESSWORK

BY USING THE LATEST AND MOST SCIENTIFIC APPLIANCES.

In-testing the sight for plasses. Your eyesight is the most precions of your enses and you cannot afford to jeapornine it by using incorrect lenses or ill-fitting frames. We are competent professionally, and we have the equipment to satisfy ourselves and to satisfy YOU what la best for your eyes. If a physician is needed we will so advise you. Lenses ground and polished on the premises.

CLARK & CO

SCIENTIFIC OPTICIANS PORK BLOGS, CHATER RO

* HONGKONG

75