642022-1895-Report-of-the-Medical-Committee — Page 6

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH MAY, 1895.

If the experiment proves successful in Kowloon, we recommend the general extension of the scheme to other parts of the Colony, but would point out that the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals would appear to meet the requirements of the native population in the districts in which they are located.

Question 7 (b).--In the event of a recurrence of the plague what medical arrange- ments should be made for the removal of patients from the Colony?

Answer.-We are of opinion that all persons, wishing to do so, should be allowed to leave the Colony subject to the following arrangements for and conditious of removal :-

(1) Patients to be removed at least 20 miles (as the crow flies) from the

Colony.

(2) Special junks, fitted up to the satisfaction of the medical authorities, to start at stated times from certain wharves, provided for the purpose in the Eastern and Western Districts.

(3) Such junks to proceed to a place more than 20 miles (as the crow flies)

from the Colony under escort of at least one European before discharg ing patients.

(4) Matsheds to be erected adjoining the wharves, for the temporary accom-

modation of the sick prior to their removal.

(5) One European Police officer and one medical officer, if possible, to be

on duty at each of the matsheds.

(6) Patients, wishing to be removed from the Colony, to report to the officer on duty at the matshed, who should arrange for their temporary accommodation and early removal in the manner prescribed above.

In this connection we would further suggest that dead bodies might also with advantage be removed from the Colony, provided that such removal is carried out speedily, and the limit of distance from the Colony is strictly adhered to.

Having now dealt with all the questions submitted to us for enquiry, we beg leave to add one or two suggestions which have occurred to us in connection with the subject under review.

It has come under our notice in the course of our enquiry that the present obser- vation ward at the Government Civil Hospital is wholly unsuitable for the purpose for which it is intended. Being a wooden structure, it is necessarily very inflammable in the dry season, and we learn that it has been more than once partially destroyed by fire. We would therefore respectfully subunit the great danger to which patients are exposed by being housed in a wooden building, and urge the early erection of a per- manent brick or stone structure, for which we are informed plans have already been prepared.

We would further beg to suggest that the Kennedy Town Police Station be per- manently reserved as a Hospital for the reception of infectious or contagious diseases, when the flygeia is full or when it is undesirable to remove patients across the water. With these additional suggestions, which we trust will receive the favourable considera- tion of the Governor, we beg to conclude our report.

Hongkong, April, 1895.

THOS. H. KNOTT,

Deputy-Inspector General, R.N.,

Chairman,

A. F. PRESTON, B.A., M.B.,

Surgeon-Colonel, A.M.S.

A. McCONACHIE.

J. THURBURN.

JAS. CANTLIE, M.A., M.B., F.R.C.S.,

Dipl. Public Health, R. C. P.,

London.