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due to high density made the spread of diseases rapid and easy. In 1888, a very serious epidemic of smallpox broke out among the inhabitants of the district. In 1894 Bubonic Plague fell upon the district with a vengeance.
Probably the terrible disease was introduced into Hong Kong from Canton. Unfortunately, Hong Kong had for several months been suffering from excessive drought and consequently a very limited water supply. The local overcrowding and insanitary conditions tended to favour the spread of the disease. It was not surprising to learn that two or three days later after the first appearance of the plague (11th May 1894) it assumed an epidemic form.
The plague had gained a firm footing in the most densely populated districts of Hong Kong. In Sai Ying Pun, First, Second, and Third Streets were the most infected parts of Hong Kong. The disease in Sai Ying Pun was due possibly to the bad conditions of the latrines, especially the public ones. They were used by the bulk of the Chinese population. Few Chinese dwellings in the district were provided with facilities of this kind. The plague bacillus was abundantly found in the faeces. In those latrines, there was practically no disinfection of the faeces, and they were not cleaned out as regularly as they ought to have been. These latrines were often visited by plague-stricken people. The bacillus was probably borne by air and infected the neighbouring houses.
From a letter of Dr. Lowson to the Colonial Surgeon, bearing the date 15th August 1894, we learn that:
"There is a licensed private latrine at 113 Second Street. At a casual glance, the shut-up houses all around bear eloquent testimony upon this point. Round this latrine, there is scarcely a house occupied.
In Centre Street, at the corner of Third Street, there is a latrine. On passing into Third Street to the South, numerous houses are shut up, and several cases have occurred in the neighbouring houses.
At 82 First Street, there is a latrine with an entrance at 91 Second Street. A very large number of cases occurred round this place. Around several other latrines, more especially at 29 First Street, numerous cases occurred. Sheung Fung Lane off Second Street and opposite to No. 91.
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due to high density made the spread of diseases rapid and easy. In 1888, a very serious epidemic of small pox broke out among the inhabitants of the district. In 1894 Bubonic Plague fell upon the district with a vengeance
Probably the terrible disease was introduced into Hong Kong from Canton. Unfortunately Hong Kong had for several months been suffering from excessive draught and consequently a very limited water supply The local overcrowding and insanitary conditions tended to favour the spread of the disease. It was not surprising to learn that two or three days later after the first appearance of the plague (Ilth May 1894) it assumed an epidemic form.
The plague had gained a tum footing in the most densely populated districts of Hong Kong In Sai Ying Pun, First, Second and Third Streets were the most infected parts of Hong Kong. The disease in Sai Ying Pun was due possibly to the bad conditions of the latrines, especially the public ones. They were used by the bulk of the Chinese population. Few Chinese dwellings of the district were provided with facilities of this kind The plague bacillus was abundantly found in the faeces In those latrines there were practically no disinfection of the faeces and they were not cleaned out as tegularly as they ought to have been These latrines were often visited by plague-sticken people. The bacillius were probably borne by air and infected the neighbouring houses.
From a letter of Dr. Lowson to the Colonial Surgeon, bearing the date 15th August 1894, we learn that
"There is a licensed private latrine at 113 Second Street. At a casual glance the shut up houses all around bear eloquent testmony upon thus point Round this latrine there is scarcely a house occupied
In Centre Street at the corner of Third Street, there is a latrine On passing into Third Street to the South, numerous houses are shut up and several cases have occurred in the neighbouring houses
At 82 First Street, there is a latrine with an entrance at 91 Second Street A very large number of cases occurred round this place Around several other latrines more especially at 29 First Street numerous cases occurred. Sheung Fung Lane off Second Street and opposite to No 91
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