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Mr. THURBURN.-There is full work for one doctor?
Dr. JORDAN-More than enough when these large numbers of passengers are going through. There are sometimes three steamers in one morning, and that takes up my whole morning; and if another comes in flying the yellow flag she has to wait two or three hours till I am finished.
Dr. CANTLIE.--Dr. BELL is not officially recognised as your assistant ?
Dr. JORDAN.-No; he is employed by me. I think there is quite enough work for two men. At Singapore, where there is really less shipping than in Hongkong, they have a Health Officer and an Assistant Health Officer. The Health Officer does a certain amount of shore work also, but the assistant is solely for the port. Both are paid by the Government. If Dr. BELL were recognised by the Government, he would be able to sign all bills of health.
THE PRESIDENT.-If you had not Dr. BELL, you could not carry on your private practice?
Dr. JORDAN.-No; it would be simply impossible.
Mr. THURBURN.Dr. BELL takes private practice on board the ships, does he not?
Dr. JORDAN.-- Yes.
THE PRESIDENT.--During the plague epidemic were you called upon to render any assistance?
Dr. JORDAN.—I had to undertake the additional duty of examining the Canton Every steamer coming from Canton had to be examined before she came into the Harbour. It entailed a great deal of extra work, and Sunday work. Steamers used to come in at two or three o'clock in the morning and had to lie off in the quarantine anchorage till I could get on board. The Macao steamers had also to be inspected. I was not called upon to assist on shore during the plague.
Dr. CANTLIE. In your position as Health Officer are you often called upon to assist in the Civil Hospital?
Dr. JORDAN.-No. I am asked privately for consultations, but not in my position as Health Officer.
Dr. CANTLIE.—They do not bother you on that account?
Dr. JORDAN-No; not because I am recognised as Health Officer for the Port. I can go or not, as I please.
THE PRESIDENT.You had two medical assistants last year helping you, during the plague?
Dr. JORDAN-That was only for the junks.
Dr. CAXTLIE.—In the event of a recurrence of plague, and supposing the junks have to be inspected, you will require two men again?
Dr. JORDAN.--It is absolutely impossible for me to do the ships and the junks. It is impossible for Dr. BELL and me to do it. You want at least two men to do nothing else but the junks. That must be quite separate from the shipping. Each man must have a steam-launch of his own and to be on duty practically all day; the junks might slip in at one end of the harbour if there was only one man at the other end. I think it would be better to have a third man for the inspection of junks to relieve the others, because I do not know that any man is able to do work continuously night and day. If he had to turn out in wet weather at all hours, a man would soon have enough. With the assistance of the police it might be done by two men; without the assistance of the police it would be impossible.
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