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moved that a by-law be prepared in the terms of his minute.
Mr. EDE seconded,
Carried.
THE SEGREGATI 'N SYSTEM.
A letter was read from the Acting Medical Officer of Health showing the result of the segregation of persous from houses infected with bubonic plague.
CHOLERA IN JAPAN.
Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Tokyo. ported that from June 11th to Juno 15th, in- clusive, there had been 1,687 cases of cholera in Japan, and 272 deaths.
A CASE OF CHOLERA IN THE COLONY,
The Colonial Secretary forwarded a letter concerning the death from cholera of Julius Cezar M. Marques, 19, Arbuthnot Road. The medical certificate, sigued by Mr A. B. Carvalho, said that death was caused by have commenced at 3. a.m. Seen by mo at 6; stage of collapse beginning; died at 5 p.m., July 5th; 1895."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[July 24, 1895":
MORTALITY STATISTICS. For the week ended July 6th the death rate was 24.6 per 1,000 per annum, as compared with 40.6 per 1.000 per annum during the correspond- ing week last year. The features of most im- portance in this return are the deaths recorded from cholera and bubonic plague. The death recorded from cholera, Mr. Mc allum under- stood, was doubtful, to say the least of it.
hich the water flows constantly, thus convert-charge of Shaukiwan Police Station disclosing ing the bed of the stream below iuto unformed scandalous neglect on the part of the contractor." drains; the fall below the Mint dam seems to be Sergeant Donald reported a woman's excuse used most. The clothes are washed. boiled, and for throwing night soil into the harbour was that starched at the streams, and, when the weather the night soil had not been removed for 14 days. is favourable, dried also and then taken back to He made enquiries and found that the night soil was removed on the average only every fourth houses in the city to be dressed and ironed. These laundries are located on the ground floors day.-Iuspector Germain also reported making of houses, and are fitted with ironing tables, a enquiries, and said that only a few of the in- amall stove for healing irons, and presses habitants admitted that the soil was removed for cleaning linen. 88 à month was the least sometimes every three or four days. If the soil rent paid for those I visited, and $14.25 the was not removed it was because the night soil highest; and the average number of workman's fees were not paid. The contractor was men employed was 8 to 4 ironers, 2 coolies, and not responsible for private houses
The Director of Public Works, in a minute, two washermen. They all slept on the pre- mises, the master in a compartment, the rest on said-It is satisfactory to see from these papers the ironing tables. The average number of that the charge of" scandalous neglect " brought pieces dealt with during each mor th was 1,000 against the contractor is not sustained.
The President said that no further action was. There had been no ground for com- per establishment. There is a block of ten laundries owned by the Government at Kennedy necessary. "cholera said to
of which I give a plan; only plaint in this case. Road, Wanchai, three of these are occupied, I. 3.- and 10, and it is evident that they are not popular with the Officer of Health washermen, the two principal reasons being that The Acting Medical
Dr. Cantlin aboutthey are not conveniently situated for customers reported-"I have seen
to bring their own washing to the laundries, and this case. He has made bacteriological ex-
that there is not sucient drying, ground. aminations which prove that it was not a cuse
Each laundry is supposed to consist of a of Asiatic cholera, but of cholerá nostras, ́ cases
two storied Chines dwelling, and a laundry of which are to be expected at this season of the
block, separated by a lane at the back, year."
but this arrangement is ignored in all cases, In a later communication the Acting Medical
and each one suits his own.convenience as to Officer said The sanitary condition of the house and surroundings was good, and the de-appropriation Recommendations (1) That washing tanks be constructed at the present ceased had lived there for seven months, and
ve had partakou washing streams and properly drained. (2) That was in previous good health, of no suspicious food, drink, or medicines during when these are completed, pollution of public the previous 24 hours, but had eaten melon in streams be prohibited. (3.) That all houses used as laundries be licensed, and laws be made the afternoon of the 3rd.. Although this is re-
for their regulation, an essential condition being cognised as a cause in India, the interval between
that they are not to be used as dwellings, a care- its consumption and the attack was probably too
taker only being allowed. With regard to the great for its est mation as a canse in this case.'
Government laundries a plot on the hill side The Colonial Surgeon appended the following minute-Unsati factory. Too great a tendency might be allotted to each house and fitted with bamboo poles for drying purposes. The drying to exaggerate on the part of some prople until à
rooms should be made watertight; water finds its close examination into facts is made.
way from the tank rooms and swamps the floors. Efficient arrangements for boiling are required. At present the lano is obstructed by inud and stones, over which the large copper boilers are heated, If these means were carried out the attention of large establishments, such as riny, Government, and Civil Hospital, hotels, &c, might be called to the advantage of hiring them and thereby controlling their own laundry work; but I am of opinion that the future of these laun tries is not promising, and that they will not be able to compte secessfully with their more convenient rivals."
,,
The report was referred for further informa- tion.
FRUIT IN SHOPS.
Several applications were made for the sale of fruit in shops ou the ground that the market ac- commodation was not aimple enough.
The following minutes were appended : The Acting Medical Officer of Health-I am of opinion that these licences should be refused. It is most necessary that food should be sold in the market,
and if there is no room in the existing ones I suggest the provision of a temporary onol
•
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police- Recommend refusal.
The ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON said he did not think it was possible to sell fruit in certain markets, at present, and if a refusal of the applications was made just now he thought that some such method of providing for ac- comodation as mentioned by the Medical Officer of Health should be arranged.
The PRESIDENT moved that the Colonial Sec- retary be informed that in the opinion of the Board these applications ought to be refused. and at the same time he hoped steps would be taken by the Government in regard to the sale of fruit. He did not consider it altogether impracticable that certain houses should be rented by the Government for the purpose of a temporary fruit market.
The ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON Secouded the resolution.
Carried.
WATER CLOSETS.
An application was made by Hon. E. R. Belilios for permission to erect water closets at The application Kingsclere. 13, Caine Road. was referred back for further particulars, and in the course of the discussion Mr. Ede asked if it was to be nuderstood thțit water closets were to be erected only in hotels' and premises where there were many European resideuts.
The PRESIDENT-The applications must rest on their own merits.
The ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON-There are a terrible lot of people in Mr. Belillos's house. They say there are more it his honse than in the hotels sometimuis.
THE OTTY LAUNDRIKS. ·
The Asting Medical Officer of Health re- ported as follows ou the laundry work of the colony I have the honour to submit a report on the washing of clothes in the oblohy. Most of the washing of the city is done in the hill „streams in rudely constructed tanks, throngh
The following minutes were attached :-
Mr. Ede-This question of landries has occupiel the attention of tho Sanitary Board on soveral previous occasions, and the matter was gone into
errefully before and since the landrips at Wancha
were built. In my opinion these laundries are not unpopular because of their situation, inasmuch as washermen take the clothes much further out of town, but because the washermen like to live in the centre of the town and do things in their own dirty fashion. If all public laundries aro judiciously re- ulated, and it washermen were strictly prohibited from sleeping on their ironing tables and their cus- tomer's clothing, they wouli son i see the advantage of those cheap and good bu ldings erected at War clai I am in favour of regulations being mato and enfor ed for the supervision of elqanliness of all public laundries and prohibiting their so as dwel lings, and fit then be found that further accommoda- tions required it should be provided.
men who are at fault.
The Acting Colonial Surgeon-We cannot do much mre at present than is being done. Thore is too much other work at present to be done. I would adviso a thorough winter campaign against those washer- The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police - agree with the Colonial Surgeon. Everything cannot be done at once..
Works--The Colonial The Director of Publie Secretary might be referred to the special report on this enbject a few yours ago. Ian of opinion that if the recommendations contained in that report are carried out a marked improvement of the washing ground would take place.
The PRESIDENT moved that by-law 23 for the regulation of laundries beenford, and that the Colonial Secretary's attention is called to the report sout by the Vown, and inquiry made as to what stops had be taken carry out the in regard to recommenflations of wash houses.
Mr. En seconded. Carried
The
Police
the
THE REMOVAL OF NIGHT SOIL.
of 4oting Capiniz. Naprintendent forwarded a report from the officer in
For the week ended 13th July the death rate as compared was 204 per 1,000 per annum, with 25.5 during the corresponding week las) year.
THE DRY EARTH SYSTEM OF CONSERVANCY.
The conditions of the conservancy contract were laid on the table.
The PRESIDENT said he and the Acting Medical Officer of Health had gone into the whole matter of the dry earth system. It would be remembered that the Medical Officer's report on the matter was deferred until the conservancy contract was considered, and he would now like to bear the opinions of members on the subject.
a
The ACTING MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH -A recent report has directed attention to the insanitary state of the latrines open to the public, and a general opinion has been expressed that something should be done to mitigate the uuisances caused. There have been two pro- posals, I believe, for dealing with them-the rec iving sump to be cleared daily—and the dry water system-a trough connected with earth system. The objections to the water system are that sufficient water could not be spared, and that a nuisance would probably still exist if the sewage were stored in a sump, and it is not desirable to increase the pollution of the forestiere and harbour by its discharge through the city swers. The Hermite system would obviate the water difficulty, as electrolysed sea water is used; the resultant also would cause no danger if discharged into the harbour; but this will be a question for consideration when the new system of latrines has been provided, and more experience gained of this process in other cities.
trial.
The earth system is, I think, worthy of An unlimited supply of earth of efficient quality is procurable, and its introduction as an experiment in the Government latrines would be inexpensive and probably successful. I therefore move that this system be introduced for trial in the limited number of Government latrines.
Mr. EDE seconded.
The ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON-I move that no such trial be made. It would be a very
There have been no expensive trial, and I do not see where the good of it is going to come in. advantages pointed out except the deodorising But to the Chinese it does of the earth. power not matter what they smell, whether they smell latrines or something else. If you put earth into these latrines you are simply throwing money away. It does not matter twopence to the
inese whether they have earth or not, and it does matter to the purse of the colony. I think that, until a far better plau is thought out, or. money, this plau should not be adopted. until somebody comes forward with a lot of
The PRESIDENT said he had no sanguine:
the scheme. He did pectations about. think the dry earth system had a fair chance-
was an estimated in a place where there
of 130 people a day to Que seat average
In London the maximum was in a latrine. 30. The introduction of the earth system would n crease the bulk of obnoxious matter, and he
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.