458
having rested themselves for half-an- the Japanese officers paid their official calls, and at 4 p.m. visited the Hospital, whence they proceeded to the Citadel and saw the quarters of the Tirailleurs and the buildings of the Artillery. The splendid quarters of the Militia were also visited. At 7.30 p.m. there was an official dinner at the Governor's Palace, but Mr. Rousseau, being very ill, could not assist, but requested General Bichot to act in his stead General Bichot drank to the health of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and on behalf of the Gover- nor welcomed the visitors. Colonel Idichi, the only one speaking French fluently, though the others understand English and German, trans- lated; and General Kawakami replied in Japan- es, returning thanks for the welcome accorded to the visitors and expressing admiration for the French, to whom no little part was due in the victory of the Japanese over the Chinese; as a great member of the Japanese officers were educated in France. He drank to the health
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PŘESS AND
possibly be found in the great amount of earth excavating that has been in progress in and about the city. Immense amounts of fresh earth have been thrown up from a canal that is partially completed, leading from the river. up. to and along one side of the city wall. Regard ing this it may be noted that during the con- struction of the railway, while making the excavation for a cut of considerable size near Keling, an epidemic broke out among the labourers, so severe that it was necessary to abandon the work in that particular district, running the road around instead of through. As the nature of that disease was not specially examined into by the foreigners it may have also been the plague. However, we have against that supposition the fact that the Japanese in re- building the railway line over the same district have made new and greater excavations without suffering from any epedemic attack. the words of Professor Burton, U.E., made after It is specially interesting at present to note his inspection of the north. Speaking of Taipeh city and surroundings he says: Sewerage, with the exception of a few stagnant or nearly On Sunday the Japanese officers visited the Kinh-lnoc and the Botanical Gardens, and at stagnant canals, does not exist, and the foreshore of the river is in a positively pestilential condi- night were entertained by the General, the band being in attendance, discoursing nine selection on account of the emptying of garbage tions. They left this morning for Phu-laug. upon it;" and again regarding Hobe: Much thuong, intending to balt at Bac-niah for of the usual foul matter is all over the town. breakfast. They will travel by special train This must be abolished and be prevented from to-morrow morning to Langson, whence they without exception the most foul and filthy I accumulating again. The public latrines are will proceed to the frontier. They have come here specially to study the organisation of the have ever seen. They must be reformed. The most part of the whole plain is in dreadful state, and of the Chinese town near the river up stream (Banka) reformation is impossible; the place ought to be destroyed." The Japanese have under consideration the plans made by Professor Burton for sanitary inovations and the canal now under construction, as mentioned above, is a part of the designs for sewerage in Taipeh.
of Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau and all present.
Territoires Militaires" and the means of de- fence. They are expected back on the 4th December, and before leaving for Cochin-China will visit Hongay and Kebao coal mines.
THE PLAGUE IN FORMOSA.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
TAIPERFU, 24th November. On November 6th I telegraphed you that after vigorous efforts the plague had been brought under control. The fact that for the last few days previous to that date the new cases, had dwindled down to from one to two a day - seemed to warrant that supposition, but un- fortunately it has now proved, to have been premature. New cases have been appearing kines to from one to eleven a day, until at pre- sent the total number of cases reaches over 100, while the deaths are over 60. A bright sunny day will lessen the number attacked, while a cold day with rain is sure to bring an increase. At present it really seems as though we may soon expect total relief from the pest, as the cases for the last several days have been either none or very few. The following table gives the number of cases up to November 24th:
October 28th, new cases, 9; 29th, 9; 30th, 4 31st, 12; Nov. 1st, 12, 2nd, 3; 3rd, 5; 4th, 1; 5th, 2; 6th, 4; 7th, 4; 8th, 3; 9th, 1; 10th, 3; 11th, 1; 12th, 3; 13th, 3; 14th, 7; 15th, 1; 16th, 2; 17th, 4; 18th, 1; 19th, 6; 20th, 2; 21st, 1; 22nd, 2; 23rd, no cases; 24th, 1. Total 106; re- Bulting in death, 62.
The outbreak of plague is unfortunate just at this period and will no doubt have much to do with discouraging the better class of Japa- nese in emigrating to the island.
That among the afflicted should be numbered so many Government employés I think the Government itself is somewhat to blame for, not having provided proper living accommodation for those resident here. It would seem that
the first and most essential work to have been done here in Formosa would have been the construction of proper quarters, built with a regard for health and comfort and placed at the disposal of all Government employés. In Formosa, specially Taipehfu and suburbs, one's only pleasure is to be derived from the home. A step outside brings one in contact with the most filthy of Chinese life. It would seem particularly essential, then, that the Japanese should have comfortable accommodation, but a walkthrough the streets or a call on a friend finds them installed in dirty, dark, ill-ventilated Chinese hovels with mud walls, set down in a typical ill-smelling, disease-breeding Chinese street. It is not therefore strange that a pestilential disease has broken out among them, but rather it is more strange that they have escaped so
few days
Kelung resulted wounding of eigh a collision between train, stopped break, while the
with railway con but slightly reduc things generally
December 0.1896)
Taipehfu
ved
The plague still continues victims. The Sanitary Commissio more vigorously than ever and it is say there is scarcely a spot left such an extent are precautions taken amazed to see, a few days since, several coolies spreading lime over every spot that peared even the least damp in a st street which could scarcely be calle is rather a disagreeable fact for those always considered cleanliness a safeg the plague to note that it is not places that the disease breaks out. Twatutia, where the foreigners live, the Chinese part of the town, most sufficient filth to support, innumerable l appeared are in houses not only clean in selves, but on a paved street which for clean linese will compare favourably with thos
case and luxuriance, but the only cases that have
home.
those at
ing. They are not only unwilling to c The Chinese, as to be expected, are co themselves, but. equally unwilling to allow any one else to perform the task for them. The Japanese hospital, to which for the first few days of the outbreak they were taken for treat- ment, appeared to them as a most dangerous in- stitution, and no sacrifice was considered too great to make that their sick relatives should not fall into the clutches of the Japanese, & medi- cine maker."
As an example of how atrocity tales are made, the following blood-curdling account was freely believed by the Chinese masses. When Chinese were found weakened, by sickness, so
that they could not escape, they were carried to the "medicine house, there stripped of all clothing, and a big white cloth, saturated the most deadly of poisons, was wrapped about them, causing death. The heart of the dead was then cut out to make medicine for the Japanese, fifty being required to give the proper strength to be effective. Soon after the arrival of the Governor-General, at His Excellency's orders a special hospital for the Chinese, WES established and placed in charge of a Ja physician, with a Chinese doctor as assist and Chinese to act as attendants, but of co under the orders of skilled Japanese. Singe institution has been opened, the Chinese hay shown less opposition, and several been voluntarily brought forward by treatment. It has also had the effe crediting among them the tales regarding the murderous Japanese doctors.
ses
There have been fifteen cases among the Chi- nese, and fourteen deaths have resulted, while with the Japanese out of ninty-one cases but long. The foreigners of the city suburb live in the patients there confined That His Excel forty-eight have resulted in death. This is ac- counted for by the great care the Chinese have taken in keeping the knowledge of the disease secret from the Japanese, the afflicted as a rule being almost past all hope before the discovery
of the case was made.
It has been generally thought that this and the preceding cases in April, which occurred at Anping and Takow, are the first outbreaks of plague in Formosa. But the Chinese in Taipeh
comfortable quarters, in the second storey of roomy, well-ventilated structures. Sickness is a rarity among them. Work has now been commenced on several houses to be occupied by the higher officials, for whom it is first of course most necessary to provide, but it is only too evident that until all have been likewise accom- modated disease will periodically lessen the ranks.
The Governor-General hás also shown further consideration for the plague stricken by visit- ing the hospital, and it is said he spoke a kind word to all, which had a most cheering effect on
lency Baron Nogi is obtaining the love and respect of all classes with whom His E comes in contact is very evident, and it. hoped that politics will not interfere Excellency holding the office of Governor-Gen- eral for a term of sufficient length to allow him to exercise the ability he undoubtedly in placing Formosa on a comparatively prosperous basis.
or the last few day November 22, 1 Chinese 1 Japan 23, none November 24, 1 Japanese. 25, none November 26, 1 Japanes 27, 2 Japanese November 28 29, 1 Japanese: Nove November 22, 1 Chinese 23, none; November 24,
Among the Japanese who have died of plague was Mr. Arao, who founded the commercial now say that for several years á similiar disease | school for Japanese in Shanghai, an institution of plague up to.
of considerable prominence. At the outbreak of the war the school was closed and the students, wlio were well versed in Chinese, were in great demand by the army and navy as interpreters. Some months ago he arrived in Formosa and very philanthropically exerted himself towards the strengthening of friendly relations between Japanese and Chinese. With this end in view he organized a club, containing as members Japanese and Chinese, which would no doubt have been successful had it not been for his untimely death. Mr. Kambe, a man of wealth and learning who had 3 established hospitals in Taipeh and Kelung, is also, among she dead.
has broken out in North Formosa which was known to them as the sickness" when the rats dio. That this disease, which to the Chinese was marked by the death of rats, was the same plague cannot of course now be ascertained; however, there is no mention made by foreigners of previous plague in Formosa. As a result of the host of workers employed by the Sanitary Bureau the city of Taipeh which is but a small place, with population of 580, was easily cleaned and dis- oted in a thorough manner, but now cases I continue to appear. This would lead one elieve that some other source of disease hich renders the total abolishment of the plague specially difficult. This may
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Given according to weeks; the first week 54 cases, the 21, the fourth 15,
addition of any cases which ends the week
it does seem
sesses
and
ember
a few days.
JAMES W. DAVIDBOK.
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