*
December 8, 1900.]
the whole colony, but this is a matter of detail into which I have purposely not entered, as, should my motion be carried and the Govern ment accede to our request, the choice of an officer, the districts to which he should pay special attention, and the general direction of his work, can very well be left to the good sense and discretion of the President and Medical Officer of Health. The Vice President has, I' notice, minuted that this is a matter for the Medical Department. I should be sorry to believe that Mr. May, who has proved himself during many years such an active and efficient member of this Board, and whose opinion naturally carries great weight, is as ignorant of Sanitation as his minute implies. I cannot help thinking that he has been misled by the expression "treatment of anopheles pools," as of course treatment is always the prerogative of the Medical Department, but the prevention of disease is the first and most important duty of a Sanitary Board, and if dealing with ano- pheles is to be handed over to the Medical De- partment, the P.C.M.O. should also be asked to undertake the collection and decimation of rats, the destruction or disinfection of contaminated clothing, and the cleansing or demolition of houses harbouring the plague bacillus or contagion of small-pox. It must be dis- tinctly understood that the object of my proposal is for the purpose of dealing with and eradicating the anopheles pools only, this course being, as I said, simple, inexpensive and effective; but I by no means wish to underrate or set aside those larger measures for getting rid of sub-soil water, or training nullahs, or afforestation, all of which are most necessary and would prove extremely beneficial to the health of the colony, but which, since they entail a considerable outlay, require careful con. sideration and much time for their completion. Meanwhile I propose to carry out measures which have been found effective elsewhere and will, I believe, convert many houses which are now practically fever-dens into healthy habitations, and open up numerous sites which, having now an unenviable reputation, are lying waste, notwithstanding the large growing want of increased house accommodation. Closely allied to this subject is that of the skilled super vision of the various nallahs in the colony. Both the quite recently built nullahs on Kennedy and McDonnell Roads, and the older "trained" ravines in the West district, require attention, being, with their luxuriant foliage, most rural and artistic, but a perfect paradise for mosquitoes, with the exception of those running through the Richmond Park, which have lately been cleared. I take it that so long as the masonry is in order the P.W.D. is satis- fied, but not so the sanitarian, and here it seems to me the duties of the Sanitary Board and Public Works overlap. The Sanitary Sur- veyor and proposed inspector should be able to deal with the difficulty. The latter office will be no sinecure and the work will certainly im- prove the health of the colony.
Mr. OSBORNE thought that, whatever the views of the Board might be, there could be no harm in going to some expense to test the correctness or otherwise of the proposal put
before the Board.
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Dr. BELL said he rose to make an explanation, one which he was sorry he had had no oppor- tunity of already making. This matter had been engaging the attention of the Government for some months past, as was also the question of getting someone to do the work of the medical officer told off to do the work. Shortly, Dr. Thomson had been commis- sioned to act as Medical Officer of Health for mosquitoes. Dr. Thomson was well known as a specialist in mosquitoes, and would make a special study of the whole matter and send in his reports special reports, monthly reports. weekly reports, and so on to the Government. An account of his investigations would no doubt be also sent to the Sanitary Board. As to Dr. Hartigan's proposal, that gentle man had dilated on the cheapness of the method outlined by him. Personally he did not believe in cheapness. The mosquito bill, he was convinced, was going to cost money, but then money should be spent. The scheme was an extensive one, and he expected they would have to exercise their patience for a time. It could not be expected that everything could be done immediately. It only remained for
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
440
them to put extra confidence in Dr. Thomson | vernment that the reports of Dr. Thomson in and to support his views. In view of this the course of his investigations into the question appointment of Dr. Thomson as special of anopheles and his views on the treatment medical officer, he did not see the necessity thereof should be forwarded from time to time for another man. The only difficulty now for their information." would be to get some one to do Dr. Thom son's work, and that difficulty, he had been led to understand, was almost over.
The Hon. F. H. MAY said that when he brought this matter before the Medical De partment he had in his mind's eye whether or not it was only in the initial stage. The enquiry would be a very big one, and they had a lot to learn before they reached the final stage. As to the expense that would bo entailed, he would cite one instance, the case of the Taipo Police Station, which was suffering severely from malaria, If any member of the Board had been to Taipo, he would know that in the vicinity of the police station there were acres and acres of paddy fields. These paddy fields were ideal breeding-places for mosquitoes, and to exterminate them would necessitate the covering-up and draining of these paddy fields -an operation that would run away with an enormous amount of money.
The PRESIDENT-Do you persist in your motion, Dr. Hartigan ?
Dr. HARTIGAN replied that he did. Dealing with the one question of training these nullahs, he had it on the distinct anthority of Dr. Young that to get rid of anopheles pools was a simple and inexpensive matter.
It seemed to him that the appointment of Dr. Thomson as special medical officer was not required. His idea was that a Superin- tending Officer should be taught to recognise and situation to the Public Works Department, an anopheles pool and report its existence
which could see to its filling up with cement or lime, attention being more particularly paid to such pools that existed close to European habitations. This other proposal meant pro- crastination. They should require to wait an indefinite period for Dr. Thomson's reports.
Dr. BELL-Excuse me, I said his reports would come in from time to time. Dr. Thomson will have complete control of everything. It will be entirely for him to say where mosquiteos breed, and directly he has got the place he will report on that fact, and it will devolve on either the Government or Public Works De- partment to carry out what he advises.
Dr. HARTIGAN said that after Dr. Bell's ex- planation he placed himself altogether in the hands of the Board in the matter of the motion advanced by him. He did not wish to press it on the Board if it was thought there was no necessity for it.
Mr. OSBORNE was of opinion that Dr. Harti- gan's motion should stand. He thought the scheme laid down by Dr. Bell far too extensive to be carried out in their time, and Dr. Harti gan proposed a very simple and practical method of dealing with the question. It would be some time before Dr. Thomson would be at liberty, and what little they conld do now should be done.
Dr. BELL-I have already told you that the scheme is practically finished; it only remains to get a man to do the other man's work. Inside
of a month we shall have a skilled man at
work. It is not a question of a lifetime. You will have the reports in the first or second week in January. I think, if the Government give you a skilled man, there is no necessity for having another.
Dr. BELL BOCónded.
Dr. CLARK rose to a point of order. It seemed to him that the amendment was noamend- ment at all-merely an addition to the resolution. Dr. HARTIGAN asked Mr May if he had any objection to adding it to the original resolution. The Hon. F. H. MAY objected to this proposal, and maintained that the amendment was per- fectly in order.
After some discussion the PRESIDENT ruled that the amendment was quite in order, and proceeded to put it to the meeting.
The vote resulted in the amendment being carried by a majority of one, five voting in its favour and four against.
The members in favour of the amendment were the President, the Hon. F. H. May, Dr. Bell, Major Brown, and Mr. Fung Wa Chuen. NEW INFECTIOUS HOSPITAL IN KENNEDYTOWN:
THE MARKET QUESTION.
Dr. HARTIGAN, pursuant to notios, asked the following questions :-
(a.) Will the President lay before the Board plans of and reports on the new infectious hospital at Kennedytown, together with such other information thereon as may enable the Board to judge of its suitability for the purpose intended ?
(b.) Will the President furnish a short state. ment as to what has been done, or is in hand, regarding the proposed extension of the Wes- tern Market, and the proposed Market at Kow- loon !
tion, said-as President of this Board I have The PRESIDENT, answering the first_ques-
the custody of no plans or reports which are not equally open to any other member of the Board. As Director of Public Works I am not ex-officio President, and any plans or papers required from me as Director of Public Works should be asked for through the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. But on this occasion I am prepared to save time by replying. The plans asked for are for a building to be erected by a private and independent institution. I cannot lay them before the Board without express instruction from Government. The same remark applies to the reports which are contained in Colonial Office files.
The PRESIDENT, in replying to the second question, said There is no proposal that I have heard of to extend the Western Market, consisting as it does of a num- ber of badly arranged, badly constructed and insanitary buildings. It is proposed to build a new market on the reclaimed land in front of the Harbour Office, a site selected by a committee (on which three members of this Board served) especially appointed for the purpose by His Excellency the Governor. The plans for this new building are being prepared by the Public Works Department, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health and the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, and will in dus course be laid before the Board. As regards the proposed market for Kowloon, a committee was appointed by His Excellency the Governor to report on the subject and select a site. The preparation of the plans is now in hand. These plans will, in accordance with instructions, be laid before this Board in due course.
Dr. HARTIGAN-Can you give us any approx. imate time when these public works will be completed ?
The Hon. F. H. MAY-I understand that, sup. posing Dr. Thomson does find half-a-dozen of these pools, he will recommend that they be
The PRESIDENT said that with regard to the filled up, and they will be filled up.
Western Market foundations similar to those Dr. BELL-When Dr. Thomson has any sug-required for the New Law Courts would have to gestions to make he will make them, but be put in, and he did not think the work could ba whether they will be carried out of course completed in two years. With regard to the I cannot tell you.
proposed market at Kowloon, as the proposal was only brought forward a couple of months ago it would be necessary to sanction a supple- mental rote to get the work done next year. There would be no difficulty about the founda-- tions of this market.
Dr. CLARK presumed that since a European was to accompany Dr. Thomson in his visits to these pools, this man would see that all work was carried out in accordance with the views of Dr. Thomson. It was a very excellent scheme, and would enable the doctor to get the work done much more expeditionsly than otherwise would have been the case.
The Hon. F. H. MAY said the whole matter had been taken up by the Government, and the Board had other matters to which it might better direct its attention. He begged to move as an amendment “that the Board ask the Go-
COLONY.
THE SANITARY IMPROVEMENT OF THE
The Hon. F. H. MAY mid that at the maxi meeting of the Board he proposed to usk following question: What stays have the Board taken in answer to an invitation givem to the Board in June last by direction of the Officer Administrating the Government tó
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