June 3, 1901.]
fected. Could not those clothes have been the cause of plague in the house where they were kept P. It would be a very good thing if some one could be put to watch each of these houses to prevent the removal of things, and they would als be able to see that the coolies are not allowed to pick out things from the rubbish in the cart, as is so commonly done, to the disgust of passers-by.
In Macao no one is compel'ed to go to the Plague Hospital. Patients I have known have been treated at home and got well; while those that care to go to the Hospital if they do so in proper time are likely to recover. I really believe when patients are compelled to go to the Hospital, the fright alone is enough to kill them.
Another unpleasant sight that ought to be remedied is the dead boxes carried through the streets two or three inches open.
Another thing dangerous to Europeans is permitting Chinese children to attend schools at this season. The majority of them live in the plague-stricken districts, or might even have had some one suffering from plague in their homes; and when they are allowed in school and to be near to European children, it is not safe at all. It is just the same as going to the plague stricken districts.
Another calamity that is with us is the house.
rent; it is heart-rending to the poorer classes of Europeans, who have either to pay the increased sums for house-rent demanded, or be removing every two or three months. This state of affairs seems to be getting worse every day; If a Municipal Council can settle the present state of affairs more satisfactorily, I earnest y hop, it will soon be started.-Yours, etc.,
A FORMER PLAGUE PATIENT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
27th May. SIR,--I have again to call the attention of the proper authorities, through your columns, to the most objectionable way of bringing corpses to the Central Police Station at the side gate leading to the Old Bailey street Yesterday the body of a child was carried in 8 basket and placed at the foot of the gate (as i- nsually done); later on, it was put in the deada box and taken away, and the basket was allowed to be shifted in a corner facing the late Yau Foon's" barber shop, where it still lies untouched for somebody to remove it!
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Another case this morning.—A child's corpse was also taken to the samз gate, and after its identification it was wrapped up in a mat, tied up, hang with a piece of rope and taken away by a coolie, as if it were a piece of mutton or beef brought from the market, without being provided with a coffin or placed in a dead-box.
May I ask you, Mr. Editor, in cases of this sort who is to be blamed? Why does not Mr. May himself make an inspection of the place alluded to and take the matter in hand, or else piace a special santry on duty to look after this continual nuisance that annoys so much the passers-by? A public appeal cannot be passed unnoticed by the Government, and H.E. the Governor will, no doubt, investigate this serious ill-practice going on in the centre of the town and cause it to be stopped altogether.
In a thoroughfare so much frequented as the Old Bailey, this obnoxious practice should never be allowed to take place. Proper European supervision should deal with this matter, and not leave it at the discretion of coolies and lukongs. If Hongkong does not know how to carry on with decency the burial of corpses, let the Municipality of Macao give them lessons. A Municipal Chamber is a necessity in Hongkong; the sooner it is appointed the
better.
Thanking you for granting me a space in your columns.-Yours, etc.,
VOX MUNICIPI.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE E
£
19
DAILY PRE88.
28th May. SIE. Just after noon of the 28th inst., nearly opposite the Dockyard gates in Queen's Road, 1 observed a small crowd. On approaching closer I saw a N.C.O. of the Army Medical Corps, standing guard over a sick Chinaman, who, I subsequently learned, was suffering from bubonic plague and had dropped there sick, After waiting some ten or fifteen minutes, two of the special patrol of the Welsh Fusiliers and
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
a Sikh policeman arrived and relieved the N.C.O. of his apparently self-imposed task of keeping the pathway clear and watching the patient. Eventually the ambulance arrived and the man was taken away, but it was twenty-five minutes in arriving after I first saw the case.
During the whole of this time, the guard were occupied in kicking Chinese off the pavement, thrusting the unfortunate sufferer down on the roadside every time he assayed a feeble attempt to get away.
This may be interesting in view of, "Scrutator's" and other recent contributions. on the sanitary, &c, questions, as this took place within a stone's throw of residences where about one hundred Europeans live. I do not dare suggest what ought to have been done,
but there should be some better method than
that of parading such a spectacle in the public eye for a half hour or more.-?
-Yours, etc.,
A.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.' 29th May. letters published in your valuable columns SIR, I have read many of the interesting dwelling on plague and suggestions for checking its spread, but of all, I cannot satisfy myself for checking the "demping of dead bodies in that" A. 20th Century Chinaman's" suggestion the streets" could help the Sanitary Board-on the contrary, I am of opinion that it would bring on public abuse, strikes, riots and the shutting up of businesses, which would cause the commercial prosperity of the Colony to be endangered just the same as if drastic measures
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were not taken to check the disease.
I wonder what this modern Chinaman would do if the Sanitary Board did enforce such a law? Would he, for one, stop up all night to patrol the street that he lived in to see if a dead body was dumped at his door or at his neigh- bour's? house being disinfected and bis personal effects Would he be pleased to witness his
knocked about because a dead body had been dumped down at the other end of the street he lived in? Not much! I think he would then curse the law and say he wished he had never lived to witness the evils of the 20th century.
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A 20th Century Chinaman" should know that the Government cares more for her com. mercial interests than for the likes of those as
represented by him, and without a doubt such has been the cause of his suggestion not being put into force long ago. Hoping to be favoured with an insertion of this, I enclose my card. Yours etc.,
FOOK LUK SHAU.
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457
or to call H E.'s attention to this point. For the insertion of these few lines, yon have my best thanks.-Yours, etc.,
8. LOBATO DE FARIA. (We have received several other complaints to a similar effect.]
THE PLAGUE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS.
think I can claim the privilege of making some
25th May, SIR,As an old resident in Hongkong, I
suggestions as to the sanitation of the Colony, in which plague is fast increasing and threat in ing lifes of not only the filthy Chinese, but the cleanly European in the centre of the town. finances of which are in no way comparable In the neighbouring Colony of Macao, the with those of Hongkong, the measures and precautions taken against the spreading of plague, although not entirely successful, are anyhow checking its progre s to some extent.
In Macro the drains and gutters of the whole pumped from the sea, and buckets of tar and town are daily being washed with salt water sulphur are daily burnt and taken round the town by coolies accompanied by Government few minutes in any house whenever they are employees with instructions to call and stay a requested to do so.
not do the saine here in Hongkong ? If not, I Could the Government would certainly suggest that the Sanitary Board should order the washing of the streets and gutters by pumping sea-water; and the Govern ment should order the public, at a given signal, say a gun-shot or two, to burn tar and sulphur or any other thing that the Government may direct this to be done simultaneously, so that the whole town may be at the same moment covered with disinfecting smoke, and this order to be enforced by heavy fine if not obeyed.
this, our bitterest foe, they will at least moderate I should say that if such steps do not conquer it to some extent. Yours, etc.,
TO
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A. F. J. S.
"2
THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 25th May. SIR,-With reference to certain remarks in a letter in your issue of the; 24th instant under to say that if those remarks are intended the heading "Parsees and Plague," we beg leave against Inspector Knight, of the Sanitary lower the coffin in the grave, he did so not of Department. who very considerately helped to
his own accord, under the use of any official authority; but seeing the difficulties for lower- ing, he most courteously sought our permission to help, and what services he did so kindly render. he rendered with our full permission and entire consent. In justice to Inspector Knight we must say that his action was very much appreciated by those concerned, and we hope this will be the last word on the matter.- Yours, etc.,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
H. M. MEHTA. H. N. MODY.
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DAILY PRESS.
26th May.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,
29th May. SIR,-Will you allow me a little space in your paper for publishing the following dis. gusting scene that impressed me so much on my arrival from Macao yesterday. Just a few yards from the Steamboat Co.'s wharf, a heap of debris and rubbish (supposed to be from infected places) was burning freely at the Prays, surrounded by a member of Chinese coolies and little boys, not a policeman or any member of the Sanitary staff to superintend such a nasty operation. This objectionable SIR,--A great deal has been said and written practice of carrying rubbish and dirty clothes, about the bubonic plague since its outbreak in old furniture, etc, etc., to be burnt in the 1894, but so far nobody has elucidated the public centre of the town and in a public thoroughfare with a proper definition of it. What the doctors is most reproachable in a civilised town like have said regarding it was merele a guess, and Hongkong. Why do not we follow the example unfortunately they still leave us all in the dark! of Macao, where this rubbish is burnt in After all nobody knows (except God) up to this an unfrequented place out of town, and pro-date what it really is—no experts have yet come perly supervised by a municipal police, to forward to say what it is. prevent the coolies carrying away what they like?
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If the serum from Dr. Yersin has proved so effective a cure for this malady (as they say), Another abominable practice that is carried why do not the doctors, with the assistance of on here in Hongkong, to my great surprise, is warders, adopt it for the sufferers ? Each doctor the exposure of the belongings in the public (or better, everybody) should be provided by the streets from the plague-stricken houses, lying Government with this serum, and let every- for hours without any European supervision, | and not having them removed at once to the proper quartors. Who is to look after these affairs ?' Is it the police or the Sanitary Department? In my opinion neither of them The coolies work ad libitum.
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body try his own chance, and let also euch auf- fører remain quietly in his house without thees unpleasant and unnecessary processions of ham- mocks and dead-boxes that are going on daily, as well as the most disgusting exposures im thoroughfares of the personal effects, furniture, H.E. Sir Henry Blake, I believe, was perfectly | etc., of the plague-stricken viètims, to the great satisfied with what he has recently seen in Macao, detriment of the public. where the Municipality has so carefully carried “Let the broth remain still, without stirring out its task regarding the sanitation of the whole it up, then drink it—no sediment will go into town, so there is no need for me to say anything the stomach.” This is very wise advice, and it
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