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The result of the breakdowns is that a small launch is always running one out of three. Now at the Hongkong pier it is almost im possible for Europeans to land from a small launch at all since the alterations to the pier By the 7.30 launch (small) recently, I and my wife crossed to dine in Hongkong. After striking the pier in several places and backing out as many times, in the usual fashion, we finally drew up at the lower steps, where space about 11 yards wide is provided for every one to scramble ashore in. We stood on one side to allow the crowds of sacred Chinese to get off including a number of dock coolies from plague-stricken Yaumati-and then meekly followed up the steps, but were nearly swept off our feet and into the water by a downward rash to board the boat. At the top of the steps stood a seven-foot European policemen calmly watch ing the efforts of the two streams of passengers to embark and disembark at the same moment, and making not the faintest effort to regulate the traffic! As I told you in may last letter, I saw the coolies carrying a plague basket off the ferryboat, shove an English child nearly into the water, and the constable looked on "with majesty unmoved"!
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But, in the language of the good old socialist agitator at home, Yah,. 'oo pays yer yer wages ?" we do at least expect to see the ordin ary traffic regulations carried out by the persons paid to do it.:
Result, & shirt front besmirched with coal- dust and (probably) plague germs; silk dress ditte. Very small items, of course, but, I maintain, typical of the state of things through- out this Colony.. Incompetence, neglect to enforce regulations, or common decency, and utter lack of supervision.-Yours, etc.,
CIVILISATION.
THE PLAGUE.
TO THE EDITOR of the DAILY PRESS.” 3rd June.
SIB-Reviewing the past, contemplating the present, and forecasting the future state of affairs with regard to the plague which has been prevalent every year in this Colony since 1894, and the sanitary measures adopted hither to without much effect, I beg to set forth certain suggestions to the Government and the general public for their favourable con- sideration and these suggestions are merely drafts of my own opinion, which leave ample room for improvements and alteration.
This epidemic so far is a problem without a colution; even the highest class of medical professors are only beating about the bush to search for its proper remedy, and by lingering on in this manner myriads of lives have suc- cumbed to the epidemic and myriads yet must fall victims in the time to come. Without arriving at the key of the cure, let us introduce the best means of prevention.
The preventive measures which I am about to suggest are very simple If the Government people and general public will co-act, I am positive that the number of cases will be reduced to quite a minimum.
The British Government, as is manifest to the whole universe, is the most liberal towards her own subjects: there is very little or no doubt that she will not hesitate to meet the expenses to be paid for the general benefit of her colonial inhabitants, and for such requirements as are absolutely necessary for their well-being.
The Colony has flourished with rapidity through the Chinese coming from all parts of China. Although from a general point of view they are not considerated the most important portion of the population of this Colony, but by majority and reality they are. Since they e ought to be more consideration
as has not been heretofore..
are, there shown
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
downhearted, as cou and strong often bring about redovery. Plague develops surprisingly quick, and it should be treated before it becomes critical or is too late.
June 8, 1901. 2 That the Chinese should bo granted the | he has got the plague he should at oños gỡ to privilege to convey the sick and the dead to the hospital for tre and should their native places at their option, as accord- ing to their religion it causes them to commit a serious sin to leave the remains of their par ents in a foreign land without removing them to their ancestral home. Since they have this idea, they will contrive the best means they can to smuggle the corpses away in a most abominable fashion, and by so doing it is certainly very per nicious to the public health. The Government should at once wire home for this permission without a moment's hesitation.
3. That the poor people should be roughly compensated for the articles destroyed on account of plague by the Government or by public subscription.
In conclusion, I am of opinion that if the Government (and the Sanitary Board) will harmoniously work together with the general public, mutually assisting each other with energy and effort, matters will be simplified. At the present moment the Chinese are murmuring that the laws of the Government with regard to plague are too biased and a vere.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
SEER.
DAILY FEE85,
3rd Jane. SIE. On Wednesday, 25th May, you kindly published some queries I put to yourself and your readers.
4. That an efficient number of doctors should be employed by the Government, whose sole duties are to go round so many hours daily to examine the drainage of every locality and the rubbish at every corner of the street and in To-day (Monday) “Civilisation assures. me every house to see if there are plague germs that most of my surmises are correct, and there about before they have a chance to develop. are other plague scandals I have not touched 5. That officers should be engaged to kill | upon: I should be obliged indeed if "Civili. rats in the best way possible, as it is gener-sation" will tell your readers and myself wha ally the case that when a plague-stricken rat is these other scandals are, for I take it that. found within a house cases of plague to human such serious queries as put in your issue of beings follow.
the 25th of May would have been refuted if it were possible, even by the dent and dumb tin gods, were it only for the sake of their jobs. The whole history of the medical care taken, by the deputies of HM. King Edward VII, of his British subjects when stricken with the plague will be pretty reading for His Majesty and others interested. Yours, eto...
6. That officers should be employed to see that the drains of every house are kept clean, and that the iron grating at the entrance of every drain is fastened in such a manner as wil prevent the rats from entering.
7. In a district declared infected by plague, no removal from one house to another should; be allowed unless under the supervision of a Sanitary Board officer, whose duty it is to see that the furniture is disinfected, as it is quite positive that no person would remove unless there is something wrong with the house.
8. That qualified men should be employed to distinguish plague from other sicknesses, and not as is generally the case now-unwell people being dragged to the hospital merely on suspi- cion. Even in true cases of plague, the sufferer's relatives should be allowed to accompany the patient to the hospital and attend to his wants. The patients now dread to enter the hospital owing to the death average being too high, and this shows the lack of care by the hospital attendants.
9. That anyone suffering from plague or other infectious disease should be allowed to remain in the same house with a few attendants for treatment by a European dootor, providing leave the premises at once. that the other inmates of the same house will Chinese have an idea that to go to the hospital At present the
means death, and the fear alone is enough to kill them.
10. That a locomotive with disinfectants and boiling water should go through the streets by turns daily, and that the authorities should insist upon the inmates of every house having washed. their wooden beddings and mats thoroughly
and lice which are likely to spread the disease.
This will do away with all the bugs
11. During the prevalence of plague, public houses of assembly, such as show-rooms and of their frequenters limited. theatres, should be closed, or have the number
The Duties of the General Publis. 1. Have all the furniture shifted from its position once a month for the purpose of floor cleaning and disinfecting. This specially applies to Chinese houses and foreigner's ser- vants' quarters.
2. Furnish every house with a rat-trap or keep a cat for the purpose of extinguishing rate; as the rats are the most dangerous agents which spread the epidemic. Once a dead rat is found in the house, measures must be taken at once to disinfect the house and the occupants must leave the premises for a few days.
3. Wash the drains with a little disine
INQUIRER.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
3rd June. SIR-H.E. the Governor recently suggested that plague patients might be treated at their own homes, but the Sanitary Board disapproved of the idea. I would, therefore, be interested to know why it is that Mr. Collins, 6, Caine Road, has been allowed to be treated at his home. If such is possible, under what condi tions can one obtain this privilege? Also, not long ago, Inspector Reidie of the Sanitary Board, who had contracted plague, was treated at the Government Civil Hospital instead of -- being sent to the Kennedy Tówn Plague Hospital?
May I ask whether anyone else who is unfortunate enough to be attacked by the disease can be treated at the Government Civil Hospital instead of having to go to the undesirable place at Kennedy Town ?
I would be obliged if some of your readers, or perhaps a member of the Sanitary Board, would kindly satisfy my inqui itiveness.---- Yours, etc.,
FAIRPLAY.
[A Sanitary Board bys law provides that a patient can be treated in his own home - he be isolated and no one else but the nurse occupies the building.—En. D.P.]
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,' 4th June. SIE-Referring to your issue of yesterday, in which it is stated that 18 dead bodies were found dumped in the streets, it reminds me to call again the attention of the 'Government to the nuisance still going on in Old Bailey Street It the side gate of the Central Police Station. a have also described how the corpses have been dealt with by the police. Mr. May's atten- tion has been called to this abominable practice (which he himself classified as being “against the law of the colony), and yet he still allows it to pass unnoticed!
At the meeting of the Sanitary Board held on the 16th ultimo, Mr. May, speaking on the dumping of dead bodies, mid-There was one thing, it was against the law of the colony to
Tthem the duty of every individual | feotant daily with plenty of water, have all put a dead body at the door of a convent'er any
residing in this Colony to endeavour to sponge out the germs of the plague. Out of this population there are only two divisions of men, the Government and the general public; and the duties of these divisions are enumerated as under:
The Duties of the Government (and the Sanitary Board).
1. That a committee of a wide scope should at once elected to consider the drainage system and the building ordinance.
useless odds and ends removed from the house. The contention of some Chinese is that the disinfectants kill the rats and cause the plague; but it is not so. If one uses the same quantity of disinfectants daily all the year round one will find the rats alive and kicking during the cold months when there is no plague, and they only die during the plague season.
4. As a prevention from serious illness one should consult a doctor at once when he feels out of sorts ;" and when the doctor declares that
where in the public streets, and at the present time there were a number of their gallant defenders, goodness knows how many police, to prevent that being done."
Why then does Mr. May allow dead being brought to the Old Bailey, to lie to the public at the side gate of Station ? Why are they not carried police compound for their particu if such it may be termed ? Why are they left outside for hours and sometimes uncovered and
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