September 9, 1901; ]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
PRIVATE CHAIR AND JINRICK- | THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS,
SHA DIFFICULTIES.
[FROM OUR CORREUPONDENT.]
(Daily Trees, 2nd September.) In the Government Gazette there is pub
SHANGHAI, 2nd September, 8.19 p.m. lished the announcement of a Commission Wen-chang in literary examinations and Decrees have been issued abolishing the which will be welcomed by the residents in this Colony. H.E. the Governor has ordering essays on Western subjects. They appointed Messrs. T. SERCOMBE SMITH, military examinations, and order existing also abolish all old-fashioned feats in R. C. WILCOX, and F. J. BADELET, with military chujen and chenshili to join the
provincial army corps.
"
Mr. L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO as secretary, to enquire into and report on the question of the existing, difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable chair and jinricksha-coolies for private chairs and jinrickshas." Special reference, it appears from the terms of the Commission, is to be made to the following points:
(a.) What are the causes of the existing
difficulty?
SHANGHAI, 6th September, 7.37 p.m. Ministers have received the two remaining A Peking special despatch states that the Edicts, the Chinese plenipotentiaries claim- ing that they have only just arrived.
H.M.S. Woodcock arrived at Kiating on the A Sinfu special telegram states that 3rd inst. all right.
(b.) Whether it is advisable and practic- able to introduce any, and (if any) what legislation on the subject? (c.) What other (if any) 'remedial mens-to
ures should be taken ?
(d.) Whether any proposed legislation or other measures should embrace coo- lies in the employ, of Chinese and non-Chinese alike?
SHANGHAI, 6th September, 10.30 pm. A special wire from Peking to-night is the effect that at a meeting of the Ministers, the Edicts were approved, and that the signature of all the copies would probably take place to-morrow.
203..
plague occurred. Then there was
an En ropean employee in a bicycle shop in D'Aguilar Street, and shortly afterwards a publicon at Wanchai. Connaught House was next attack- ed, and later on cases occurred in Beaconsfield
endeavour to further the fature sanitary well- houses. Now is the time for us to unite in our Arcade, necessitating the closing of these
being of this, the remetest but by no means Plagne is evidently now endemic in Southern the least important of His Majestys's dominions. China. All scientists are agreed that it is a
filth disesse, fostered by destitution, overcrowd- ing, and lack of ventilation, its specific cause being a bacillus which probably lives in the soil and attacks lower animals. The fact that it ing them on the tissues, etc.. of plague patients can be communicated to lower animals by feed- and on cultures of the specific bacillus suggests that it may be transmitted to man through prevent its introduction next year will be food and drink. The measures to be taken to by a rational quarantine to attempt to stop the introduction of fresh cases from infected ports or districts.
however rigidly enforced, to absolutely protect It is perfectly impossible by quarantine alone, this Colony, situated as it is upon the borders of a large district where plague is endemic and
year becomes epidemic. See what this
If Li Hung-chang is unable to be presenting accommodation for 30,000 people would be (n.) A quarantine station capable of provid- at the signing of the Edicts, owing to sickness, he will sign at home.
required, as I am credibly informed that 3,000 or 4,000 Chinose on su average enter the Colony daily.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
During DR. Atkinson's appOINTMENT AS PRESIDENT
OF THE BOARD.
The Commission is to have all the powers of the Supreme Court or any judge thereof on the occasion of any suit or action in connection with enforcing the attendance of witnesses, the compulsory production of on the 5th inst. in the Board Room. Dr. A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held documents, punishment for contempt, and J. M. Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical ordering the inspection of any property. Officer), on his appointment as President, The examination of witnesses is to be held occupied the chair, and there were present the in private, the Commission reporting to Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health). Hon. W. Chatham (Acting Director of Public H.E. the evidence and its opinion thereon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock There can be no doubt that a Commission (Secretary). of this kind is urgently required. this summer' the situation with regard to private chair and jinricksha carriage has A letter from the Colonial Secretary was laid been acute. The epidemic of plague inten- on the table intimating that H.E. the Governor sitied the difficulties, but apart from this, had appointed Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal complaints of the insolence, unreliability, and Civil Medical Officer, to be President of the frequent disappearance of private chair and Hon. W. Chatham, Acting Director of Public Board, with effect from the 24th ult., rice the jinricksha-coolies have been more frequent Works, resigned. this year thau we can remember, except in Addressing the meeting, the PRESIDENT said times of exceptionally grave crisis. We-Gentlemen, before have known several cases where residents would earnestly ask for your hearty co-opera- resuming my seat I have, temporarily at least, abandoned the tion. The position of the President, especially use of private chairs and employed public it not that I am strongly of the opinion that at this time, is not one to be envied, and were ones instead. The hardship inflicted on the Principal Civil Medical Officer should be people living at a distance from the centre the President I would personally hesitate before of the city has been great, and the Commis-undertaking the heavy responsibilities of this sion will confer a real boon on the Colony office. The Colony has for the sixth year been if it can find some means of improving the afflicted with one of the direst diseases which situation. The work of some Commissions can attack a community, and upon our delibera- appears never to get beyond the paper future sanitary well-being.
tions and actions depends to a great extent its stage, often, perhaps, owing to the unwieldy the almost certain probability of another out- We have to face size of the body appointed. In the present break in the coming year, and it behores ns to case this latter defect does not exist, and leave no stone unturned iu preparing for this with three gentlemen of such undoubted eventuality. In looking back upon this year's competence to enquire into the question, we experience it will be seen that the outbreak shall entertain strong hopes of good results lasted some three-and-a-half months, and it was from their labours.
not until the mean maximum daily temperature exceeded 82 Fahr: that the epidemic began to decline, The number of Europeans attacked was not much greater than in 1898, the exact figures
Europeans attacked. 26 30
1898 1901
...
Deaths. Mortality. 11 42.3 J1 36.6
(b.) A military cordon would be required on the northern limit of our frontier, and
tained all round our extensive coast-line.
(c.) A police cordon would have to be main.
Singapore, it may be by means of a rigidly on- forced quarantine of inspection," has been able to keep the disease out of her borders. I think, the natural history of the bacillus is thoroughly however, that it will probably be found, when understood, she enjoys her immunity more from meteorological causes.
It is to principles of general sanitation that we must look for our safeguard, combined with the following proceduro :--
On the receipt by the Chinese in Shanghai of the news of the rain wrought by the overflowing | being :- of the Yangtase, two, Chinese banks advanced at once the sum of Tls. 20,000 to a Chinese committee formed to collect subscriptions, and with this sum a special delegate was sent up the river to distribute relief. The committee then The cases that did occur were more self- set to work and promptly collected $1,000 from evident, most of them being on the Queen's the Chins Merchants B. N. Co., and 820,000 Road level. The first cases three in number, from other Chinese friends, They have also occurred at Watson's Dispensary. The next reqsived already the following subscriptions was an employee of the Naval Yard; he from foreignera
Jardine, Matheson & évidently infected the house in which he Co. Tis 1000 M Butterfield ₫ Swire, was residing, as three subsequent Europeans The 1000
Daniel & Co. Tia 300; were attacked in this house. The day sub- ding Co Th 500, Messrs. sequent" to this employee being: attacked., Messrs. Holliday, another European employee of the Naval Yard Boss Tha 200. A
was reported to be" suffering“ from the committee has been formed to work in co- disease, and in the buildings in which he operation with the Chinese committee.
resided four subsequent European" cases of
The China &
Reins & Co
Co. Tls. 500;
(a.) The speedy discovery and isolation of every fresh case.
(b) The thorough disinfection of infected houses, combined with the temporary evacuation or better still the destruction of infected houses or even neighbourhoods,
(c.) The disinfection of infected clothes and bedding.
I would also advocate, as I did in the 1898 epidemic:---
surreptitiously deposited in the streets. Some (d.) The cremation of dead plague bodies radical measure such as this must be enforced. difficulty in grappling with this disease. as this in my opinion is the main cause of our
(e.) All vermin which have been proved to spread the disease must be killed.
These measures involve the expenditure of money, but I feel sure the community will not grudge any reasonable outlay in this respect.
will be
and if we cannot by this procedure I have The public health of the Colony is paramount. described quash this disease, it necessary to seriously consider the advisability of the following action :-
1. To destroy and burn every house in which, after a few months of immunity, fresh cases
occur.
2. To destroy by burning all infected clothes and bedding, and
3. Cremate all bodies which have died from this disease.
These are the radical measures adopted with success by Japan at Omaks two years ago and again this year at Honolulu.
MR. WOODCOCK APPOINTED.SECRETARY, Acting Secretary of the Board, to the office of The appointment of Mr. G. A. Woodcock, Secretary, was intimated.
GOVERNMENT AND SANITÄRT IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. In reply to the recommendation of the Bani- tary Improvements Committee, in their further report dated 16th July, 1901, that continuous back alloys at the rear of Chinese houses should be insisted upon, the Government has advised that before any steps are taken the report be
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