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[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
SHANGHAI, 24th October, 10.25 p.m. Yung Lu has sent a secret despatch to Li Hung-chang, in which he states that the Empress Dowager strongly desires that China should fraternise with Russin, who promises to prevent foreign aggression and to protect her at Peking.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS. some of the last notified cases had come.
It was
a pity they could not ascertain the houses from which these rats had come. They had been thrown out into the streets by the inhabitants and picked up by the rat-collectors. To these remarks of Dr. Atkinson H. E. the Governor replied in the following terms:— This is valuable and interesting. What is now being done by the rat-catchers? I think it may be well to try the experiment of getting profes sional rat-catchers from home to supervise operations. If rats are to be tackled we must not make two bites of a cherry. The question, of rat-proof houses ought again to be brought before the Sanitary authorities. With solid floers and no ceilings, rats would find no resting place, and possible communication with drains could be taken up by the Public Works Department."
Li Hung-chang, the despatch continues, must promptly conclude the Manchurian treaty, relying on Yung Lu's support against the Southern Viceroys.
LONDON, 25th October, 5.55 p.m. It is reported that a secret despatch from Yung Lu to Li Hung-chang stated that the Empress Dowager is desirous of friendly relations with Russia, who promises protec- tion and will prevent all foreign aggression.
SHANGHAI, 29th October, 8.54 p.m. The family of Prince Ching has been removed bodily from Peking to Kaifengfu, apparently permanently.
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Dr. Atkinson, in answer to the foregoing minute of His Excellency, reported that the rat catchers were obtaining about 4.00) rats per month now and the numbers were increasing each week as they got more thoroughly into their work. A professional rat-catcher from England would have no knowledge of the Chinese language or habits and it was doubtful therefore whether he would be of much use The question of the prevention of the acces. of rats to dwellings had been already considered by the Board and they had recommended (1) the adoption of gratings with smaller interspaces for storm-drains and gullies; (2) the prohibition of all ceilings and lath and plaster partitions in tenement dwellings outside the European reser- The ground surfaces of all dwellings had now to be concreted, and he thought that in all ground floors a single layer of tiles on the top of the concrete might also be required in dwelling rooms, as much of the so-called concrete laid down in the Colony was of very poor quality. Wooden upper floors would suffice if there were no ceilings, as the absence of a ceiling would prevent the rats having any hiding places on these floors-other than the hollow walls-where such exist,
SHANGHAI, 1st November, 8 p.m. Consequent upon the Yangtsze Viceroys' violent opposition, the Eanpress Dowager has decided to denounce the Manchurian Con-vation area. vention. On receipt of this news Li Hung- chang developed a serious illness.
Lord Li, son of Li Hung-chang, refuses the ambassadorship to St. Peterburg, as he declines to conclude the Russo-Chinese agreement.
The Empress Dowager has ordered the arming of the rifle brigade of the Imperial Guards at Peking with ten Maxim guns and 5,000 magazine Mausers.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 31st ult. in the Board Room. The President (Dr. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were present:--Hon. A. W. Brewin, Registrar- General (Vice-President), Hon. W. Chatham (Acting Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. Fung Wa Chüo, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and Mr. J. Bryan (Sanitary Surveyor), Secretary pró, tem.
A NEW LATRINE.
Correspondence relative to the erection of a latrine on the west side of Gillies Avenue, Hunghom, was laid on the table.
Dr. CLARK moved that the latrine be removed to the north-west end of the same lot, as an objection had been raised that the latrine, where it was proposed to place it, would be situated on the high road between the landing- stage and the village. By putting the latrine on the north-west end of the same lot that objection would be overcome.
Mr. CHATHAM said he had no objection to seconding the motion, but he was afraid it would not overcome the real objection, because the latrine, on the new site proposed, would be in equally close proximity to the houses in regard to which the objection had been raised,
The motion was agreed to.
THE EXAMINATION OF DEAD RATS.
Correspondence was laid on the table relative to the examination of the rats found dead and sent to the mortuary. It embodied a report by Dr. J. Bell, who stated that he had, in accor- dance with instructions, examined the spleen and heart-blood of 100 ra's found dead. Of this number only two were found to have died of plague. The two plague-infected rats came from Praya East and Des Voeux Road Central. In forwarding Dr. Bell's report to the Colonial Secretary for the information of H.E. the Governor, Dr. Atkinson stated that this result was important, "showing as it did a diminution of plague-infected rats coincident with a decrease in cases amongst human beings. that Another fact worthy of note it was from Des Voeux Road: Central that
was
FATS AND THE DISSEMINATION OF PLAGUE.
Correspondence was laid on the table relative to the Memorandum on the Influence of Rais in the Dissemination of Plague. This Memor- andum, which is printed for the use of the Colonial Office, is the work of Professor W. J. Simpson, M.D., F.R.C.P., Lecturer on the Hygiene of the Tropics, London School of Tropical Medicine.
Referring to the Memorandum, H.E. the I find in a note on p. 9 Governor minuted: that an investigator Danysz, of Paris, had obtained excellent results in destroying rats If any further report in Paris by inoculation." has been made upon this subject, I shall, be glad if the Crown Agents will kindly let me have it, and, if necessary, obtain for this Colony some of the inoculating medicine, so that the experiment may be tried here before next February, at the end of which month, or the beginning of March, plague usually re- appears."
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Dr. Clark replied to this minute as follows: - Professor Danysz's virus has proved a failure, I submitted, on account of some experiments I had conducted on the subject in another C.S.O. in August last. Since that report was presented there have been reports in the medical journals showing the inutility of the virus, and the Director of the Hygienic Laboratory at Washingtou has reported similarly. Rat-runs have been treated here with crude carbolic acid in all houses that have been disinfected, since the suggestion was made by Professor Simpson." The PRESIDENT, remarking upon the report from Washington showing the inutility of this virus in killing off rats. said he thought they might conclude that the scheme was not worth trying in Hongkong.
REPORT OF QUARTERLY INSPECTION COMMITTEE.
The report by Dr. Atkinson and Mr. Fung Wa Chun, two of the members of the Quarterly Inspection Committee, for the third quarter of The report dealt 1901, was laid on the table. with the results of visits to houses, latrines, etc., in Health Districts 7 and 8.
A minute by Dr. Clark, showing what steps had been taken to carry out the recommenda tions of the Committee, was attached.
Hon. A. W. Brewin minuted -The M. O. H. has stated what action he has taken on the
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i
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[November 4, 1901.
Inspection Committee's report, but I should like to see some explanation of the condition of affairs found by the Committee."
Dr. Clark minated in reply:-"The district inspectors visit each house in their districts at least once in two months, and deal with such illegalities as they then find. There is ample time between one visit and the next for such
illegal structures as cubicles to be pat up again, and the fact that between two and three thou sand summonses a year are applied for shows that this is constantly done. It is rarely that a sammons is applied for until after at least one warning in writing has been issued."
Hon. W. CHATHAM remarked that the con-
creting of houses in Victoria must have been going on for some years now in Hongkong, yet he Loticed they were still at work in Wyndham freet. He would like to know when this con- creting of houses was to be completed.
the
Dr. CLARK explained that the work had been delayed owing to the conditions under which Before taking it had to be carried out. up a floor they had to serve a notice on tenant and also on the owner. concrete the flooring had to be replaced. All this took up a considerable amount of time.
Where it was
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, it was agreed to forward the report to the Governor for His Excellency's information.
MORTALITY STATISTICS FOR THE COLONY. The mortality statistics for the week ended 19th October showed a death-rate of 278 per 1,000 per annum of the population as compared with 20.1 in the previous week and 26.9 in the corresponding week of last year.
The following minutes were appended: Hon, A. W. Brewin: Is the mortality from malaria above normal?"
The Pre-ident:"Yes, apparently; and more or less evenly distributed."
The PRESIDENT stated that this increased mortality was due to bronchitis and pneumonia consequent upon the setting-in of the north- east monsoon, which principally affected elderly people.
This was all the public business.
PRINCE CHUN IN HONGKONG.
The German Mail steamer Bayern, in which Prince Chun is making his homeward voyage, reached Hongkong on the 30th ult., and was moored at Kowloon Wharf at twelve o'clock. By reason of the fact that His Highness had not landed, as was expected, at Singapore, there was complete uncertainty here as to whether he would or would not come ashore at Hongkong, and it was not until his arrival that the Prince's made known. When His intentions Highness intimated that he would visit His Excellency the Governor, the provisional arrangements made for his reception were hastily completed and carried out.
were
The arrival of the Bayern at Kowloon was › awaited by a large number of the Chinese Gox. ernment officials and merchants from Canton and by the leading Chinese citizens of Hongkong. When the steamer was laid alongside the wharf, theso repaired on board and presented their cards to the Prince, who received his visitors on the hurricane deck.
Lieutenant Blake, A.D.C. to His Excel- was carried over to the lency the Governor, who has just returned from Victoria in order to leave at Peking, Bayern in the launch learn His Highness's intentions. Upon being
the Prince was to informed that
on shore, and to Hongkong, he returned fitting arrangements were completed for the reception,
visit
The Chinese population were apparently well pleased to hear of the Prince's resolve to pay the Colony a visit. During the early part of the day, groups of them lounged about Blake. Pier, discussing the chances of seeing His Highness. When definite word came that the Prince would land in the afternoon, their numbers were greatly augmented in a very short time, and when the hour of his arrival drew near several thousands had congregated about the Pier and in Pedder Street, Queen's Road, and Wyndham Street, through which the procession was to pass on its way to Government House. It had been arranged that His Highness would leave the steamer at half-past two o'clock, by the launch Victoria, but
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