!
February 1, 1902.]
Mr. BADELEY-We would have to have Japanese interpreters.
Col. HUGHES-If you di 1 get Japanese, would they know anything about the disease?
The PRE IDENT-They would not have the experience and knowledge of plague that the Indian assistant surgeon had.
Col. HUGHES-That is so. Have they ever seen a case of plague P
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I think we might trust the British Minister at Tokyo to see that we did not get incompetent men sent down.
Col. HUGHES-Have they bad any plague up there to have any experience of the disease P
The VICE-PRESIDENT - I thought myself they had had it pretty badly.
The PRESIDENT-There have been one or two outbreaks, but nothing compared to the outbreaks in India,
Hon. Mr. CHATHAM-With plague so ram- pant as it is in India, it seems more than very problematical whether, assuming that we do succeed in getting men from there, they will be men of experience. They would likely be utilising all their own experienced men in coping with their own distric s where plague is rampant; so that I do not know that by going to India we will secure any more than we will by going anywhere else, if we are to obtain the services of experienced men in plague work. The PRESIDENT-If we first apply to India and find that men are not available we can then consider the question as to whether we will utilise Japanese.
Col. HUGHES-If you use Professor Simp- son's name in Calcutta, where he was for many years, they would I have no doubt try to mest
you.
Mr. BADELEY-Is Professor Simpson speak ing from his experience some years ago when he was in Calcutta or from enquiries he made as he passed through just now as regards salaries. Col. HUGHES-He has been years in India. Dr. CLARK-He only left India about three years ago.
Mr. BADELEY-Did he pass through this time?
Dr. CLARK-No.
Mr. OSBORNE-We could leave the question of salary to the people engaging them. We should not fix the salaries by telegram. We would surely not haggle about a few dollars. A great difficulty with the Japanese would be how they are going to communicate with the Chinese. I do not think it is practicable to have inter- preters in sufficient numbers who would inter- pret from Japanese to Chiness.
Mr. LAU CHUPAK-The majority of Japanese can read Chinese,
Dr. CLARK-t is impracticable to think of them writing down anything they want; they will have to make enquiries in every case and in regard to every death.
Mr. OSBORNE-1 am afraid the answers they got would not help them.
The P&ESIDENT-Of course, the Chinese are a most impossible race to deal with in diseases like plague.
Mr. OSBORNE--I beg to second Colonel Hughes's motion,
Dr. CLARK-Will you specify the number to be appointed ?
Col. HUGHES-I move that we ask for seven in addition to the three already asked for. I move that Professor simpson's proposition be adopted for the employment of these extra surgeons, that the question of salary be left open, and that if possible we obtain the services of Anglo-
Indians or Eurasians.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I am opposed to as many as seven. As regards the two surgeons to be appointed for the inspection of ships, that question has been argued and even Professor Simpson's recommendation hardly persuades mo to alter my opinion that this examination is useless. believe experience has shown that practically it is useless, and I move that the number of assistant surgeons to be appointed be reduced by two I should like to read out what they say in India.
Mr. Brewin proceeded to read extruots from Government papers, which bore that the number of cases of plague which developed in Bombay and Kurschi in persons from infected ports
was very small; and the Commission appointed to look into the subject did not think the results compensated
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
for the labour and expense involved in examin. ing passengers who arrive from infected ports. The Government of India agreed with this opinion, especially in view of tho enforcement of precautions and directed that in future the eximination of passagers arriving from one infected port in India at another be discontinued. Proceeding, Mr. Brewin said- I think that recommendation would apply exactly to our present circumstances, both in Canton and Hongkong.
The PRES DENT-Personally, I do not think the medical inspection is of much use. What we really require is detention of all people coming from Canton and infected points for ten days, if we intend to stop the importation of the disease, for it is not the people who come down sick but the people who come down with the disease in this incubation stage that are A danger tons. Chinamon do not come by the river steamers if they are ill.
Mr. OSBORNE-No: Hongkong is the last place they would come to.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-If I remember aright, I think there have been only two or three cases discovered on board the Macao and Canton steamers. The Chinese are so afraid of those sanitary measures of the Colony tha: they will not come down. This is the last place they would come to, and the Hongkong Chinese people, the moment they feel unwell, scoot ont of the Colony, so that the inspection of steamers from Canton and Macao is unnecessary and would do no goud.
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Mr. OSBORNE-Still I do not see that that is any reason why we should ask less men.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-We are asking for the number of men but not for the inspection of river boat3.
The PRESID NT -There is only one addition- al asked for Kowloon; I think we require two.
The VICE PRESIDENT--I do not agree with that. I think we would have been asked for them if they had been wanted. I do not see why we should give two when they have not been asked for.
Mr. OSBORNE-That will have to be decided later ou.
Mr. BADELEY-Professor Simpson does not mention any number at all. Do you think we should want soven if we had not any medical inspection of boats?
Dr. CLARK—We might not.
Mr. BADELEY-But if we make up our minds now that this inspection work is unnecessary, wou'd we want seven?
Dr. CLAK-No, but it would depend upon how many cases we get and how they come.
Mr. BADELEY-But yon must have some reason for fixing on a definite number?
Dr. CLARK We fixed five for the districts and two for the boats.
Mr. BADELEY-But Mr. Brewin says: Do not have two for the boats.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-Oh, we might have one for the Peak and one for Green Island. (Laughter.) This, I understand, is the Medical Officer's matured opinion. He has had the courage of his convictions and bas asked for what he wanted, and I think that is quite enough.
Mr. OSBORNE-Now he says he wants seven. Hon, Mr. CHATHAM-The addition of five as- sistant surgeons will be a considerable reinforce- ment of the medical staff, and surely if it were found necessary if there were any indication given of a serious outbreak-it would not, be impossible to us for further reinforcements. But mean chile the thing is not going to come on instantaneously, and if we got five now we will have five to go on with, and indications would be given later on as to whether it would be advisable to ask for more.
The PRESIDENT-It is just as well to be nuauimous if we can. I think we should ask for fire now. We might get two later on, as Mr. Chatham says, if we find it necessary.
Dr. CLARK-I am not satisfied that the medical inspection of people is useless-not by I think it has never had a fair chance. I am convinced of that,
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN You had a fair chance before; when these medical officers boarded the ships.
any means.
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examined, and also the jurks and no case of plague was found.
Col. HUGHES-And they never got one cise? Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-Only two cases. Mr. BADELEY-The people won't come. Dr. CLARK-It is not as if they came from only Canton. They probably start away from some of the villages.
Mr. BADELEY-But you would not find out when the disease was ge minating in them.
The PRESIDENT—If Dr. Clark thinks this a: good thing, a better plan would be to have one of those doctors on the Canton steamers them- selves, and let the people be examined on the way down from Canton.
Dr CLARK-The only difficulty is that there are half-a-dozen-Canton steamers.
Mr. BADELEY-How can you possibly ex- amine the hordes that come down. Thousands come down every day, at least hundreds.
Dr. CLARK No more than 2,000. Mr. BADELEY-And how could one examine all these ?
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man
Dr. CLARK-Two men could do it. Hon. Mr. CHATHAM-We have a very strong opinion in the extract Mr. Brewin has read.
The PRESIDENT-Was it from the Indian Commission's report that you read, Mr. Brewin. The VICE-PRESIDENT -I quoted the opin- ion of the Indian Commission,
Col. HUGHES-As far as I think, the ex- amination is necessary. But to do it thorough- ly on one of these boats it would take a man nearly a week. In Japan last year the Japan- ese doctor came round and kept you there about half an-hour and walkel round the ship; and that was all he did.
The PRESIDENT-Will you alter your number to fire ?
Col. HUGHES -Yes.
Mr. OSBORNE On the understanding that we can get more later on, if necessity arises.
The amended motion was carried unanimously,
OFFICES FOR DOCTORS AND INSPECTORS, Hon. W. CHATHAM-About this question of providing these man with separate offices throughout the districts, is it absolutely neces- sary, because the population after all is so condensed within small limits that I shoul scarcely think it necessary for each man to I think you might have a separate office? combine two of them in one office. The distances ar very limited and it seems some- what useless to go to the expense, because it means a clerk in each of these districts and the telephome communication to be looked after and established. I think that three offices would be sufficient.
The PRESIDENT-With reference to that I should like to state that Professor Simpson has also drawn attention to the question of offices in the case of snio inspectors obtained from England. They object to working without offices, so that we require an offi› for the senior These Indian doctors could use inspectors,
the same offices
Mr. BADEELEY-That is putting the boot on the other leg. You sugest that the Indian offi- care should have offices and the senior inspector | should have the use of the same offices. We have not had it before us that the senior hava iusp ctors consider that they should offices.
Dr. CLARK -The matter has not been before us, but it has arisen since the last meeting of the Board
Hon. W. CHATHAM-I think three offices would be sufficient.
MORE RAT-CATCHERS. Dr. CLARK-I beg to move that the Board requests the authority of the Government to engage 20 additional rat-catchers for the City of Victoria and a European to superintend the work of the whole gang of 40, and also authority to engage 15 additional rat-catchers for Kowloon and a coloured foreman. It is Professor Simpson's recommendation that we double the present number. Of course, as you are aware, as we get near the plague season we get more rats. More rats die and the question is to find out where these rats come from.
Col. HUGHES seconded, and the motion was adopted.
Dr. CL RK-I beg to move that the Board requests the authority of the Government to erect a matshed on the vacant site of Crown land to the east of the disinfecting station in But every ship was Taipingshan for the accommodation of the
Dr. CLARK-When was that P. Mr. FUNG WA CHON-In 1894. Dr. CLARK-I was not here. The PRESIDENT
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