June 6, 1903.]
"The President In reply to Mr. Pollock's minute, said that the urinal in question is to be closed in a few days, the one in Ioe House Lane have having been erected in its place.
Mr. POLLOOK-I am very glad to hear it. Continuing, the PRESIDENT sail that with reference to the letter from the Colonial Secretary regarding the advisability of pur- chasing for the use of the Colony & Clayton apparatus for the disinfecting of ships, the matter was considered by the Board in 1902 and recommendation made to the Govern- ment to obtain one of these machines. The matter was then referred to the Chamber of Commerce, which body decided that it was impracticable to use the machine here because so few ships made this their terminal port and it was only applicable to ships from which most of the cargo had been removed. Professor Sim son first suggested the advisa: bility of having such an apparatus in the Colony. It would undoubtedly be useful, the President thought, in the case of ships arriving from infected ports Only a few weeks ago an Indian on the Arratoon Apcar developed plague within 24 hours of the steamer's arrival, and the presumption was he must have contracted the disease elsewhere that in Hongkong.
Mr.POLLOCK asked what disinfectant was used. The PRESIDENT replied that the apparatus was for generating|alphur-dioxide gas. Its cost was about £800 and it would have to be employed on a lighter. The gas was pumped into the bold and killed every rat on board. The apparatus was in use in the port of London and had proved most successful in destroying rata. It was acknowledged by scientists who had studied the question that there was some connection between rat plague and human plague, and in the circumstances it would be advisable to recommend the Government to obtain a Clayton apparatus.
MY. POLLOCr-What was the nature of the Chamber of Commerce objection ?
The PRESIDENT-The necessary detention of steamers while the cargo is being taken out of the ship.
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Mr. POLLOCK-The cargo would have to be taken out altogether ?|
The PRESIDENT Yes. There is another point with reference to this, and that is the advisability of using this apparatus on ships leaving Hongkong" during plague periods, in order that we might not contaminate any" neighbouring ports. This point was raised by Dr. Clark in the Board in the original disenssion. I move that the Board recommend that one of these machines for the purpose of disinfecting ships be obtained from England.
Col. WEBB seconded.
The VICE-PRESIDEAT was of opinion that one apparatus would not be enough for the shipping that frequents this port; at least two or three would probably be required. The expenses, too, were not contined merely to having the apparatus on board the lighter; there must be some motive power to take the lighter to the ships, which could not be expected to be brought to the apparatus. The expor se attaching to the scheme was extremely high, and the matter required very careful consideration before the Board took any definite step.
The PRESIDENT The Board can only rec m mend it!
Mr. POLLOCK asked if the fumes of the disinfecting gas were rapidly got rid of or hung about the ship for long afterwards, delaying the receiving of cargo.
The PRESIDENT replied that he anticipated the gas, like any other gas, would rapidly diffuse itself if the ship was opened up,
The motion was put to the meeting and again decided by a casting vote, four voting for and four against it.
The PRESIDENT gave his casting vote in favour of the motion which was carried.
With reference to the question of sites for urinals, the PRESIDENT moved that a sub-com- mittee, consisting of the Vice-President, the Acting. Medical Oficer of Health, and Mr. Ramjahn, be forme; to consider the matter and repart to the Board at the earliest opportunity, Col Wren seconded, and the motion was carried!
FLUSHING OF DRAINS.
With reference to the proposed Hushing of certam drains at East Point with_sch-water, a letter was submitted from the DP.W. stating
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
that the sewers were reported to be in good | order and must have been thoroughly flushed by the recent heavy rainstorms. As the rains had begtin he saw no occasion for going to the expense of Aushing by other means.
The PRESIDENT said that there was apparently no need row for this flushing, as a continuous supply of water is now being provided,
INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT SHANGHAI, tive to the prevalence of infectious disease at Correspondence was laid on the table rela- Shanghai.
The PRESIDENT said that as it appeared that cholers, small-pox and diphtheria were non- existent in Shanghai be would move that the Board recommend the Governor in Council to withdraw the proclamation of 22nd March declaring thangbai an infected port.
Mr. POLLOCK seconded, and the motion waB agreed to.
PLAGUE AT AHOY.
British Consul at Amoy reporting that the plague epidemic there continued unabated, but with no great severity as compared with former years whether as to type of disease or mortality. The number of deaths in the city was roughly estimated at from 30 to 50 per day.
There was laid on the table a letter from the
The PRESIDENT moved that the Board recommend the Governor in Council to declare Amoy an infected port.
Mr. RUMJAHN seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The PRESIDENT pursuant to notice moved That the Board, in socórdance with Section 19 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, authorise Mr. Hanmer, who has been appointed to act as Assistant Secretary, to perform all or any of the duties of the Secretary.
Mr. LAU CRU PAK seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PLAGUE AND DUMPING.
Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.. pursuant to notice moved That having regard to the letter, signed “ Anti-dumping," which appeared in the Hongkong Daily Press of the 22nd March, 1903, the Acting Medical Officer of Health be requested to report in writing to the Board as soon as possible :-
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Whether the following stäteminfs, which aae contained in the above-mentioned letter of 'Anti-dumping are accurate or not, and, if dnicourste, lu what respects they are so :—
(u) “As soon as death is reported
policeman is despatched to the hous; where it has occurred, and the inmates are not allowed to leave till the body has been examined by a doctor and the cause of death certified, which, as a rule, takes over twenty-four hours," (b) “If the death is pronounced to be from plague the Sanitary Board oficials fake charge of the premises and the occupants of the whole house are turned ont into the street with their furniture and all their clothing, winter and summer, which is emptied from the bores and disinfected.”
(c) " After fumigation, the whole house is closed and nailed and the occupants are left to shift for themselves with their furniture as best as they can. (d) " During what is called the disinfecting operation, leather boxes, chests-of- drawers, mattresses, and other furni- ture are damaged to such an extent that they are unfit for further use,' (e) "A case of plague occurred early this month at No. 31, Elgin Street, first floor. As usual the whole house was closed and the winter clothing, which was in boxes, taken and disinfected, and the inmates were turned out. Some of them, who could not find any place to go to live, remained in the street with their furniture for nearly a week, in all kinds of weather, with the result that one of them, an old man, got ill through exposure, and was taken to hospital where he died. (ƒ¡“There are several instances of
people turned out from plague-infected houses in Hollywood Road and Cochrane Street being in the public street for several days.
Mr. Lau Chiu Pak minuted:-"I strongly support this motion. Some time ago during a conversation I had with the A.M.O.H. I pointed out to him that it would be--in fact it is-a great hardship on the inmates of the varions doors of an infected house to be shut up 1. What percentage of bodies (giving altogether for a whole day or at least as long, as figures) in proportion to the number it does not suit the convenience of the of plague cases (giving figures) were cleansing gang to go and disinfect the dumped in the streets during the premises. In some cases of which I had following periods, respectively :-(a) personal knowledge the Board's onlcers and The year 1898; (b) the year 1899; (e) men turned up late in the afternoon at the year 1900; (d) the year 1901; (e) un hour when the inmates
were about to the year 1902; (f) the year 1903, from prepare their meal, and in other cases they came the 1st January until the date of report? the following morning. During all that time 2. What measures are now being taken the inmates were forbidden to hold any com- with a view to minimise such dumping,munication with outside. If at the time they and has the Acting Medical Officer of had no provisions in stook they would have lo Health any suggestions to make as to be starved until they were turned ont The the adoption of any further measures ides in thas imprisoning them is to restrict the for diminishing such dumping?
spread of infection. But is it to restrict or help 3. How many convictions in respect of the spread of infection by turning them with the dumping of dead bodies in all their belongings to live in the street I Road West
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the streets have taken place before saw with my own eyes in Queet and fine
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à Police Magistrate:-(a) During the year 1900; (b) during the year 1901; (c) during the year 1902; (d) from the 1st of January, 1903, to the date of re- port. What penalties were awarded in respect of each of such convictions, and state the cases, if any, in which the party elected to pay the fine in- stead of undergoing imprisonment? 4. What measures are now adopted for
Mr. POLLOCK said tliat as hệ, understood (a) Temporarily housing people whose that this information was available he would rooms are being disinfected in conse-only say very few words in support of his quence of plague having occurred; and motion. He thought it had been the policy of (b) protecting the furniture and pro- the Board to enforce amongst the Chinese perty of such people from damage? community such laws with regard to sanitation Has the Acting Medical Officer of as were deemed necessary in order to prevent Health any suggestions to make for the spread of plague and other infectious the improvement of such measures?
diseases. No doubt in some respects some, of 5. Whether it is the fact that in foriner those meisure might have seemed rather hard to
years only the flat where a case of the Chinese, but no doubt from the plague occurred was disinfected and of health 'the enforcement of those not the whole house, and, if so, whên been strictly nécessa -But whil was the former practice discontinued imperatively nece for the Board and for what reasons!
whole population, Europ alike, such measures as they necessary for the general safěty of the munity, he considered that it was their duty to see that in the enforcement of these measures no unnecessary hardship was
those who were turned out days alike, stack up th ir furniture imme. distely outside their infected house, and sleep thero for days and nights, waiting for the premises to be limewashed. As a preventa. tive measure the whole thing is a farce. It does no good but it is good enough to annoy and frighten people into devising all sorts of means to evade the law.
winter
6. Whether it is necessary that
clothes, locked up in a box in a flat in which plague has occurred should be disinfected and for how long has such practice been in force ?
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