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DR. HUNTER'S REPORT:
The report of Dr. William Hunter, the Government Bacteriologist, for 1904, appears Some interesting extracts are as follows :-
in the current Government Gazette.
The Bacteriological Institute is nearing completion. It will be ready for the commence- ment of research work about the beginning of August or September.
During the year,\1,551 human bodies were
examined at the public mortuary. Of these,
no fewer than 1,026 were upon male subjects. This great difference between the number of males and females examined does not obtain in the case of infants under one year of life.
Out of 498 infants examined 236 were males.
In continuation of my researches into the subject, my observations lead to the conclusion. that pathologically there is little evidence of tubercular infection through the alimentary tract. If tubercle bacilli enter the system through this channel, they never leave evidence of having done so in the intestine. My results bear this out thoroughly.
Quite recently, Behring has come forward
with a most important announcement. It is almost as startling as that made by Koch in
1901.
He concludes that tuberculosis is acquired in infancy when the intestinal mucous membrane is in a state of considerable permeability. The disease remains potential, until the environment or circumstances of the individual enable the tubercle bacillus to grow and set up the active disease in its typical form. He quotes in support of his contention, the now well known post-mortem results of Nageli, who showed that evidence of active or latent tubercle could be demonstrated in the bodies of all persons over 30 years of age. Again 68 per cent, of the men of an Austrian regiment reacted to tuberculin. Again, it is known that acute generalised tuberculosis, tubercular meningitis, etc., are most frequently found in infants and children. Phthisis occurs most frequently during the working period of life. Intestinal tuberculosis is rare at any age.
Further, acute tuberculosis is usually a wide- spread blood infection. Phthisis is a direct infection through the respiratory passages, and is a more or less local disease of the lungs.
With the theories of Koch and Behring before us, therefore, we have:-
1 Borine tuberculosis communicated by
food to infants and children,
It may remain latent, or cause widespread tubercular infection of their bodies.
2. Human tuberculosis communicated from one adult to another by contact. It sets up localised tuberculosis, e.g., phthisis. The question of the mechanism of ruptures of the abdominal solid viscera is most interesting, and I propose to deal with the subject more or less fully in a subsequent annual report.
The relations existing between rat and human plague show the same characteristics as found in 1902 and 1903. Epizootio rat plague is followed by epidemic plague within a week or a fortnight.
Danyaz's virus is to be used in Hongkong for the destruction of rats. The same virus was used last year in France with colossal
success.
The cause of the repeated excessive mortality amongst fowls in the Colony and neighbouring parts of China, has been found to be fowl cholera. The bacteriological examination of a Japanese disinfectant called "Disinfectol" shows that this preparation is highly valuable germicidal agent. It is more effectual, but, at the same time, more expensive than Jeyes' Fluid.
THE TRADE OF HONGKONG.
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The Harbour Master in his annual report, under the Leading of "Trade" says:-Unce more it is necessary to call attention to the want of accuracy in the returns under this heading. There being no Custom House in the Colony, it is impossible for accurate returns to be compiled, but information given by the officers and agents of ships might with advantage be of a fuller and more detailed description. It is true that I am empowered to call for copies of manifesta of
cargo imported, but so long as the favourite and
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(June 26, 1905.
comprehensive term "Case of Merchandise" SEAMEN SHIPPED AT HONGKONG. continnes to be employed, such manifest will not help us much, while to deal with the various weights and measures of the cases, &c., as entered in the manifests, would require a much larger staff than we now possess
very
As it is, the returns are compiled by the Assistant Harbour Master, from information given by officers of the ships, or, in some cases the agents. It frequently happens that the officer giving the information is ignorant of
the existence on board of certain items which it is imperative should be reported, e.g., Dangerous Goods.
This being so, I do not consider it necessary to say more on this subject than that, from these perfunctory reports, it appears that:-
Import cargo has increased by
167,229 tons or 4.2 per cent.
Export cargo has increased by
360,742 tons, or 16.0 per cent. Transit cargo has increased by
276.976 tons, or 9.6 per cent. Bunker coal shipped decreased by
10,65 tons, or 1.6 per cent. The total reported import trade of the port for 1904 amounted to 26,588 vessels of 11,205,516 fons, carrying 7,889,978 tons of cargo, of which 4,738,052 tons were discharged at Hongkong. This does not include the number, tonnage, or cargo of junks, or steam launches employed in local trade.
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Similarly, the export trade from the port was represented by 26,639 vessels of 11, 199,850 tons, carrying 3,436,726 tons of cargo, and shipping 670,811 tons of bunker coal.
During the year 1904, 14,922 vessels of European construction of 19,227,312 tons (net register), reported having carried 10,572,844 tons of cargo as follows:
Import cargo Export Transit
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Bunker coal shipped
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4,150.639 tons.
2,605,861 3,151,926 664,418
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10,572,844 tons.
The total number of tons was, therefore, 54.4 per cent. of the total net register tonnage (or 76.7 per cent. exclusive of river steamers), and was apportioned as follows :-
Imports.
British ships
.2,390,704 Foreign ships...... ..1,750,935
Exports.
British ships......... ..1,579,051 Foreign ships..........1,026,810
British ships.. Foreign ships.
Transit.
.2,105,696 1,046,230
Bunker Coal.
332,310 332,108
British ships... Foreign ships
4,150,639
2,605,861
3,151,926
664,418
Grand Total......... 10,572,844
SUNDAY CARGO-WORKING AT HONGKONG.
During 1904, 308 permits were issued under the provisions of the Ordinance. Of these, 78 were not availed of owing to its being found unnecessary for the ship to work cargo on Sunday, and the fee paid for the permit was refunded in each case.
The revenue collected under this heading was $37.625; this was 82,825 more than in 1908.
The revenue collected each year since the Ordinance came into force is as follows:-----
1892
$ 4,800 1893
7,900 1894
a
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13,375
1895
ን. 11,600
1896
...$ 7,575
1897
11,850
·
1898
25,925
1899
21,825
1900
43,550
1901
44,800
1902
44,175
1909
34.800
1904
37,625
Daring 1904, twenty-one thousand eight hundred and thirty (21,830) seamen were shipped and twenty-five thousand two hundred and ninety-two (25,292) discharged at the Mer- cantile Marine Office and on board ships during.. the year.
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Four hundred and sixty-seven (467) distressed seamen were received during the year. Of these, 159 were sent to the United
Kingdom, 13 to Sydney, 2 to Vancouver, 77 to Calcutta, 2 to Singapore, 1 went as passenger to Port Said, 3 to Calcutta, 28 to United King- dom, 8 to Singapore, 2 to Manila. 1 to San Francisco, 1 to Haiphong, I to Shanghai, 1 to Japan, 29 to Canton, 1 obtained employment on shore, 3 joined the Canton Customs, 3 Lappa Customs. 4 taken charge of by the United disappeared, 2 died at the Government Civil States Consul, 1 by the French Consul, 2
Hospital, 1 at the Lunatic Asylum, 8 remained at the Government Civil Hospital, 1 at the Tung Wah Hospital, 35 at the Sailors' Home, and 78 obtained employment.
dollars and forty-two cents (87,284,42) were Seven thousand two hundred and eighty-four
the Board of Trade, in the relief of these expended by the Harbour Master on behalf of
distressed seamen.
MARINE SURVEYOR'S SUB- DEPARTMENT.
During 1904. 196 vessels were surveyed for passenger certificates and bottom inspection and 125 were surveyed for emigration, being sn increase of 6 and 14 respectively on the previous year which was then the highest on record. The increased number of emigration surveys is almost entirely accounted for by the opening up of emigration to South Africa, 13 vessels- all British-of 65,255 gross tons having been surveyed and measured for that trade alone.
The number of visits paid to different vessels, docks, building yards, boiler shops, &c., in con. nection with survey work amounts to 2,140.
Two hundred and three (203) licences were granted to steam launches during the year, 45 new boilers were built to board of trade rules, under supervision 3 minor inspections were made, 5 foreign vessels were measured, 35 vessels were measured for tonnage for British registry. 126 surveys on Government steam launches were completed during the year. 82 European engineers were "examined of whom 73 were successful and 11 failed. 104 Chinese engineers were examined of whom 90 passed and 14 failed.
Owing to the Kowloon and Cosmopolitan dooks being blocked at different times by vessels undergoing extensive repairs, 31 of the surveys for passenger certificates took place at the Aberdeen dock, involving considerable loss of time and extra expense in hiring an outside launch. I would respectfully point out that owing to the increase in work and the greater distance apart of the building yards and shops an additional launch is urgently needed.
PROPOSED STATUE OF H.M. THE QUEEN IN HONGKONG, The following correspondence has reached us for publication:—
Hongkong, 10th March. Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., Chairman.
Coronation Committee. Dear Sir,-Mr. Hewett on his departure for home has handed to me the various papers relating to the above fund.
I beg to enclose two telegrams which have been received from Mr. Wade, the Soulptor, which speak for themselves.
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The first to Mr. Hewett reading "credono willingly means “I am willing to undertake the Commi sion at the price named if appointed by His Majesty.”
The second to Sir Paul Chater reading "submitted letters, King approves, Wade speaks for itself.
It seems, therefore, appropriate for the com- mittee to ask H. E. the Governor to be good enough to forward to the proper quarter their request for permission to erect a Statue to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Quean.
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