July 25, 1908.]
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on July 21st at the Board Room. Mr. C. Mol. Messer (president), presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, (Vice-President), Hou. Mr. E. A. Irving, Lieut-Colonel Reid, R.A.M.C., Messrs. Shelton Hooper, H. Humphreys, Lau Chu-pak, and the following officials Dr. Pearse, (Medical Officer of Health); Dr. Macfarlane, (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), and A. Gibson (Secretary).
NO SLIGHT ON THE SANITARY BOARD IMPLIED. The following reply from Government, rela- tive to the question of permitting water closets in buildings in Kowloon, was read :—
Colonial Secretary's Office,
30th June, 1908. SIR,-I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 4756 of the 25th instant, forwarding Mr. Shelton Hooper's remarks at the meeting of the Board held on the 23rd instant, concerning the amendment made by the Legislative Council in section 162 of Ordinance 1 of 1903. The amendment was unanimously adopted by the Council in Com. mittee on the Bill, and looking to the fact that modifications often of a comparatively trivial nature in individual buildings require under the Ordinance the approval of the Governor-in- Council, it would appear to be an anomaly that that approval should not equally be required in B matter of such enormous im. portance as the introduction of water closets. That the power of final approval should be vested in the Governor-in-Council does not therefore imply a slight on the Sanitary Board any more than the final approval in the other cases referred to,
F. H. MAT, Colonial Secretary. Mr. HOOPER-Sir, Why I called attention to the letter the Government sent down to us informing us of the reason why they had made that change, which I characterized as a slight on the Board, was on account of reasons given at the Legislative Council as reported in "Hansard" for making the proposed change. The Colonial Secretary stated that "in defiance of medical opinion consulted, the Board had decided to permit water closets at Kowloon It was for these reason I thought it was a Blight on the Board, but now the Government have written down and did not reiterate that reason, I am satisfied with having called atten- tion to it as the reasons first stated are not the reasons now stated.
ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD'S INSTRUCTIONS. The following are the instructions for the guidance of the Administrative Head of the Sanitary Board :—
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
81
Mr. HOOPER-It is not stated from whom | September 1st. No man has done more för these instructions emanate, though probably sanitation in this Colony than Mr. Carter, and from the Government. I would not limit the in the respective offices which he has held for class of bye-laws. Section 2 should read "all the last seven years he has carried out his byelaws."
duties faithfully. Personally, I agree with Mr. be granted, and that the work he is now Lau Chu pak that Mr. Carter's leave should engaged on-cubicle work-should stand over until his return.
CATS AND PLAGUE.
The following minute from the COLONIAL SECRETARY was submitted regarding cats as plague preventers:—
Your Excel
remarks.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK endorsed Mr. Hooper's
Based on a death rate per 1,000 per annum the mortality statistics for the whole Colony show a percentage of 38 4 for the week ended 4th instant; and 29-5 for the week ended 11th instant, as against 25-6 for the corresponding week of last year.
from the British Medical Journal containing "YOUR EXCELLENCY-I attach an extract
an article on the value of cats és plague proven-
The PRESIDENT-I shall inform the Govern- ters. We owe it to the research of Dr. Hunter meat that the Board has no objection to grant- that hitherto inhabitants of Hongkong haveing leave to Mr. Carter been discouraged from keeping cats. For Dr.
MORTALITY STATISTICS. Hunter discovered that cats, pigs, fowls and other of the lesser animals suffered from plague -an absolute or almost absoldte fallacy. The Indian Commission have established that plague in a cat is practically unknown. lenoy suggested in Memo. 8407/1907 that special inducement should be held out to house- holders to keep cats. I suggest that this extract be now communicated to the Board who might be asked to suggest means of encouraging householders to keep cats. Of their utility there is no doubt. My house some three years ago became infested with rats apon | whom the rat-catchers of the
Board
Sanitary could make no caught one about one month old. I then impression-they invested in a cat which cleared my house in a few weeks of rats which have not appeared since."
(1) The head of the Sanitary Department shall lay on the table of the Sanitary Board not later than the 31st March in each year the proposals for important changes in the draft estimates of expenditure for the department for the following year together with proposals for making recommendations to Government for including in the estimates of public works extraordinary of works of a Sanitary nature such as latrines, market, sanitary improvements etc., and shall bring these estimates and pro- posals before the Board for discussion at the next ordinary meeting after that date.
(2) He shall consult the Board in regard to changes in the methods of procedure for giving effect to bye-laws relating to disinfection of infected premises, domestic cleanliness and ventilation, entry and inspection of buildings, prevention and mitigation of epidemic, endemic or contagions dissase.
(3) Ha shall keep the Board informed of any changes in the rganisation of the Sanitary Staff which he may deem it necessary to carry out.
the
(4) He shall consult the Board (a before recommending the selection of candidates for the staff of inspectors in England; or appointment of such candidates in the Colony; (b) Before recommending to Government the grant of leave of absence to European members of the staff; (c) before recommending to Government the dismissal or degradation of any members of the European staff.
(5) He shall lay on the table at each ordinary meeting of the Board, complaints of the public against any member of the staff.
HIS EXCELLENCY's reply to the Hon. Mr. May was-"I thoroughly concur. thought this sometimes, and I regret I did I bave not emphasise my opinion more. My only regret is that we shall also see the last of our singing birds."
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEATHL tinumed With regard to the effect of cat keeping in the incidence of plague, the following points might be of interest:-Out of 598 bouses in Saiying-pan district cats were found in 204; at of 26 cases of plague on these ground floors 23 occurred in flors where no cats were kept, and three only where a cat was kept; out of 71 cases of plague in upper floors, 51 were in houses where no icat Was kept on the ground floor, and 20 hero cals were kept on the ground floor. Out of 97 cases, 74 cocurred where no cat was kept on the ground floors, and 23 where cats were kept on the ground floors. Out of 210 houses with cats on the ground floors, 187 had no casez notified in them, while 23 had cases notified.
LIEUT-COLONEL REID minuted-I thorough- ly agree with the suggestion in the Colonial Secretary's minute.
Mr. SHELTON HOOFER-I think the idea of keeping cats excellent, and quite concur in what the Colonial Secretary says as to their utility. But it is very difficult to keep cats any length of time, as the Chinese steal them,
Mr. HUMPHREYS-Es ablish an annual cat show and award prizes for best ratters and cats that have most kittens; abolish staff of plague inspectors, supply all Europeans with ear plugs gratis.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-An excellent idea. I have been keeping cats in my house a good many years, and so far my servants and neigh bours have not stolen a single pas of mine yet. One, however, was fired at by an English neighbour for making a noise.
RAT RETURN.
up till July 8th, 383 rats had been destroyed, The rat retura laid oh the table showed that and none of these were found to be plague infected.
ACTIONS AGAINST A CANTON FIRM.
On July 16th in the Danish Consular Court Messrs. Carl W. Smith & Co., merchants of at Shanghai two actions were brought against
Canton. The first was brought by a Cantones, merchant named Hop-Shing who claimed bamboo delivered under contract. Defendants, $1,370.63, being the price of a cargo of split
in the pleadings disputed the claim on the ground that the quality was not up to contract. They alleged that plaintiff was responsible for the quality of the bamboo until same had been approved by the home buyer; it was also alleged by the defendants that the contract was not in order as it was only signed by one of the firm's managers whereas it should have been signed by two joint managers. Plaintiff denied that the signature of two managers to the contract was necessary and alleged that previous contracts had been carried through bearing only one signature.
Defendants made a counter claim of $10,000, or such amount as the Court may award for damages for alleged boyoott by plaintiff and
others of the firm's goods.
Plaintiff did not appear himself, nor was he represented by counsel. Mr. Steckmast, of Messrs. Hanson, McNeill and Jones, represented the defendants,
His Honour adjourn ed the case for one hour to give plaintiff or his oounsel an opportunity to appear. Neither of them put in an appear. ance, however, and the action was dismissed.
The second action was brought by Lee Ta lun, also of Canton, the claim being for $1,033.69 money advanced by him as compradore to defendants. Mr. Steckmast appeared for the defendants, plaintiff being present in person.
Mr. Sieckmast applied for an adjournment for one month, his client being in America.
In reply to Court plaintiff said he only arrived in Shanghai from Canton the previous day.
His Honour pointed out that the case had already been adjourned for three months to allow of the defendant producing certain booker.
Mr. Steckmast said he only received instruc- tions to appear for the defence by a letter The REGISTRAR-GENERAL From the Sani-received on the 15th June. He then wrote to tary Board point of view it won't matter if they his client asking for further instructions but are stolen. They will be catching rats all the at present had received no reply. He (Mr. same.
Steckmast) had the books in his possession but was not aware of the details of the oase, not having seen the summons or petition.
The PRESIDENT suggested that a committee go into the matter, as to how they could best encourage Chinese to keep cats. The committee should consist of the two Chinese members, the Registrar-General, the President and the Colonial Vetinary Surgeon.
This was put in the form of a motion, seconded by Mr. HOOPER, and agreed to.
A SANITARY SURVEYOR'S LEAVE. Mr. A. Carter applied to the Board for per mission to commence his leave of absence on September 1st.
The PRESIDENT wished to know if this ap- plication should be considered epnfidentially.
Mr. HOOPER-I think it is only fair to Mr. Carter to say in public that he thoroughly deserves his leave, and that I should strongly recommend the Governor to grant it from
Plaintiff said he expected to remain in Shanghai for sight or ten days.
His Honour said he was averse to adjourning the case for another month. He could not keep the plaintiff waiting in Shanghai for an inde- finite period and would allow an adjournment of six days during which time Mr. Steckmast must telegraph to his client.
At the inquest at Ipoh into the circumstances attending the death of Dr. Cross, formerly s medical missionary in China, it was shown that returned was that "death was due to an overdose he had had financial worries and the verdict of carbolic acid, taken while temporarily insane."
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