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September 19, 1908.]
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Sept. 15th at the Board Room, Mr. C. McI. Messer (president), presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham,(Vice-President), Messrs. A. Shelton Hooper, H. A. W. Slade, Iau Chu Pak, H. Humphreys, Dr. Pearse, (Medical Officer of Health), and the following officials: Dr. Macfarlane, (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), and A. Gibson (Secretary).
SURGEON
RINDERPEST.
The COLONIAL VETERINARY reported under date of the 5th inst. that four cattle out of a lot of 44 imported from Kwong Chau Wan were suffering from rinderpest on arrival. These had been segregated on arrival, and permission given to the dealer to slaughter the healthy cattle for food.
The COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON re- ported on the 6th inst. that a lot of nine cattle imported from Nam Tan were all suffering from rinderpest and he recommended that they be slaughtered. No compensation was payable in respect of those cattle as they were sick on arrival.
Members of the Board minated their approval of the course adopted.
Mr. GIBSON submitted a further report on the circumstances of the arrival of the second lot of cattle from Nam Tau, In this he
pointed out that, as the journey from there to Hongkong only occupied twenty-four hours, it must have been apparent to the most casual dealer that the cattle were sick before they were despatched to Hongkong. The oattle were apparently too sick to be used at home and were sent to Hongkong.
The PRESIDENT stated that he knew from his experience in the New Territory that cattle were sent to Hongkong only when they were too ill to work or too old. They used Hong kong as a dumping ground.
Mr. HOOPER said he would move if necessary the
suspension of the standing orders in order to propose a resolution to the effect that a standing committee be appointed to deal with cases of urgency concerning the arrival in the Colony of cattle infected with cattle plague; the committee to have power to order the immediate destruction without reference to a meeting of the Board. He cited the Agricultural Acts in England in support of his argument.
The PRESIDENT said he had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, which he thought would do much to protect the Colony from rinderpest and would also protect the cattle trade between Manila and Hongkong.
The resolution was carried and the President and Mr. Hooper were appointed members of the standing committee.
MOSQUITOES AND MALARIA.
The PRESIDENT in a minute stated that the
Crown Solicitor had advised that, if the Board
desired to minimise the breeding of anopheles mosquitoes, they should pass bye-laws to that effect,
Mr. SHELTON HOOPER minuted-I don't think any further bye-laws are necessary,
Mr. HUMPHRR ra-If bye-laws are necessary, as the Crown Solictor states, for the Board to exercise powers to compel persons to take steps to prevent the breeding of anopheles mosquitoes, have them by all means. Is it not, however, an established scientific fact that sob mosquitoes breed in mountain streams, and not in backyards, open spaces, or thickly populated districts? If this is so, it is a question which om only affect the Sanitary Board to the extent that it is the duty of the Board to impress on the Govern ment the urgent necessity to continue the good work of training nallahs, which has met with such decided and happy results, wherever and whenever possible. Of all the costly expenditure on health measures during the last ten years there is no doubt whatever that that portion which has been expended on anti-malarial measures has been the only portion which has proved of enduring and tangible benefit to the Colouy and the only portion which has been worth the money expended on it, and more.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
of good, and the only question they had to discuss was whether they should take steps | against the owners of gardens which had pools where anopheles mosquitoes were breeding. It advised that, if the Board wished to take steps, was a question of policy, and the Crown Solicitor | bye-laws would be necessary
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Health advised that ponds and receptacles for Mr. 8L DE said that, if the Medical Officer or water in gardens were liable to breed anopheles, the Board should, he thought, take steps to prevent them. He understood it was easy to stop it by putting a little kerosene on the top of the
water.
he had read it was stated that anopheles were Mr. HUMPHREYS said that in all the reports
bred in mountain s'reams, clear streams, or at their affaouts, but he had anopheles bred in ponds.
not read that
The PRESIDENT pointed out that they would larve to prove their case. not go to the police court unless they had the
The MEDICAL Officer of HEALTH thought it was rather risky to say that anopheles are bred only in mountain streams. They required olear, or semi-olear water, and it must not be,
There was running too strong to wash away the eggs. no doubt thst the anopheles bred in pools in gardens. He had found that at West Point, and he had no doubt that Dr. Macfarlane had found the same at Kowloon. He did not say that the Board would proceed against the owners of gardens simply because there were pools therein, but they would proceed against them if they were found to be the breeding ground of anopheles.
The PRESIDENT moved that bye-laws be anopheles on private premises. drawn up for the prevention of the breeding of
Tho Hon. Mr. CHATHAM secondod, and the
Chu Pak voting against it, motion was carried, Messra. Hooper and Lan
CATS AS PLAGUE PREVENTITIVES.
The report of the committee appointed to consider the methods for promoting the keeping of cats as a stated:
measure for plague prevention,
1. The Committee advise that a Chinese circular be drawn up by the Registrar-General and distributed broadcast. 'I he circular to ex.
and thereby diminish the plague epidemic. hort people to keep oats so as to keep away rata
2. That the Sanitary Inspectors during their periodio inspections inquire if cats are kept, and if not, advise the householders to do so.
3. That the Registrar-General use his in fluence with the various Chinese institutions ad societies and explain to them the benefits
further to be derived from the keeping of cats and
4. hat the Registrar-General call upon the restaurant and brothel keepers to keep s sufficient number of oats upon their premises.
5. That a circular be issued to godown keepers informing them that godowns, and more specially those storing grain and other food, are as a rule infested with rats and thereby a great source of danger to the public, that a building infested with rats is a nuisance under the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance and that it is their duty to rid their buildings of rats; and that experience has shown that rats in godowns can effectively be kept down by k eping a number of cats on the premises.
6. That the Sanitary Department endeavoar to obtain and supply ca's and kittens of a good rat catching breed.
7. The Committee are glad tɔ be able to state that the Chinese seem fully to realise the benefit to be derived from keeping cats as a prevention of rat infestatio, and that the increase of oste is very noticeable.
The report was signed by the Registrar- General, the Colonial Veterinary Sargon, the President of the Sanitary Board, and Mr. Lan Cha pak.
Mr. HOOPER minated-We certainly cannot prevent owners of oats (sking them out of the Colony if they wish.
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The report was adopted on the motion of the President,
MORTALITY STATISTICS
The death rate for the week ended 29th
community, as with 14.1 for the corresponding August was 19.8 for the British and foreign
week of last year, and 27,8 for the whole Colo y as against 241 for the corresponding week of last year.
A QUESTION OF PROCEDURE. Z On the subject of latrines in back yards, Mr. SHELTON HOOPEE said these papers started from the President himself. They were attached to papers much older. The minute by the Pre eident to the Medical Officer of Health stated it had been suggested that no action be taken to remove latrines in old buildings before 1903, provided there is at least 60 square feet, and added that His Excellency desired the opinion of the Board on this matter. The speaker, con- tinuing, said he took a great interest in this subject and served on a committee which
that recommended
the area ba reduced from 100 to 80 square feet. It was now proposed to further reduce it to 60 feet, and he should like to know whose sugges tion this was, It might be by a man whose opinion was worth having, or it might be a man whose opinion had no weight at all. They should be informed who made the suggestion, especially as it had elicited from the Governor a desire to know the opinion of the Board. He (Mr. Hooper) would also like to know whether that desire was communicated verbally or in writing.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said the suggestion emanated from himself, and what prompted him to make it was that the Ordinance required that existing houses should have a back yard of 5 › square feet, and if an existing house had a back yard of that area it was exempt from providing any further space in the form of back yard. It seemed reasonable in dealing with these latrines which were necessary for the health and sanitary condition of the town, that the matter should be adjusted on that basis.
Mr. HOOPER said he was delighted to learn that the suggestion emanated from so eminent an authority as the Director of Public Works, who had at last recognised the hardship existing in the past. He was quite at one with him, but he would go a little farther. He would like to see certain obstructions not included as obstruo tions, such as dust bins, e o., as was the practice in England. He would like to know whether the President received the communication in writing.
The PRESIDENT was understood to say that the communication came from the Colonial Secretary, addreased to the head of the depart- ment.
Mr. Hoore said be understood all com- munications to the Board were to be in writing. He wished to call attention to this matter as he thought they were entitled to have those written communications from the Government laid bi- fore them. It was a question which would bɔ dealt with later.
The resolution was carried.
EXPORT OF MALWA OPIUM STOPPED.
A Gasette of India Extraordinary was pab. lished at Caleitta on the 2ad inst. over the
signature of the Secretary to the Gaverament of India, Commeros and Industry Department, saying: la exercise of the powers conferred by section 19 of the Ses Customs Act 8, 1878, the Governor General in Council is pleased to prohibit the port of Bombay until 1st January, 1909."
The prohibition is in falfilment of the eɔadi. tion of Great Britain's agreement with Chias which restricts the annual opium exports from India to Chias to a certain fixed number of chests annually. This number has been divided pro ra'a between Bengal opium and Malwa The PRESIDENT remarked with reference toopiam, and the exports of the latter have
reached the maximum allowed for the year. Mr. Hooper's minute that the Captain Superio- tendent of Police had informed him that he had only known of one case of a cat being taken out of the Colony.
The PRESIDENT remarked that he understood anopheles did not breed in clear or semi-clear water. The Government had spent large sums
The VICE-PRSTENT-I think you must of money in training nullabs, which Mr. Hum-allow them to take their cats out of the Colony, phreys acknowledged to have done a great deal if they wish to do so.
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There appears to be great distress in the
dus neighbourhood of Pakhoi
to drought followed by inundations. Rice which at this season is usually $3 a pioul is quoted $5, and dioontent is developing.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.