Health > Collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the National Government of the Republic of China

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presence also of the university from which some technical assistance might be obtained
is a further reason for selecting this port.
In addition, there should be provided at Antung, Newchwang, Chinwangtao, Chefoo,
Wei-hai-wei, Swatow and Canton an equipment at least capable of receiving “ healthy
ships ” and subjecting them to the prescribed sanitary measures.
Type of Organisation and Equipment.
It is desirable, before considering the organisation and equipment of ports in detail,
to discuss generally the application to Chinese ports of the recommendations contained in
Article 51 of the Convention. It is there recommended that, in large seaports, there
should be set up:
(a) A regular port medical service and permanent medical surveillance of the
health conditions of crews and of the inhabitants of the port;
(b) An outfit for the transport of the sick and suitable premises for their isolation,
and for keeping suspected persons under observation;
(c) Installations necessary for efficient disinfection and disinsectisation, bacte¬
riological laboratory and a force prepared to attend to urgent vaccination against
smallpox or against other diseases;
{d) A supply of drinking water of quality beyond suspicion for the use of the
port and a system affording all possible security for the removal of waste, filth and
waste water;
(e) A competent and adequate staff and necessary equipment for the deratisa-
tion of ships, yards, docks and warehouses;
(/) A permanent organisation for the detection and examination of rats.
The additional recommendation is made that warehouses and docks should, as far as
possible, be rat proof and that the sewer system of the port be separate from that of
the town.
These recommendations obviously presuppose that a public health service is already
in existence, of which the port health service is a branch.
Where there is a quarantine service under entirely distinct administration, as in
China, immediate difficulties arise in completely applying the recommendations.
(a) For instance, a permanent medical surveillance of the inhabitants of the port is,
unfortunately, not possible in existing circumstances.
On the other hand, a regular port medical service is possible in all the larger ports,
including those mentioned specifically above.
In the most important port — Shanghai — and perhaps in the ports of Canton and
Amoy, where a more complete establishment is being suggested, the permanent medical
surveillance of the health conditions of crews of vessels may, in the course of time, become
possible of realisation.
It implies the existence of a staff of some size and suitable launch equipment. In the
port of Shanghai, for example, there is an average number of new arrivals of sixty vessels
a day, which may be berthed anywhere along a stretch of river ten miles long. If to this
number be added the larger junks, from fifty to two hundred of which may arrive in any
given day, it will be gathered that the service in question must be regarded as an ideal to be
aimed at in the future. Nevertheless, this matter has been kept in mind and will be
referred to later in the detailed recommendations made for the ports of Shanghai and Canton.