The art of cultivating the cholera bacillus is of such venerable antiquity amorly Asiatic nations that it is not surprising to find it practised by the Chinese who live in the foreign settlement of Shanghai. We all know that it is as reasonable to expect Chinaman to part with his quave as with his filthy habits, but when these habits become, as they do at this time of the year, a standing danger to the health of the community of Shanghai, it is time that the foreign authorities should be encouraged to take vigorous action. These remarks are called forth by the state of a number of stagnant ponds in the immediate neighbourhood of Seward Road, Hongkew. The appearance of these ponds and the indescribable odours which emanate from them are sufficient to convince any one that they are simply breeding places for disease germs. Anyone who cares to investigate the matter (with the help of a strong cigar) can walk from the Garden Bridge and find four of these cesspools close to the night-hand side ut Seward Road, west of Yung-chang Road, on lot 1502, a number of the Chinese houses on which were lately desteayed by fire. A fifth is on the other side of the Yungehong Road, and there are three more seme distance further along the Seward Road, east of lot 1890. In the neighbourhood are many other pools, but fortunately most of them are not stagnant. They have all be-n formed in the same manner—namely, by the gradual damming-up of creeks. One of the ponds mentioned as in the neighbourhood of Yuenchong Road was formerly comparatively innocuous, owing to its being connected with a creek by a culvert, thus ensuing a certain amount of circulation of water. A washman who availed him elf of it one day took it into his head to construct a dam across the middle of the pond. In consequence the dammed-up part has become filthy and stagnant, and just suited to the purpose of the wash ian ut course, perfectly notorious that se cesspools—fur they are nothing less e habitually used for the washing of for the cleaning (save the mark!) of rice and other Chinese food, and as receptacles of the ghastly garbage of a crowded neighbourhood. It needs no medical authority to tell us that the result nust be the wholesale dissemination of disease. What, then, is to be done? The nust- oh vurse is to Gill up the ponds. The Municipal Council have decided to take this course specified above. given out, and, if all goes the work will shortly be begun. We say if all 1," because there are difticules in the way. Most unfortunately, all the eight ponds are on land owned by Chinese, and adjacent to houses ceeupied by Chinese, who strongly object to the proposed filling-in, When the pre-i ko of measuring the ponds was habitants got wind of what ended; and, from the demonstrations they then made, it is clear that all will not be plain sailing before this most necessary work is accomplished, We understand that the owners of the property have appealed to the Taotai to protest against the proposed purging of their precious ponds and, from what is known of Chinese this is not at all unlikely. however, whether he foreign re-be deterred from carrying out this vitally important work, The cholera season is upon us. Deuth cards have already begun to make their appearance. There is no time to lose.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.