The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-06-22
The sma1I-Pox i'm 1853.

Mn. EDrToR We have the smallpox in town !;
there is no doubt of that fact, despite the slowness
of some to admit It. As some who are now members
of the Beard of Health were not in that position in
1853, when it came here and ragged 50 fearfully, /
have thought it might NOT be inOpportune to remind
the residents Of what was done at that time And
as the Legislature is now in session, (s ii was in
that year when the disease made its appearance)
perhaps Il would be well that n similar law was
passed now as on that occasion. | do not apprehend
that the smallpox will prevail as it did in 1858,
owing to the action Of the present Board Of Health,
and for other reasons, but still IL would be we'll to
take such prompt and decisive measures rs will
stamp oat the fearful disease. / am aware that
some persons in town are doing all they can to throw
discredit on the Board of Health, and that among
these are some who are in receipt of Government
salaries. But rs / observed in my last, let all such
talk cease, and let all-physicians and residents of
every class-dO al in their power to prevent the fur
Their spread Of the disease. by seeing that all in their
ueiQhborhOod are fascinated. Let US all, of foreign
birth, do what We can individually to save the native
race from extinction
and passed in the House Of Mobiles, passed by the
REPRESENTATIVES and Sgned by the King, providing
for the appointment Of n commission Of three per-
sons 10 act without pecuniary reward, who were
q authorized and empowered TO provide for ell per-
sons sick with the SMALLPOX, suitable medical at
Tendance, food, lodgings and clothing, at the ex-
pense Of the Hawaiian Government, and to make
and publish such regulations for the public health as
thew may think wise and e~xpedent. and enforce
them by fines or otherwise through the courts
The commission was authorized to draw on the
Tressuty for such funds as might be necessary for
carving out the law. Messrs- 7. c. b. Rookie, G. P.
Judd and VIM. C.. Parke were appointed BY the King
"a such commissioners, and Immediately and yigor-
ously entered upon the discharge OF their duties,
.apuointinz sab-commissioners ard agents on the
ether islards, and taking the utmost precautionary
measures to prevent the spread Of the disease.
But the history Of the time shows that the disease
did spread. and in July following the community Of
Honolulu was in . state Of no little excitement.
Public meetings were held, lengthy resolutions were
passed, and the city was divided of into districts, in
which volunteers from among the citizens carefully
searched for eases Of disease and reported them TO
the commissioners Of health. A committee of twelve
was appointed, who laid down the plan Of action, by
which an were guided. After the lapse Of 10 years
Il NAV be interesting To recall the names Of that
committee: Messrs- f. W. Thompson, ID. p. Pen
halloE, R. Coady, Thos. Spencer, r. Mitchell, s.
N. Castle, C. r Bishop, W. L. Lee, w. c. Parke, Z
@. Hall. c. G. Harris, A. b. Bates, and Drs- E. Hcf-
mann. W. Hillebrand, W. NeEeomb and s. P Ford.
Out Of this excitement grew the movement which
led to the retirement from Office Of Messrs- Judd and
Armstrong, Ministers Of the then Government, and
among the prominent agitatiug speech-makers at the
public meetings, as reported ia the newspapers OF
the day, / find the names Of Messrs- Blair ana
McDufie, (both since desd) DR.. Ne6comb, and j.
Mott Smith. The latter gentleman now holds the
once from which he worked 50 strenuously TO Gust
DR.. Judd. nearly twenty years ago
4 Man ABOUT Town.