The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-02-12
The Public Health.

To tie Editor Of the Ha,raiioa Gasstts:
DgAR STA III is with considerable reluciancs
that take up my pen say what desire to. for it
is on delicate point. and we're it not also vital
matter with this community, should not do ct all
The subject I refer to is I" the hygienc" condition
Of Honolulu. 1t sometimes happens that We blame
the Board Of Health for the bad state of the city
Now the real in fault ourselves the citizens.
for it is through earelessness and neglect
that we generally bring on our own i'll health. Most
of US have common sense enough TO know that .
neglected vault aud neglected drain are the gene
rators Of the seeds OF desh but think that most Of
the named persons do not avail themselves of the
practical effects of tha, common sense. and that TO
step into the back yard of many Christian family
would impel the adventurer to apply pocket inhaler
to bis nose. aIWE fT Ant
Now IN my mind there are desdlier enemles to
physical well being than the kitchen drain, and
the vault; and fevers and sore throats that run
through the town are due think far to these
causes than we are inclined to think. and it is q
matter of surprise how universally careless are 10
this respect, and when the better class of
careless how can We expect the natives and Chinese
to be any better.
There is no good reason Why the sir of Honolulu
should not be kept perfectly free from offensive and
poisonous gases. so that person could take com
Portable ride around town without being almosi
knocked down by the smell that greets one as be
passes by peoples dwelling houses. have often fel,
glAu Tor the Oalnese IN lneI QuAEtcEo oh
street, when thinking of the fact that all gasses dc
not burn for if they did what awful conaagratior
there might be there some day. -.Il He j
Now in regard to the proper care Of vaults 1 car
give think some useful information as being the
result of my own observation. l
After various experiments with lime and disnfect
ants in different shapes, the following simple expert
ment tried, found perfect success aud adopted
completely transforming the air of the place. This
was adopted about i've years ago and has been fol-
lowed ever since.
box is Kept handy, filled simply with dry earth
which is used every day, occasion cas for, tir
scoop being placed in the box for convenience. O
course by this method vault will not last long
by the present one, and may perhaps be thought too
troublesome and expensive but allow to ask am
otiector, if eight dollars every three or four years
more expensive or troublesome than own per
sonal discomfort the Of the sick. doctors bills
and perhaps finally the undertakers' and sections
bills II may be urged also that this method requires
too much yard rooa for moving from place to place
| but no, as time requires new vault may be dug
aud when it is filled the contents of the old ma!
be removed and used in the yard. and in this con
| nection will say that there is among some people
very foolish dislike existing to anything ofthis kind
but is merely effect Of the imagination, for aite
having lain a year two, re-excavatng the sol
is found be perfectly dry harmless and undistin
| guishable from any other.
| Only two spots therefore needed and may b
used nterchangeably requiring but little yard room
| AS to drains If the water from the Kitchen can b
| lead of onto patch of bananas or sugarcane an
| not be allowed to stand in spot it can be mad
useful and will not stagnate. Some however hav
not the yard room for any arrangement, and to suc
1 would suggest the digging Of hole six or NOR
feet deep. the hole to be filed up even with the sur
face of the ground or nearly with gravel or blec
sand. through which the water will sink and fnall
disperse itself in the earth below. and particles tha
| may come on the water will remain on the top an
may be picked of BY the fowls in the yard cleare
4 away.
Hoping these suggestions may prove useful to som
Of your readers. .H .-.f--
1 remain, yours respectfully, XXX.