The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-08-06
SATURDAY
AN ADMONITION.
Communicate !

CThe following remarks, although ren-
dered somewhat out of date, as to the facts
they refer TO, by being crowded out of our
columns two weeks i'll succession, are
worthy Of the serious attention Of all resi-
dents in Honolulu and especially of the
members of the Board of Health. ED. p.
G. Al
THE dread of epidemic diseases hangs
like a cloud over this fair city at the present
time, and the prominent topic of converse
ton is what ought to be done, and what
ought to have been done long ago, to avert
them. Smallpox still turks in some quar-
tiers of the town; and, after ali we have
suffered from its ravages, and all we have
endured through the measures necessary to
prevent its indefinite spread, that fact is
bad and depressing enough without the
addition of other fears. The announce
ment that a we'll known and respected
citizen has fallen a victim to typhoid fever
has now to be added to that of the Reap
pearance of small pOx. This sad occur
renee cannot but awaken the gravest
apprehension in the minds of all. 1t is but
two years now, since, at this very sea-
son of the year, an epidemic of fever, which
proved fatal to a large number of our
white residents, broke out in Honolulu.
1t was then stated that some of the severe
cases took the form of typhoid fever, but
this idea was, we believe, generally dis
credited by our ablest physicians. The
fever, then, which, at that time, cut off so
many lives of promise, although evidently
Infectious, had not the malignant type of
that which has now manifested itself. The
Infection and %contagiOn of smallpox are
not so difficult to deal with as is the risk of
catching typhoid fever by those who are
brought in contact with the persons and
the clothing of a patient, More than this;
everything in the room occupied by the
patient, from his bed clothes to the very
air itself, is tainted with the germs of this
terrible disease. More again; we felt safe
from the smallpox until it was brought to
us from without, but it has long been known
that the germs from which come fevers,
of the class to which typhoid belongs, are
generated everywhere where filth is allow
ed to accumulate-that n bad drain, an
offensive privy, or some accumulation of
foul and decomposing organic matter, is
invariably found to have been the source
from which this disease has been taken.
What state is Honolulu in to contend
with the invasion of such a disease as
typhoid fever ? 1t is, for its size, one of the
worst arranged; one of the worst regulated,
n one of the dirtiest towns in the world,
of all that pretend to call themselves civil
lied places. Only here and there can we
find its parallel. This is a fact that every
one, from the highest official down to the
llullAOlCSl CtllLChf HAS lODS recognized 10 Dc
true. Fol years we have been talking
about it, specializing on our chances in the
future, discussing what remedies would be
the most effectual, and-doing nothing.
The Government has discussed the matter.
During a late administration an elaborate
report about drainage, removal of night
soil, and so forth, vas drawn up. But the
Government appears to have shrunk from
advocating the adoption of any measure to
provide for the cleanliness of the city. AL
though $1,000 was readily put down OIL
the estimates for a Marine Railway, the
scarcely larger sum, estimated as the cost
of introducing the only really practical
remedy for the present state of Honolulu,
was said to be unavailable except "under an
Act authorizing the issue of Government
Bonds, and q tax upon property in this
city to meet the payment of principal"
From the day this report was laid before
single practical step towards the sanitation
of Honolulu was taken. We desire to give
the present Government all proper credit
for what they have done. The Ordinance
of the Board of Health recently promul-
gated, regulating the construction of cess
pools within the city, was a step in the right
So was the purchase and en-
ployment of the "Odorless E~Xcavator"
which, where circumstances are sufficient
ly favorable, is doing good work i'm the
removal of disease-generating matter from
our midst. But these things are a very
instalment of what is wanted, and
would earnestly implore the Govern
ment to make sanitary measures for Homo
lulu their first and most anxious care.
The public is more to blame than any
official person for the perpetuation of the
foul and unwhOleSome condition of the
Whilst the ~populacn whose interests
are at stake content themselves with talk
about the evils which surround them
they are forcibly brought under
their notice by some unusual circumstance,
and forget them altogether from day to day
and year to year, we cannot expect that the
Government will appreciate the magnitude
Of the evil which has to be commended with.
Every one who traverses any of our streets
when a southerly wind blows, or wher rain
mas fallen on a still evening, knows hat
Ia whole town is as offensive as an ill
,ared-for privy. There are but few premis-
IS. in the town, in some part of which the
east sensitive nostrils are not offended at
my time of day or night by the vilest
Wherever these are felt, germs of
diseases of a malignant type are being gen.
Grated, and it is only by wonderful chances
hat we have escaped a fatal epidemic SO
A little exhaustion caused by over
or the debility which follows
many minor ailments, create in the human
)ody a condition prc-disposed to receive
he seeds of such q disease as typhoid fever
md, when this is fully developed in one
ase, only the most stringent precautions
prevent its spreading. All this is known
o every one, yet all go on from month to
Month, hoping that nothing may happen,
Until startled, as now, from their apathy
" the news that disease of q virulent type
5 actually amongst them, and that one who
Yas a few days ago alive and at work in
heir midst has already fallen q victim to
he dirt-created demon.
Mr.. Passmore, member of Parliament, is the