The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-06-16

London, have much more
elaborate and pefect system of adj
than Honolulu can boast, |
and that returns are made with q !
fullness and completeness which we |
may admire but do not initiate.
Were the real facts known; could our
returns be made as full and reliable
as is the case with the cities named,
such q comparison as we have made
above would be still more to our
disadvantage. From Investigations
which we have made, we are con-
vinced that the actual death rate of
this district is more than double that
of London and probably double that
of New York "
San Francisco has population
of 233, 700; and although nearly
one-tenth of this consists of China
men, yet the town is, on the whole,
remarkably healthy; the general
death rate per thousand being only
1927, and of the nineteenth consti-
tuting the non-Chinese population
being only 1920. The Chinese as
is we'll known, occupy q particular
quarter, into which very few outsiders
ever penetrate, and here they crowd
together in filth and squallor; the
results making themselves obvious in
death rate of 21.20, although they
are almost all adults" 1t appears
therefore, that the ordinary, general
death rate of Honolulu, including all
races, classes and conditions of
people, high and low, rich and poor,
is certainly fifty and probably one
hundred per cent. greater than that
prevailing amidst the overcrowding,
the filth and squallor of the Chinese
qnarter of San Francisco"
Attention is drawn to the fact that
there were 106 deaths registered in
1881 and AZ in 1888, from unknown
causes, In the latter year "217 or
about 36 per cent. are stated to have
had no medical attendance. The
deaths for that yeal from unknown
causes are given by the same autho-
rity as only AZ. How and from
whom the cause of death of the
other 10 was ascertained, must
remain q matter of conjecture.
The writer analyses the tabulated
statements of the Board of Health,
showing conclusively that they are
incorrect and unreliable. Illustrat-
ing the indefniteness Of the reports,
"106 persons in 1881 and ia in
1888 or nearly one-fourth of the
whole number of whose death any
cause is assigned, are declared tc
have died of old age or debility
Speaking of the large number ot
| deaths from unknown causes, h(
says, 1t was certainly not credit
able state of things that right here
in Honolulu, one-fifth of our people
should die and be buried, and oul
health authorities remain in con.
fessed ignorance of the cause ot
their death, no inquest being helt
and no Investigation being made
The real facts. however, are mucl
worse than these figures would indi
cate. An examination of the officia
reports will convince any competen
} enquirer that in large proportion
of those cases where some cause o
death is assigned, the results give
are little better than guess work. l
the absence of any law requiring
: certificate from the attending physi
: clan, and with so large proportio
of our people dying without an
| medical attendance whatever, tn
: registering officer is compelled to rel
4 to considerable extent upon mer
hearsay; often from ignorant an
incompetent Observers
l The conclusion we have arrive
at after careful study of all til
; facts at our disposal, is: that in nc
: more than half the cases of deaf
reported, have the Board of Healt
). any accurate or reliable informatio
as to the disease of which the patien
died. In fact we are not sure tha
; one-half is not a very liberal est
: mate. If the experience of othe
> physicians corresponds with that G
-, the writer, it is certainly so. A II
duction of 56 per cent. in two years
: in the number of deaths attribute
J to unknown causes appears we'll o
= its face, but in view of the fact
adduced, it is doubtful if it repr,
:, sents anything except an increase
u exercise of the guessing powers {
8 tho Rnord or itc rants ;;