The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-19

BOARD OF HEALTH VISITORS.


AT its last meeting the Board OF Health
passed a resolution to divide the city
into sanitary districts. These districts
are modelled somewhat after the plan
of those Of the Fire Department, but
necessarily more subdivided in conse-
quence Of, and in proportion to, the
density of the population. The resolu-
ton also empowered the President of
the Board of Health to appoint a corps
of honorary health visitors to aid in the
sanitary improvement OF such districts
This corps it is proposed to select from
the names of such citizens as may volun-
teer to act IN the cause of the welfare
OF the community. The members of
this public spirited body will hold APP
pointments and be assisted by the
authority of the Board Their duties
viii not be arduous, but when carefully
and conscientiously discharged cannot
fail to be of considerable advantage to
their fellow citizens. They will be en-
powered to make domiciliary visits
within their respective districts, to direct
the abatement of nuisances and to call
in Constable to enforce their directions
when necessary. They will not, how
ever, be invested with any especial
powers, nor in any way authorized to act
in conflict with the paid officers of the
Board, but as assistants and advisers, as
it were.
They will report their observations
and findings to the President of the
Board Of Health, and the Board will in
all practicable cases support them
through their officers. Reports will be
desired from them on all matters ger
name to the health of the city within
their district, such as aoyefcrowding of
tenements, defective ventilation of dwell
ing places, badly constructed or care
lessly attended to vaults and cesspools,
stagnant pools, ,nuisances arising from
density of foliage, and such like. IN a
few words, they will be body of public
spirited and intelligent citizens, willing
TO devote a portion of their time gratui
.tousiy to aid the paid officers of the
Board of Health in improving the sani-
tary condition of the city. In the event
of an epidemic-which we all hope
may be very far distant-their expe-
rience aud organization being at the
service of the health authorities will
tend much to inspire confidence and
minimize danger. -ss4-A p -tHa
A direction in which ladies may be
especially valuable as honorary district
health visitors, will be the distribution
of simple medicines for incipient stages
of disease, which, through want of
knowledge. care and advice, often grow
into serious complications or fatal re-
suits, among the natives especially. 1t
is a recognized fact that the Government
doctors cannot discover all the cases OF
sickness, owing to the space to be covered
and the frequent prejudices of the ma
tives to the foreign practitioner; but
when once the Board of Health visitors
become familiar with district, cases
will be promptly reported to them, and
through them to the Board. Such a
course will have a salutary effect in pre-
venting the public mind, especially the
native portion, from being seized with a
panic in the event-of an epidemic. We
need scarcely refer to the fact that these
noble duties are gladly accepted and !
faithfully discharged by ladies of the
highest social position in England and
other humane countries. In the case of
a foreign visitor, a native may be Sc
lected by bim or her to act as an assist f.
ant and interpreter. -
An authoritative notice win shortly be
published which win inform the public
AZ to the location and boundaries Of the
sanitary districts, and it is now oppor-
tune to call for volunteers to. act as
honorary health visitors in this expert
nent of mutual cooperation as a means
TO the general health and comfort. We
are authorized to state that the Presi- (
dent of the Board of Health WILDE happy I
to receive the names of such volunteers,
either in person or by letter, and to give /
any desired information in regard to the /
appointment of visitors, their powers and /
duties.
So much has been said and printed in (
regard to the sanitary condition OF the
CITY. and so many suggestions have been
made on all sides as to the best manner
Of improving it, that it is to be hoped