The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-22
THE MEASLES ARE HERE.
STEVENSON'S SERVANT HAS
THEM.
Sans Souci's Windmill Cottage Quaran-
tined-The English Novelist
Must Fumigate.

tealtn was nelu tnlS morning at 9'3o
o'clock, at which the following members
were present; President Smith, T. F.
Lansing, DIR. G. P Andrews, J. Ena,
c. B. Reynolds and Drs, Howard and
Cooper, whose presence had been re-
quested to consider the steps necessary
for the prevention of the spread of
measles, brought here by the steamer
Mariposa.
President w. o. Smith called the
meeting to order, after which he stated
that the object was to decide on what
steps it was deemed advisable to take
in the matter of quarantining the known
cases OF measles at present existing.
Executive Officer Reynolds was
called upon by the President for a
statement of the number of cases COM
ing to his notice, and replied that SO
far as he knew there was but one case,
and that was at Sans Souci. The
Samoan servant of Robert Louis Steven
son, Mr.. Reynolds said, had the
measles, and was confined to the
windmill cottage and isolated from the
other guests of the place. He stated
further that he had visited the patient
and ordered sulphur sent out for fumi-
CATION purposes, and had left instruc-
tons to have the mans clothes boiled
This will be an easy task, as the
servant in question has a deep seated
and lasting abhorrance for clothing, his
wearing apparel ordinarily consisting
of a breech cloth, and for some time
previous to his visit here, the author
had his man in daily training for
trousers, which garment he despises
with his whole soul
Mr.. Reynolds stated that when the
steamer China was in port, DIR. Trous-
seau had told him that he was then
treating a case of measles, but Dr.
Andrews said the physician in question
had telephoned him this morning that
he had known of but two or three cases
during the past year or more.
No one present had heard of more
than the one case, and it was difficult
to see just why there should be any
public exctementregarding the measles,
but President Smith stated that there
was a good deal of feeling in the
matter, and it was therefore considered
expedient to take some decided action.
Mr.. Reynolds said he had placed no
officer in charge because it had never
been the rule to quarantine against
measles, and it had not been deemed
necessary in this case. The visiting
physicians were asked for ain opinion
and were unanimous in the view that
to establish any regular quarantine
would result in making Honolulu the
laughing stock of the world.
Mr.. Smith asked if it would be neces
sary to quarantine Robert Louis as well
as his servant, and DIR. Cooper thought
not. Others were of the opinion that
he should be quarantined for period
of fifteen days at least. A vote was
taken on the question which resulted
in favor Of the establishment of a
quarantine of both the author and
servant. This was afterwards amended
to take effect against the servant only
and Robert Louis may now enjoy his
liberty and the right to pursue the even
tenor Of his way, provided he fumigates
himself and does not visit his servant
in his sanitary retreat. Mr.. Stevenson
may now conclude that there are worse
things in this world than even news.
paper reporters who represent him "be
fore taking"
Mr.. Reynolds was instructed to place
a pair of large,sized guards over the
measley retreat of the suffering Samoan
with instructions to guard him night
and day
Port Physician Andrews asked fol
instructions regarding his mode of pro.
cedure regarding entering vessels with
disease on board, such as measles
whooping cough, etc. The rules Of
the Board of Health were brought ou
and it was found that no provision had
ever been made for such cases, the
general practice in the past having beer
to instruct arriving passengers to report
all cases of sickness breaking out with
in a few days of their arrival to the
health officer.
After some further discussion it was
decided to instruct the Port Physician
in a general way to proceed in future
on the same general lines.
Vessels hereafter having measles OF
kindred diseases on board will be com
PEELED to keep all infected through pas
sengers on the ship whether in the
saloon or steerage, and all passengers
coming to this port will be requested
to quaratne themselves and report tC
the Board of Health.
After deciding that letter signed
by the local physicians, treating o
measles and the symptoms. and tht
best preventative means to be adopted
should be published, and would go ia
towards dispelling the wholly uncalleC
for feeling of uneasiness, the meeting
adjourned, Mr. Reynolds promising tt
send a couple of able bodied men tC
guard the case at San Souci, wlthou
loco of time