The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-09-17

Health, will send a number of
copies of this letter to people on
the other islands today. 1t is not
an official document, but succinct
account of the cholera epidemic,
with comments on the action of the
people regarding the landing of
freight and passengers on the other
islands:
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
HONOLULU, H. L,
MONDAY, 6 80 p. M, Sept. Is, 1895.
DEAR SIR:-We have been much
troubled by the extreme views taken
by some people on each of the other
islands. The Hawaii people seem the
most reasonable, Maui next and
Kauai worst.
While it is reasonable that every
one on the other islands should see to
it that cholera is not permitted to be
introduced, they should give us here
credit with having some sense.
We are working day and night, and
certainly have better opportunities to
judge. We cannot understand why
the Kauai people should support the
idea that an eighteen days quaran-
tine is necessary.
European and American authorities
limit the period OF incubation of
cholera to six days, at the outside.
That is the period in which the dis
ease will appear after the germs Cor
bacilli) are introduced into the sys-
tenn. If person is free from cholera
and does not take any of the germs
into him (meanwhile), after six days
there is no danger that he will have
the disease. His clothing or effects
may contain the germs, especially il
damp, for q long time. Eighteen days
will not render them safe any more
than twenty eight or thirty-eigh
days unless they are disinfected.
Now, our proposition is (and the one
we have been following) to fumigate
the ship thoroughly, disinfect the
crew and fumigate all their clothes
and effects; the same as to passen-
gers. Then have them 60 into quar-
antine for six days; then take off
freight to the ship under every safe
guard we can devise. And (now we
have added) before she sails have the
ship and cargo fumigated. After all
that we consider it safe to let them
take the freight and passengers to the
other islands.
If those on the other islands think
they know better, or if they wish
additional precautions taken, why
IucE COuScnl 10 leu Inc DdSS0u-
gers go into quarantine on the island,
as the Hilo people have done and as
Messrs. FaiTchild and Spalding have
asked to be allowed to do.
Fairchild and Spalding offered to go
into quarantine at their beach home,
to be guarded in any way the Kauai
committee required, and pay all eX-
penses themselves. We cannot under
stand what objection there can be to
this.
Our action in appointing commit
tee upon each island was to have their
cooperation, but not to have them
act in defiance of the Board of Health
and Government here.
1 do not believe any of them have
intended to act in opposition to the
Board of Health, but do believe that
many people, through want of ihfor-
nation, and INSTRUMENTATION, and I'M
due fear, have erred in judgment.
Mr.. Knudsen ought not to have been
sent back from Kauai. 1t was I'M
necessary and wrong.
We do not wish TO force freight or
passengers onto any island, but we do
wish reasonable action taken.
Cholera is q dreadful disease. All of
us who have been with the sick and
dying during the past few weeks real
iZe this and we realize what a terrible
thing it would be if it were introduced
into the other islands, but we must be
reasonable.
If the people on any island do not
feel that our precautions are sufficient,
or, in spite of efforts and good inten-
tions there still is danger, let them
add a reasonable quarantine for pas
sengers (say five or six days. after
they have undergone our require
ments and arrived at the island; and
let them have the freight fumigafed
again on board the vessel before land
ing, or on shore if they prefer; but
don't ask that passengers aud freight
lay in a vessel off Honolulu fifteen or
eighteen days.
III clothing or personal effects COM
ing from an infected place are not dis
infected 10y fumigation or some other
way), they are no more safe in
eighteen days than they are in eighty
days. If they are thoroughly disin-
fected, they are as safe in eighteen
hours as they are in eighteen days.
Merchandise in original packages
is considered safe, especially if fumi-
gated on the outside.
One great fear we have of goods
coming from Japan is that much of it
is put up by persons manufacturingon
a small scale in places where cholera
Is epidemic.
The goods we now allow to be sent
from Honolulu are: Rice, flour, tea,
medical supplies, grain, lime, cement,
kerosene oil, machine oil, and coal in
bulk.
1t will be observed that of the arti-
cles of food all have to be cooked be-
fore using. Hay we have stricken
from the list. Articles Of machinery
may be sent on special permits, de-
pending upon what it is.
We feel much more hopeful now
than for some time that we have the
disease under control. The utmost
vigilance is observed; hundreds of men
are on guard and inspecting; disin-
fecting, fumigating and burning are
being carried on.
l think if the people on the other
islands were aware of the pains being
taken, they would feel more conf