The herald., 1895-09-14
Considering Measures to Keep
Out Cholera
A QUARANTINE DISCUSSION
All California Ports to Be Carefully
Guarded
Mayor Sutro Presided at the 7eeting-F ulI
Board Of Health and the Quarantine
officer Were Present
Assoc,ated Press Special Wire


SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13.-Dr. Ru-
pert Blue, of the United States marin Q
hospital service in this city, received two
letters this morning from his brother.
Victor Blue, who is an ensign on board
the United States ship Bennington, now
stationed at Honolulu.
In one letter, bearing date of Augu st
$50. Ensign Blue states that cholera broke
out in the islands two weeks prsviousl y
and that 1t was constantly on the in
crease. The death rate daily was six, and
OF all who contracted the dread disease
only one escaped with his life.
On September Sd, two days before the
sailing of the Mariposa. Ensign Blue wrote
again. He stated that six men were
down with the disease on board the Ben
nington, and that one sailor had died.
The other men were doing we'll, but the
ships surgeon feared that the epidemic
had scarcely begun. He had made a
careful microscopic examination of the
excretia of the sick patients and pro-
nounced it to be vIrulent type of
Asiatc cholera.
''We all feel very blue at the prospect"
writes Ensign Blue. Tho excitement
here is intense. and this is not to be
wondered at, for the disease is spreading
with alarming rapidity. The Bennington
has left her anchorage off Honolulu AID
gone southwark 100 miles. We will re-
turn once week after mail and orders.
In one day thirty-fiv cases were reported
at Honolulu and nearly every one resulted
fatally. l hope to be able to give you bet
ter news next time I write. but I fear
that will not be SO fortunate"
DR.. Blue states that che United States
authorities will assist the state and local
officers in preventing the entrance of the
disease into this country. He thought
this could be accom- plished by exercising
due diligence.
There is general Indignation at the
action of the quarantine officers in per.
mitting the steamer Australia to come
alongside city dock half an hour after
her arrival from an infected port.
Notwithstanding the report that the
vessel was in quarantine five days before
she left Honolulu, the public does not
believe that the quarantine officers mad
any right to order the ship to land pas
sengers. IT is claimed that the proper
precautions were not taken, although
medical auth critics ihoid that the life of
a cholera germ is only five days.
The state harbor officials DO not like
the idea of having the Australia along
side city wharf. but Of course they are
in no way responsible for the acts of the
quarantine doctors. Laxity of quarantine
regulations caused the spread OF the small
pox epidemic in 1867 and 1868. The gen.
eral opinion about town this morning
was that the Australia should have been
sent to tns quarantine station and iumi-
gated. but the quarantine officials explain
that such action was entirely unnecessary.
The board of health held special meet
ing today to consider the cholera epidem-
ic in the Hawaiian islands. Mayor Sutro
presided and the full board and the quar-
antine officer were present. The subject
of the dread disease being introduced in
to California was thoroughly gone over
and various measures to keep it out were
advocated. Honolulu was declared an
infected port and all vessels coming from
that or any other port in Hawaii will be
Quarantined until the passengers, crew
and baggage have been fumigated.
The state board of health is to be COM
munlcated with and Its mem bers sum-
moned for conference in the mayors
office next Tuesday. At that meeting
steps will be taken to guard all the ports
in California and the rules in San Diego,
San Pedro and other ports will be as
strictly enforced as they will be in San
Francisco. The Rio de Janeiro is ex-
pected to arrive from Honolulu next Sum
day. and the quarantine officer was in
structed to gay especial attention to her.
She will be quarantIned until thorough
examination is made and all ths passen-
gers. more particularly the Chinese, will
be fumigated before being allowed to land.