The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-09-17

OuIOr uf rur boknn W llrufH.
HuSuirtr, ~. l..
MoSDAY, $50 p. NJ, sept. i0. ypei.
] DlAn sin We have been much
troubled by the extreme views taken Lt
fome people On each Of the other islands
The Hawaii people seem ths must
reasonable. Maui neat aud Kauai worst
While Il il reasonable that every one
on the other islands should see b. 10
that cholera he not permitted % De Boz.
troduced, they should give me- here ere
/ dit with having some sense.
We are working day and night, aud
I certainly have better oppurtuniues Co.
/ Judge. We cannot understand WhA the
] Kauai people should support the idea
that an eighteen days quarantine b.
necessary.
European aud American authorities
limit the period u incubation Of cholera
to six days, al the outside. That b. 10.
period in which the disease will appear
after the germs Tor bactlliI are nitro
duced into the system. II b person b.
free from cholera aud does not take any
Of the germs into him (meanwhilel, nj.
ter six days there h no danger that De
will have the disease. His clothing 90
effects may contain the geTms, especially
If damp, for a long time. Eighteen day-
Will not render them safe any more
than twenty-eight or thirty-eiFht days
unless they are disinfected.
Now, our proposition h land the one
we have been follow ing) g. fumigate
the ship thoroughly, disinfect the crew
aud fu.nigate all their clothes and
effects. the same a. b. passengers. Then
have them go into quarantine for siN
days: then take off freight 10 the ship
under every guard We can devise. And
nov we have addrd) before she sails
have the ship and cargo funigated. Az
ter all that we consider u safe 60 let
them take the freight and passengers 90
/ the other islands.
II those on the other Islands think
they know better, or il they wish addi-
tonal precautions taken, Why don't
they consent to let the Passengers 20
into quarantine on the island. az the
I Hilo people have done and az Messrs
fairchild aud Spalding have asked 10 he
allowed TO do.
Fairchild aud Spalding Offered d 20
D into quarantine at their beach home
To be guarded IN any way the Kauai
committee required, aud pay all eK
penses themselves We cannot under
stand what objection there can be g.
this.
] Our action in appointing a committee
upon each island was to have their CO.
operation, but not to have them act IN
defiance Of the Board Of Health and
Government here.
! do not believe any Of them have in
tended 10 act in opposition 10 the Board
of Health, but do believe that many
people, through want Of information.
and misinfOrmation, and undue fear.
have erred in Judgment
Mr.. Knudsen ought not 10 have been
sent back from Kauai. IL was unBeces-
sary and wrong.
We do not wish TO force freight or
passengers onto any island, but We do
wish reasonable action taken.
Cholera is a dreadful disease. All Of
US who have been with the sick and dy-
ing during the past few weeks realize
this; and we realize what terrible
thing it would be II il were introduced
into the other islands, but we must be-
reasonable.
II 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 passengers
(say five or SIX days after they have
undergone our requirements and arriy-
freight fumigated again on board the
vessel before landing, or on shore il
they prefer; but don't ask that passen-
gers and freight lay in a vessel OH Hon
olulu fifteen or eighteen days.
II clothing or personal effects coming
from an infected place are not disinfect-
ed (by fumigation or some other way,
they are no more safe in eighteen days
than they are in eighty days II they
are thoroughly disinfected, they are
ar safe in eighteen hours As they are in
days.
Merchandise in original packages il
considered safe, especially If fumigated
on the outside.
One great fear we have Of goods com
ing from Japan is that much Of il II put
up by persons manufacturing on a small
scale in places where cholera is epidemic.
The goods we now allow to be semi
+ from Honolulu are. Rice, flour, tea
medical supplies, grain, lime. cement
kerosene oil, machine oil, and coal in
bulk.
II will be observed that Of the article
OF food all have to be cooked before
using. Hay we have stricken from the
list. Articles Of machinery may be sent
on special permits, depending upon what
il is.
We feel much more hopeful now than
for some time past that we have the
disease under control. The utmost
vigilance is observed; hundreds Of men
are on guard and inspecting; disinfect-
ing, fumigating and burning are being
carried on.
! think il the people on the other
islands were aware Of the pains being
taken, they would feel more confidence
in the precautions taken here.
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM q. SMITH.