The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-10-08
QUOTATIONS BY "cOMMONER. y
More Discussion to Uphold Action
Of Kauai Officials
More Light on United States Regulations
Opinions of Physicians Srousht
to the Fore.

Der oath, headed Proper Time of
Quarantine The writer would like
slittle more information on the sub.
ject of the United States quarantine
laws and regulations, snd the Presi-
dent,o the United States circular of
September, 1892. 1t seems TO me that
the wording in the letter of Drs. Day,
Wood and Emerson on the sction Of
the President of the United States in
September, 1892, and the implied res-
son for such act, is misleading. They
state that the President, ST time of
great public alarm, made the order
that imposed the additional fifteen
days quarantine ''on the cholera in
fected Immigrant vessels at the port OF
New York.
These statements imply that the fif-
teen extra dsys quarantine was only
imposed on the vessels referred 10, and
that the order was made for the pur-
pose of sllaying the great public
alarm Dr.. q. F. Shrady, editor of
the Medical Record, wrote, on Sep
TENDER 10th, lSo2, that the order lor
circulsrl, OF the President OF the Unit
ed States imposed q quarantine of
twenty days upon all vessels bringing
immigrants to this county, Sur
Ceon General W. Wyman, in the
North American Review Of October,
1892, says of the order, "a twenty days
quarantine OF all vessels arriving with
immigrants from any port" and that
I. ar,,Nrav-al arieaaf IN SfrsDanEinv,
of immigration. Your doctors also
write that "this order remained in
force only 3 short time, and in Febru-
airy and March, 1895, Congress, after
due delibersti0n, recorded its faith in
the five-dsy quarantine by enscting
the present laws which have just been
quoted.
Now, did moi the Presidents order
remain 10 force until the cholera as sn
epidemic was over in Germany and s
thing OF the PISS, in New York
DR.. Elmer Lee, of Chicago, says the
epidemic was over in Hamburg about
October 18th, 1872" Proust, of Paris,
saws On October Sth, lSo2, ''at this
date the epidemic might be considered
as ended" There had been l., So cases
sDd 757l deaths.
Has not the Federal quarantine
time for cholers in the United States
been not less than five days for years,
ssy since ISIS, snd does not the Presl-
dent still have the discretionary
power TO order 3 longer time OF quar-
antine than the five days? Does not
great public alarm" usually exist
during $ cholera epidemic? When
the desth-rste during au epidemic
reaches 65 per cent. is there not reason
for alarm?
The following on s'The Twenty Day
Order" appeared editorislly in the
Medical Record on Sept 10, lS2ae: I've
are pleased 10 learn thst the reported
antsgonism of Health Officer Jenkins
TO the order of twenty days Quaran-
tine by the President wss more sppsr-
ept than resl, snd thst the full time
for detention OF suspected vessels will
be duly enforced. The discussion Of
Whist may be considered States rights
in this matter is, under the circum-
stances, very properly ignored. Jus.
now the Heslth Officer hiss very
responsible duty TO discharge, and Il
does not behooye him 10 sdd TO its
weight by taking any 0ccoB.Ha0-
GatirC chances. Instead of being
tempted 70 shorten the period OF Qusr-
aDtipe, every opportunity should De
taken TO leHgtbeIl il. and thus make
assurance douoiy sure. This new de-
cision will besr with force upon tray
elers, but the greater interests ST stake
are slone 10 be considered in the pres
ent emergency
How different in tone Is the above
from much written in Honolulu on
the subject Yet il was written by
physician, for physicians 10 read.
And the following OF the same date
snd paper. on The Cholera Outlook:
Notwithstanding the extrsordinary
precautions taken TO prevent the en-
trance of cholers into New York, We
sre forced 10 view the present outlook
with grave concern. With the best Of
promises against invasion, il behooves
rs TO be prepared in time for the
worst The many ways in which the
strictest quarantine can be ottenimes
evsded, the numerous avenues through
which S plague may enter our unpro-
tected land routes, the difficulty in
educating the public 10 5 proper
sense OF responsibility in pro-
tective measures, the pecuDisry inter
ests that sre IN direct antsgonism to
the restriction Of personal liberty in
travel. snd the pressure TO overcome
the necessary hindrance 10 CONNER
cial transfers, are factors which weigh
with the greatest possible force
agzins. the best intentions Of the
most trustworthy officials Such Il the
situation ST the present writing, and
while hoping for the best, we need not
be surprised ST shy time 10 hear that
The dreaded plague hiss surrepiitiously
appeared in our streets. Once here,
we msy hsve every reason TO view
the prospect with tie greatest alarm
With eommendable Zesl the different
depsrtments have worked with the
energetic Health Board in preparing
for the attack. but we must nor shut
our eyes 10 the fact thst there Is still
sn abundance of filth in different
quarters, in aod ont Of doors, TO fur
nish the proper soil for s most form
idsble epidemic. Whsteysr msy be
the outcome Of our anxiety, ii Is quite
osrtAin that the health authorities
and the medical profession viii be
ready for any emergency. Suspicious
cases will be snxiously watched and
speedily reported, sDd everything will
be done to sid the sanitary officials in
their endesyor 70 arrest the progress
Of the dreadful malady."
Well snd nobly hsye You Honolulu
people agreed with and done all that
Il advocated aboye-except in the
matter OF quarantine for your anxious
brethren Of the other islands. On
Ear-1uaber IL 1eoo rha Azfsrsa ah,,i.