The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-10-07
QUOTATIONS BY "CONMONER, y
More Discussion 20 Uphold Action
OF Kauai Officials
More Light on United States Regulations
Opinions 81 Physicians Brought
to the Fore

X.
the article in the GAZETTE Of Septem-
Der 9th, headed proper Time OF
Quarantine" The writer would like
aIittIe more information on the sub
ject of the United States quarantine
laws and regulations, and the Presi-
dent.of 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 action Of
the President Of the United States in
September, 1892, and the implied rea-
son for such act, is misleading. They
state that the President, at time of
great public alarm, made the order
that imposed the additional fifteen
DAYS quarantine "on the cholera III
fected immigrant vessels at the port of
New York"
These statements imply that the fif-
teen extra days quarantine was only
imposed on the vessels referred TO, and
that the order was made for the pur-
pose of allaying ''the great public
the Medical Record, wrote, on Sep
TENDER 10th, 1892, that the order Tor
circular), of the President of the Unit
ed States imposed a Quarantine of
twenty days upon all vessels bringing
immigrants to this country" Sur
geon General w. Wyman, in the
North American Review OF October
1882, says of the order, ga twenty days
quarantine of all vessels arriving with
Immigrants from any port" and that
10 amounted practically to suspension
OF immigration. Your doctors also
write that "this order remained in
force only short time, and in Febru-
airy and March, 1898, Congress, after
due deliberatiOn, recorded its faith in
the five-day quarantine by enactiDg
the present laws which have just been
quoted.
Now, did not the Presidents order
remain in force until the cholera as an
epidemic was over in Germany and q
thing of the past in New York?
DIR. Elmer Lee, of Chicago, says the
epidemic was over in Hamburg ''about
October 18th, 1892" Proust, OF Paris,
SAYS on October Sth, 1892, sat this
date the epidemic might be considered
as ended" There had been Il, 1852 cases
and 1871 deaths.
Has not the Federal quarantine
time for cholera in the United States
been not less than five days for years,
say since 1873, and does not the Presi-
dent still have the discretionary
power" to order longer time OF quar-
great public alarm" usually exist
during 3 cholera epidemic? When
the death-rate during an epidemic
reaches So per cent. is there not reason
for alarm?
The following on "The Twenty Day
Order appeared editorially in the
Medical Record en- Sept. 10, 1892: owe
are pleased to learn that the reported
antagonism of Health Officer Jenkins
to the order of twenty days quAran-
tine by the President was more appar-
ent than real, and that the full time
for detention OF suspected vessels will
be duly enforced. The discussion of
what may be considered States rights
IN this matter is, under the circum-
stances, very properly ignored. Just
now the Health Officer has q very
responsible duty to discharge, and it
does not 6ehOove him to add to it's
weight by taking any dccODlnlO-
dating chances. Instead of being
tempted to shorten the period of quar-
aDtine, every opportunity should be
taken to leRgthen il, and thus make
assurance douOly sure. This new de-
cisiOu will bear with force upon trav- |
elers, but the greater interests at stake |
are alone to- be considered in the pres
ent emergency"
How different in tone Is the above |
from much written in Honolulu on |
the subject. Yet it was written by |
physician, for physicians to read.
Aud the following of the same date !
and paper, on "The Cholera Outlook: |
Notwithstanding the extraordinary |
precautions taken 10 prevent the en- I!
trance of cholera into New York, we !
are forced to view the present outlook !
with grave concern. With the best of |
promises against invasion, il behoOves |
Us TO be prepared in time for the |
worst. The many ways in which the !
strictest quarantine can DE oftentimeS |
evaded, the numerous avenues through |
which a plague may enter our unpro- |
tected land routes, the difficulty in |
educating the public to q proper |
sense of responsibility in pro- |
tective measures, the pecuniary inter |
es.s that are in direct antagonism to |
the restriction of personal liberty in |
travel, and the pressure to overcome |
the necessary hIndrance to CONNER !
cial transfers, are factors which weigh |
with the greatest possible force |
against the best intentions of the /
most trustworthy officials. Such is the /
situation at the present writing, and |
while hoping for the best, we need not I
he surprised at any time to hear that /
the dreaded plague has surreptitIously
appeared in our streets. Once here, /
we may have every reason to view
the prospect with TIE greatest alarm.
With commendable zeal the different |
departments have worked with the |
energetic Health Board in preparing
for the attack, but we must not shut
our eyes to the fact that there is still
an abundance of filth in different
quarters, in and out Of doors, TO fur
nish the proper soil for a most form
liable epidemic. Whatever may be
the outcome of our anxiety, it is quite
FuTv hot r1Ffa
and the medical profession Will be
ready for any emergency. Suspicious
cases will be anXiouSly watched and /
speedily reported, aud everything will !
be done To aid the sanitary officials in
their endeavOr TO arrest the progress
of the dreadful malady."
Well and nobly have you Honolulu