The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-04-13
TO PROTECT ALL LIVES.
COU CHS OF THE BOARD OF
HEALTH AND CABINET.
Black Plague and ChoIers-Opinions ss
to Botb-A Policy Decided
Upon.

| the Executive Ill the Foreign Oii1Se
at 4 p. III. Saturday. Present with
the Board were: President Dole,
Minister Cooper, Senators Water
house, and Baldwin, Representa-
tives Bond and Winston. Mr.. John
+. Hackfeld Of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company and Mr.. J. A.
Scott Of Hilo.
President Smith of the Board
stated that the country was in dam
ger of contagious diseases from
Japan and China. There was a
proposal to forbid, for the present,
the coming Of steerage passengers
from Asia. 1t was desired, how
ever, that nothing be done to dis
courage commerce. The meeting
had been called to discuss what had
best to be done.
DIR. Day reported on what had
been done with the Gaelic. The
passengers would be quarantined
eigteen days from date of landing.
President Dole, speaking to the
exclusion proposition, said it was
absolutely necessary to thoroughly
protect the country from contagious
diseases.
Mr.. Smith said he personally was
opposed to the proposition. 1t was
too radical.
President Dole remarked that if
such rule were in force last year,
the cholera would not have been
introduced by the Belgic.
Mr.. Smith said boat was always
out ten or eleven days from Yoko-
hama and would like to ask If the
country was justified in view Of this
in shutting off portion Of the pas
sengers.
President Dole said country was
justified in doing anything for its
protection.
Senator Warehouse asked if the
country was obliged to receive the
passengers arriving by the Gaelic.
Mr.. Smith: There is nothing
compulsory against it."
Then, thought Mr.. Waterhouse,
vessel arriving here with con-
tagious disease aboard should be
either sent OH or anchored outside
for eighteen days.
DR.. Day gave it as the duty Of a
country to receive passengers to its
shores and treat any contagious
disease that might exist among
them. knowledge of small pox
was, at the present. day, accurate
There was no danger of an epide-
mic Of the disease in enlightened
countries where modern methods
were employed. A great deal de-
pended OH cleanliness. Fumigation
would destroy the disease in bag
gage and scrubbing process pre-
vent contagion in the individual.
Black plague was not so contagious
as small pox. The germ Of the
former was in the soil and was &C.
quired therefrom.
DR.. Wood said the disease grew
out OF imperfect sanitation, and was
generated in mouldy or filthy earth.
DR.. Emerson said there was
danger Of contagion in the case Of
the black plague from the ulcers o.
stricken person and also from the
clothing.
DR.. Wood said a large per cent
of the population of Honolulu wa.
vacinated, and small pox coulc
never make much of a sweep here
President Dole said the Cabinet
r had decided that morning to allow
no ship arriving at Honolulu lc
bring more than 500 steerage pas
, sengers.
Mr.. Hackleld thought as near a:
the Islands were to cable communi
cation at San Francisco it could al
ways be ascertained beforehand
whether or not any contagiou.
diseases were epidemic in China
t and Japan; aud then rule would
be in order to forbid steerage pas
sengers from coming here. In CASE
a disease becam. epidemic, notice
could be given that steerage pas
; sengers would not be received.
DR.. Day wanted to know
1 IL it would not be possibl,
to secure a quarantine o
= eighteen days at the other end be
fore steerage passengers wen
aboard ships for Honolulu.
a This idea was well received.
I Mr.. Hackfeld said that the United
, States Government required a quar-
antine of five days in China ant
Japan for passengers for San Fran
cisco and Honolulu. This countr,
r already had the benefit of that rule
Minister Cooper said arrivals her
could not be turned away. In cas-
a ship was sent off and severa
d hundred people should die aboar
e her, the world would never forgiv
this country for what would seer
to them inbumanity. The onl
course was to be prepared to handl
r anything that might come along.
|. President Dole offered the follow
t. ing proposal, in writing: "Instrut
Is our agents at Yokohama and Hon
S. Kong, that in case Of small pc,
,e cholera or the plague becomin
is epidemic at or near such ports, Il
;" steerage passengers from such por
IN will be permitted to land at Hon
n lulu, unless adequate quarantir
of all Storage passenge
is performed by them ar
their effects disinfected before er
@. barkation." This was unanimous
ei endorsed.
The Board sent the prescribed i
S &C. structions TO all persons interest,
us by the Gaelic, which left Sunday 6
ternoop.
no Good Thing TO Have.
In demand first, last and all t