The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-07-30
DR.. DAYS REPORT
Quarantine Regulations
in China and Japan.
Provisions for Disinfecting Emil
grants and Clothing Before
Embracing.


quarantine regulations at the ports in
Japan and China, which he has recent
ly visited in the interests Of Hawaii.
To His Excellency W. o. Smith, Presi-
dent of the Board of Health. Honolulu.
Sir.-Iu accordance with instructions
received from you in your letter of May
Il, 1897, / proceeded by the o. * O. s. S.
Doric to the Oriental ports of Yokohama,
Kobe. Nagasaki, Shanghai and Hongkong
for the purpose of inspecting the methods
used for carrying out the Quarantine Re
gulations of the Republic of Hawaii
Hongkong was the hrst port examined.
Upon arrival l met DR.. 5. ID. Brooks, u.
s NJ H. $, who had been sent by the Unit
ed States Government upon similar mis-
sion ana We made the inspections to-
gether. From conversations with him l
gathered that he approves Of the methods
adopted by the Hawaiian Government to
prevent the introduction of contagious
and infectious diseases, and will recon-
mend that similar ones be adopted by
his Government Owing to the extended
tour he had planned 10 visit, Swallow
Foochow, Annoy, Tien Tsin, Cheefoo,
Picking and possibly Corea, and the limit
ed time at my disposal we were obliged
10 part at Hongkong.
DE- Gregory 2. Jordan. sanitary inspec-
tor for Hawaii at Hongkong since his
appointment last year has made a thor
ough examination of all steerage passen-
gers bound for Honolulu and will have
the supervision of the disinfecting of their
effects now that the new plant is ready
for use.
1t was used for the first time the day
after my arrival TO disinfect the baggage
of the emigrants sailing in the p. NJ. s. S
City of Peking and ! had the opportu-
nifty of observing the modus operandi
The hot air chamber is a duplicate of
the one at the Quarantine Station in Ho-
nolulu and has been erected in a large
stone gOdown, or warehouse, on the
Praya in District I.
The tracks for the cars are laid in ce-
ment and the jacket, doors and steam
pipes are covered with asbestos. The
temperature was raised rapidly TO 245
deg F. by injecting steam into the in
terror OF the chamber. At this temper
allure the gauge registered 80 pounds
pressure in the chamber, while the pres
sure within the jacket was 20 pounds.
After remaining at this point for 80 min
uteS the steam was allowed to escape.
and the doors We're opened. The goods
dried very quickly when exposed to the
air. and were not injured at all by the
steam. The method adopted of keeping
the baggage of each emigrant separate
was simple and effective, and consisted
OF putting little board partitions, as long
as the car is broad and as broad as the
space between the trays, between each
passengers baggage.
II is the intention to have all the bag
gage brought TO the goodwin the morning
OF the day before the steamer sails for
the purpose Of disinfectiOn. II will be
placed at one end of the room. Each
package will be numbered, opened and
the contents with corresponding numbers
attached placed on the trays. While the
contents are being disinfected in the hot
air chamber the containers Will be wash
ed inside and out with a solution of BIZ
chloride of mercury. After the process is
completed the goods will be repacked in
their separate containers and the regu-
lation yellow 'Disinfected" label pasted
on each package From the goodwin the
luggage is taken to the ship in a cargo
boat
The treatment of the baggage is all
that can be desired, and thoroughly con-
forms with the regulations of the Board
of Health. Nothing, however has, so far,
been done about cleansing the emigrants
themselves or the clothing they wear.
That this very essential detail might be
carried out as soon as possible, brought
the matter before DR.. Jordan, Mr.. Van
Buren,. the agent of the =. NJ. and o. &.
o. s. s. Cos, and the representatives of
the various immigration companies and
received assurances from them of their
cooperation. The details agreed upon
We're: To have the emigrants, after com
pleting their examination at the Harbor
Masters office, the day before sailing,
taken to the goodwin, there given an an
tiseptic bath and at the same time have
their wearing apparel passed through the
hot-air chamber. From the goodwin they
will be taken on board the steamer.
When this is accomplished, the process
will be as perfect as one can wish, and in
connection with the thorough inspection
given each individual emigrant before de-
parture can be depended upon to insure
a high degree of protection.
The question of an INSTRUMENTATION
quarantine presents itself in this connec-
ton: In times Of serious epidemics, such
as cholera and plague, the quarantine
regulations provide for a detention Of
steerage passengers of five days prior to
embarking (See page II, sec. 81, but it
also says: when practicable, passen-
gers should not ship from an infected
port" After careful investigation and
consideration, l have come to the conclu-
sion that an INSTRUMENTATION quaran-
tine is fmpractcable. In the first place.
the Colonial Government will, in all prob
ability, raise serious objections to such
a measure; secondly, there would be diff
fculty in getting suitable quarters to ac-
commodate large number of emigrants
and difficulty in keeping an efficient iso-
lation, If place were procured; thirdly
the steamship company, as matter OF
self-protection, will not carry steerage
passengers from this port during times
OF serious epidemics.
I think, therefore, that discretionary
power should be given to the sanitary
inspector or Consul for Hawaii to pro-
hibit immigration when, in his opinion,
the ordinary precautionary measures of
disinfection and inspection are made
quate TO protect US against infectious
diseases.
The sanitary condition of Hongkong at
the present time is excellent. Since the
epidemics Of bubonic plague in 1894 and
1896 the Sanitary Board has done great
deal toward improving the Chinese
quarters Of the city. Lodging houses are
now registered and inspected, and any
alterations necessary to give good venti-
lation, light and prevent overcrowding
are insisted upon. Smallpox is endemic
here, but practically disappears during
the summer months.
A few, four or five, isolated cases of
plague have been reported this season,
but believe they We're all non-residents.
The disease is epidemic in Formosa, Swa-
tow Annoy and Macao. The Sanitary
Board feel confident of being able TO pre-
vent the spread of the disease in the ev-
ent of any cases being introduced from
abroad. by adopting a system of isola-
ton Of the sick and disinfectiOn of all
things liable to contamination. Medical
inspection is made of all vessels arriving
from Formosa and Swallow, but up to the
time Of my departure no inspection was
made OF those from Macao.
I have to thank Dr. Jordan for copies
of Drs. Lawson's, Atkinson's and Wins
reports on the bubonic plague, and Mr..
AcCaIlum, the genial secretary of the
Sanitary Board, for the annual reports
OF the Sanitary Board for the years -,
and copies of the quarantine regulations.
While in Macao I visited the Chinese
hospital for plague patients, and saw 10
cases. nine Of whom were convalescent.