The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-17
Details Lacking in Reports for
Burial Certificates.
A SUGGESTION FOR INQUESTS
Some Peculiar Returns Made-Milk
Not Up to the Standard-To Be
an Investigation.

At the meeting of the Board OF
Health yesterday afternoon, Mr.. John
stone, food inspector, reported that
two milk dealers had been found who
were selling milk not up 10 the stand
ard, but did not state in what respect
it was deficient. Secretary Wilcox was
directed TO see Mr.. Johnstone and as
certain wherein the milk was below
the standard.
President Smith informed the Board
that a gentleman recently told him
that he was informed that many of the
certificates for burial did not rightly
give the cause of. death and that many
cases of typhoid fever were given in
the certificates as some milder disease
and that there were more deaths by
typhoid fever than was generally sup
posed. Persons have been buried with
out securing the proper certificates for
burial.
Mr.. Reynolds was asked regarding
the statements and denied that there
were any burials allowed until a certi-
ficate had been first issued He said
that in many cases the deceased had
not been attended by a physician and
that the cause of death was recorded
as that assigned e.. the person apply
ing for the certificate. The same course
has been pursued in some cases wie4t.
deceased was attended by a physician.
The Board directed Mr. Reynolds to
hereafter require all persons making
for certificates TO produce
a statement from the attending physi-
clan, wherein the cause of death is
given and refuse to grant same other
wise.
Mr.. Reynolds stated that very often
the Chinese physicians sent in their re
ports signed in blank with no cause
Or death assigned or cause of death
given, swollen feet" fever or sim
ply sickness
DR.. Day suggested that it was buJ
proper to hold an inquest in all cases
where deceased was not attended by a
He said that it was an easy
matter for a person to be killed and
buried without the cause being de-
tected. The doctor also believes that
a post mortem should be held in some
cases of reported death by typhoid TO
ascertain if the patients really died of
typhoid fever.
The question OF the registration of
births was taken up and Mr.. Reynolds
informed the Board THAT the physi-
clans were very negligent in reporting
the births, that during the month OF
October only thirteen births were re-
ported, while there were seventeen
deaths.
Dr. Day and Mr. Geo. w. Smith both
ands was low.
Two applications were made by hus-
bands of women now at the Leper Set
tlement to go there as helpers. One of
the applications was acted upon favor
ably.
Applications were made for pardOns
by several prisoners at the Leper Set
men which was laid on the table for
one week.
DR.. Monsarrat submitted the follow
ing report of inspection at the
house: Week ending No
vember 10th, total number of bull
tlement which was laid on the table for
locks kiued, 2O7; fuked livers, SO; num-
Der of calves killed. 2S; fiuked livers.
s. sheep killed. 160; hogs, 172.
There were 44,4S7 fish reported as
inspected during the week.
Present: w. o. Smith, president;
Drs. Day and Emerson, and Messrs.
Lansing. Geo. w. Smith and KeliipiO.