The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-15

ed States medical officers and cur medi-
cal officers, in order to make the ar
rangement more perfect.
Objections have been raised on the
part Of the British authorities at Hong
Kong to our regulations being enforced
and further objections have been raised
on the part of the Japanese Govern
ment. Difficulties have also arisen
with the steamship companies in refer
ence to the regulations. The steamer
Kinai Maru, when she sailed from Kobe
had been thoroughly disinfected, the
effects Of the passengers had been dis
infected and the passengers subjected
TO a quarantine lasting for more than
week before leaving, and still the
smallpox broke out, after reaching
here, after more than twenty days
from the time the quarantine had ex-
pred.
To investigate all these matters, Dr.
Day was sent to meet DR.. Brooks. He
made very thorough report which is
published in the report Of the Board Of
Health
In regard to the value of those quar-
antine regulations; the results pro-
duced by those trips; the appointment
of Sanitary Inspectors and inaugural
ing the system now in vogue; all | can
say is that the cholera, black plague
and smallpox has been epidemic in all
those ports during this time but
through the enforcement of those regu-
lations we have been able to carry on
trade and commerce with those ports
and keep up communication with them
without interruption. We had the les
son of our own cholera epidemic in
1895; and the black plague was pre-
vailing in China when DIR. Wood and
l went on. We saw plague patients
in Hong Kong in every stage of the
disease Dr. Wood consulted with the
medical officers there who were treat
ing the disease and was enabled to get
full information on this subject, which
will prove invaluable. In the matter
of smallpox, investigations were made
as to the vaccine virus they used.
Great uncertainty was found to prevail
as to the efficacy of vaccination. Many
people from Japan had been vaccinated
and still smallpox would appear
among them.
Since these regulations went into
effect both cholera, smallpox and
plague have prevailed in the Eastern
ports. By the report received last
week from Hong Kong plague is more
widespread in India than it has been
for some years. 1t is present in Hong
Kong, China and Formosa. Smallpox
is endemic in all these ports. Cholera
has ceased at the present time. 1t is
at it's height in summer. The facts
are that however defective the regula-
tons have been, owing to their en-
forcement we have gone on here as
usual, in spite of the fact that those
three serious epidemic diseases were
existing in those ports, our commerce
has been uninterrupted. Smallpox
was introduced by the Kinai Maru with
one thousand people in the quarantine
station but it was kept right there;
stopped through the efforts OF the
Board of Health The enforcement OF
those regulations has been OF immense
value to this country.
Whatever may be said about the
cholera epidemic, the matter has been
so fully investigated that the structures
made were uncalled for, and were ex-
tremely annoying to those who were
connected with it. This is a personal
MATTER, UuI Juc Slllotl No WCIS ~ SAAOA
oughly unjust that they ought not to
pass without comment.
Another comment was made in re-
gard TO the secret sessions of the Board
of Health. [ wish to say on this point
that the Board of Health adopted the
plan of holding open meetings some
years ago, excepting on occasions ike
this when charges have been made
against the professional conduct OF
physicians in the employ of the Board
or employees of the Board, personal
matters) where it would serve no pub
lie purpose to publish the details. With
those exceptions the meetings of the
Board have always been open; and the
records of proceedings made public.
| do not wish to make any lengthy
remarks, but simply to say in regard
to the members of the Board of Health
consisting of three physicians and three
laymen and myself, as Attorney-Gen-
eral eX-Officio, that they have had a
great deal of work to do and great re-
sponsibilities. 1t has been most dis
agreeable work. The trips to Molokai
| involve a great deal Of discomfort and
| hardship.
In regard to the two junketing trips
which we have been charged with,
would say that when DR.. Brooks of the
U. S. Marine Hospital Service came
here on his return from Japan, with in
structions to investigate the sanitary
conditions of this country, he was Civ
en- every facility. He wished to go tC
the Leper Settlement, and a visit was
arranged for. A small steamer was
chartered for the purpose 1t seemed
to us, in view Of the charges that had
| been made in the United States, abou
| the extent Of leprosy in this country
and in connection with the subject OF
annexation, and so many attempts
| have been made to misrepresent the
facts, that it was deemed important
| for that officer to have an opportunity
to make thorough investigation Hi:
report to the authorities at Washington
was such as to be Of very great value
to this country.
DR.. Ashburton Thompson, Health
| Officer of New South Wales also visit.
led the country to investigate the sub
tject of leprosy in this country. Leprosy
| had aDnp9rpd in that cOlODv m C,,ob n :