The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-12-15
HEALTH BOARD ADVISES
CIRCULAR ISSUED BY PRESIDENT
COOPER.
Plague Defined-Period of Incubation.
Symptoms-Advice as to Food, LID
uor, Cleanliness and Rest.
Office of the Board of Health,
Honolulu, December IA, 1899.
REGARDING PLAGUE.

REGARDING PLAGUE.
PLAGUE, called also Asiatic Plague
or Bubonic Plague, is an infectious and
contagious disease, capable of commun-
ication from the affected person to an
other, by bodily contact, and this may
occur during any stage of the disease.
1t may also be communicated by means
of the excretions from the sick, such as
| saliva, phelgm, sweat, and the dis
| charges from the bowels and bladder,
also by the blood and matter from alb
| scesses and sores. The material that
| causes the disease is therefore likely
to be contained in the clothing, dress
ings, and bedding, etc. that have come
in contact with the sick; dishes and
utensils that have been used by the
sick are also foul.
In order to produce it's effects on the
human body it must gain access to the
blood, juices and soft parts of the in
terror and in the great majority of
cases its door of entrance is through
| the delicate and moist membranes of
the mouth nose, eyes, etc, or through
some cut, scratch or abraded skin-sur-
face on any part of the body.
PERIOD OF INCUBATION The
period of incubation, during which the
evil remains quiet in the body and
makes no sign, may be as short as two
!
tinue five days, or even longer; but
five days is generally regarded as the
limit of this period.
FIRST SYMPTOMS. The earliest
symptoms of plague though varying
somewhat in different cases, are Likely
| to be marked by headache, a sensation
of fullness in the head, dizziness, feel
ing of great WEAKNESS and languor,
paleness of the face, and perhaps even
a staggering gait; there may be also
nausea and vomiting, and perhaps
diarrhoea; or the opposite condition
may prevail in the bowels that of con-
stipation. The eyes are often blood
shot, and the surface of the body may
be affected with blotches and patches
of a red, or purple, color. After II
short time, varying in length, from one
to two days, fever may set in and
swellings appear in the groin, arm-pit,
neck, or other parts of the body.
Persons affected in any of these
ways, though the trouble may prove
not to be the plague, had better call In
physician at once.
CLEANLINESS. PRECAUTIONS
AGAINST THE PLAGUE. The virus
of plague fiourishes in filth and I'M
cleanliness, and maintains itself in
garbage, stale food, and in damp and
dark places. Sunlight and fresh air
are quickly fatal to the germs of
! plague 1t is of the highest impor-
lance, therefore, to keep the body
scrupulously clean by the use of the
bath and by frequent changes of cloth
ing. Special care should be taken to
wash the hands frequently, always to
do so before eating, and not to touch
the lips or mouth, or to rub the eyes,
with unclean or unwashed hands.
2. All cuts, scratches, or abrasions
of the skin, should be al once washed
and covered with some protecting
shield, such as adhesive plaster. 1t is
not well to go barefoot; but any one
so doing should look well to his feet.
FOOD. Raw, uncooked food, or food
that has become cold after cooking may
be the carrier of plague not so food
that has been recently exposed to
boiling, or roasting heat. Therefore
beware of cold or uncooked food, or OF
fruits that have been exposed to the
attacks of flies or other Vermin; of
dishes of cold food that have stood I'M
covered any length of time after pre-
paration, etc. and do not eat of any
fruit without first removing it's skin, or
rind, or peel; and do not use the teeth
in skinning any fruit. All food and
water should be kept covered and pro-
! tected from flies and insects; and it is
we'll to drink only of such water as has
been boiled. Alcoholic liquors are not
a protection against plague. Over
eating, or any indulgence to excess is
detrimental and to be avoided, and the
same is true of all undue exposure to
cold or wet, or to any eXhausting in
tluence. Be temperate and take plenty
of sleep.
Fear, over-anxiety, and worry are in
fiuences that lay the system open to the
attack of plague, as is true of many
other diseases.
The experience of other lands teaches
that the clean, the temperate, the
courageous, the well-nourished and the
well-rested are not the ones who take
plague.
Inspectors, nurses and others, after
coming in contact with the disease, are
advised to take the precaution to
change their clothes, and if possible to
use a BATH disinfecting the hands and
the soles of the shoes hang the clothes
out in the air and sunlight.
HENRY r. COOPER,
President Board of Health.