The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-20
BODY IS BURNED
Fist Cremation By Order Of the
Local Board Of Health.
IN A NIPPON MARU FURNACE
Body of Chinese Black Plague Vic
um--. s. City of Columbia for
a Quarantine Hulk.

The Board OF Health again assem-
| bled in special meeting yesterday
morning. The discussion regarding
the appearance of the black plague and
the proper steps to be taken was re-
sumed. DR.. Alvarez reported that he
had made a stin further bacteriolog-
| ical examination, and gave a definite
statement that the Chinaman on the
Nippon had died of the bubonic
plague. The Board OF Health then of
fictally declared in accordance with
the report of DR.. Alvarez. and ordered
that all possible steps necessary for
insuring public safety be taken.
In the investigation made by DIR.
Alvarez he used specimens of the true
bacillus which have been kept in Ho-
nolulu. Some time ago W. O. Smith
and DR.. Day visited Japan. and while
there obtained number OF the bu-
bcnic bacilli and brought them to this
city. DR.. Alvarez compared these
with the germs found in the fluids OF
the dead Chinese and found them T.
be exactly similar. This left no room
for doubt. and the Board therefore
made its official declaration. The
members OF the Health Board attach
no blame to the ships surgeon or
captain. 1t may be readily seen that
they were sincere in the diagnosis Of
the case which they placed on the
ships bill of health Otherwise they
would not have allowed the body -
have been embalmed and retained on
beard. They simply erred in the dag
nosis.
Yesterday the body of the dead Chi
naman was cremated on board the
steamer by order OF the Board OF
Health. The central furnace was filled
with coal and a hot fire produced.
Into this they quickly slid the body.
coffin and all. This was the only
means available.
Even had the Nippon remained here
TO be quarantined she would not have
been allowed to come to the dock. All
freight both for and from this port
would have been taken off in lighters. |
This was included in the order OF the |
Board of Health.
The City of Columbia has been |
brought into use in the final disposal |
of the matter. IL was yesterday agreed |
between the Board OF Health and |
Hackfeld & Co. that she be chartered |
for an indefinite time. and that the
eight cabin and pa sJeerage passcn-
gers for Honolulu be placed and re-
tanned on board her during a period OF
quarantine. During the next seven
days she is 10 lie at anchor just out
side the harbor. Everything else goes
on to San Francisco. The transfer
will be made this morning. and the
Nippon will at once proceed on her
At yesterdays meeting Of the Board
Of Health another step was taken 90
guard against the entrance of epidem-
Ic diseases. This was the appointment
Of DR.. ]. Widdick rs port physician at
This is done more particu-
Iarly TO guard against the smallpox.
which is reported to be eXtaut TO a
greater or less degree in san Fran
cisco.
DIR. Slogget had on exhibition yes
-erday in his Office in the Progress
block number OF specimens OF the
black plague bacili They were
placed under 4 powerful microscope
md a frst-class view OF them could be
obtained. They had undergone the q
staining process. otherwise II would !
ave hardly have been possible 10 see a
hem even through the lens. In ap- :
'earance they resembled two viole; &
o,s. But in some cases a connection v
etween the two minute globules was y
isible, making the true bacillus. In .
5 natural state it is made up OF two
mall colorless points at the ends join
d by slender thread When they
o through the staining process the h
lobular ends receive the eoloring a