The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-19
CASE Of PLAGUE
S. s. Nippon Had One ThTes
Days From Here.
A CHiAAMAa THE VICTIM
Local Physicians Hold a Postmor-
tem-Findipg-WhIt Liner An
chors In ths Offins.

Three days before the Nippon Maru
arrived in this port Chinese pas
senger in the steerage died. Saturday
DIR. Day, port physician, and DIR. Car
michael, United States Government
physician, made a post mortem exam
ination OF the body: They pronounced
the cause OF death to have been the
dread black plague. Added to this Is
the testimony of DR.. Alvarez. TO whom
were sent some OF the fluids OF the
dead mans body. After a careful bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination. DR.. Alvarez
stated that bacilli of the plague had
been found. The Board of Health as
sembled in special meeting, and decid-
ed that the steamer should be held in
absolute quarantine for seven days.
At the end of that time. IL no further
sickness has developed, they will con-
slider the proper mode OF dealing with
the passengers and cargo. The steam
er, however, has the option OF going
on or being quarantined here. If she
goes she will be quarantined in San
Francisco. Although not definitely
known, it is thought she will 20 on.
Yesterday the barges were bus;ly Sn-
gagged in coaling her. No colnmu Sea
ton whatever has been allowed with
the steamer. 1t is known, however,
that there are at least three we'll
known Honolulu people aboard. They
are Mr. and Mrs. II. F. Wichman and
w. ID. Monsarrat.
The cause of the delay OF the Nip
pom Maru was explained when she
came into port flying the quarantine
flag. DR.. Day at once boarded her and
was told of the steamers plague eX
perience. Shortly after she left Nag
a steerage passenger. The captain put
back into the Japanese port, where
the health authorities reported the
case to be one OF the black plague.
now raging in Hongkong. The steam
er was held in quarantine for seven
days, after which she started out
again. All went well until within
three days of Honolulu, when n Chi
nese in the steerage died. The ships
physician made examination and re-
ported the cause of death as ureT'1.
This report was put on the ships bill
of health and the body emba,ured.
DR.. Day refused to accept the dag
nosis on account of the circumstances
attending the death at Japan. The
examinations were made with the re
suits stated above.
The black or bubonic plague is the
most dangerous OF all epidemic dis
eases. II is both infectious and con-
tagious. On this account the Board OF
Health has strongly advised the
steamer officials TO remain here in
quarantine. Otherwise. If more cases
should develop on the voyage TO San
Francisco there would be no means OF
stopping it on board.
1T would be almost criminal for the
steamer TO take the chance" said one
prominent physician. IF they leave
this port without being quarantined.
and the plague gets a good start. the
steamer will be transformed into a
floating morgue.''
The Board OF Health has volunteer
ed all possible assistance TO the steam
er during its period OF quarantine.
The black plague. through its NOR
tality, has been an obstacle to the
growth of countries and the advance
of civilization. Its first appearance
was at Corstantinople. in the year 5ii.
II was termed the pest" ''the black
DEATH" and the great mortality"
The Great Plague OF London was in
1865. 1t is estimated that in Europe
%, ,OO0,000 have died OF plague. In
and nature it resembles ty-
phus fever. The propagation OF the
disease occurs either by direct or indi-
rect contagion. OvercrowdinE. bad
uncleanliness. deficient
food, and residence in damp, marshy
soils, have been considered the pre-