The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-07-06

were between the ages OF and years
6 were between the ages OF 10 and 20
years; and II between the ages Of 20
and so years. There is serious food for
reflection i'm the death rate Of Hawai-
ians which should command the attea-
ton of the Board of Health.
1t is the heavy death rate of the Ha-
waiians which swells the general death
rate Of the city. The death rate of cti-
zens outside of Hawaiians and Asiatics
was only 6.72 per thousand, which is
remarkably low death rate in the very
healthiest part of the world. In view Of
these figures the Board of Health
should have an investigation made to
trace the causes of remarkable dispar-
ity i'm these rectal death rates.
1t is interesting to look back for the
six months closed on June 80. During
that period there have been SIS deaths
in the city. as against 455 for the first
six months of 1898, an increase of 63.
The average per month has been Sc 1-3.
OF these 51S deaths, 27O have occurred
| among Hawaiians, rather more than
half of the total number. The Hawai-
| ian population of Honolulu, counting
| Hawaiian and part Hawaians, is just
about one third of the total population
of the city and district. Therefore to
put it more clearly, the Hawaiian popu-
lation is 80 1-3 per cent of the total
population. while the Hawaiians supply
| 52.12 per cent of the total deaths in the
| last six months. At this rate the Ha-
waiians will quickly lose ground. No
set of people can stand such an awful
drain.
During the same period II Chinese
have died, 10 Japanese, giving a total
of 1876 for Asiatics, and 43 Portuguese,
leaving 40 to be divided among the
American and other European popula-
| ton. In other words sc 2-3 of the popu-
! lation account for only Ass per cent of
! the total deaths. The Americans and
/ Europeans outside of Portuguese only
being credited with 946 per cent of the
total deaths.
Turning to the causes of death, con-
sumption stalks gauntly at the head of
! the list During the month of June Is
| fatal cases are reported during the first
six months of the year, the total num-
Der of deaths amounted to Go or at the
rate of So per month. This means
that 1916 per cent of all the deaths that
have taken place in the city and dis
trict of Honolulu, are from consump-
ton.
There are no data published as to the
nationality of those who fall victims to
this disease, but it would be a valuable
piece of knowledge for the board to ac-
quire. Is the mortality among consump-
tives confined to one race, or is it COM
mon to all races? In what proportions
does it affect the various races? 1t is
no idle curiosity that would be satisfied
by such a statement of facts, it would
be knowledge that would be of i'm
mense value in meeting the disease.
The large number of deaths from con-
sumption argues a very large number
of unfortunates afflicted with the dis
ease. 1t has been decided that consump-
ton is contagious, that we can breathe
the microbes, and that by intimate as
! sOciation the disease is readily COM
municated Is the board going to take
no steps towards meeting this terrible
curse? Is it only going to read papers
about consumption elsewhere, and not
supply itself with information as to
what is going on at it's very doors?
The home for incurables, and the
home for segregating consumptive pa
tients is still a chimera, a dream. But
is not it's urgent necessity brought
monthly before us? Are we as a people
doing our duty to sit quietly by and see
this terrible disease going on without
an effort to check it, There is medical
literature enough upon the subject,
there are original lectures upon tuber-
culosis by our own physicians but
these are of little good unless they
bring about practical action. We want
to do rather than to talk.
The various forms of fever account,
for Al deaths during the six months,
standing next in order to consumption.
OF the fevers, typhoid is credited with
IA deaths. So that this particlar dis
ease has nothing like the hold that it
has been credited with by people who
have not made an examination of our
records. At the some time, from current
report, typhoid seems prevalent in sew
eral places on the other Islands. But
for the outer districts no statistics are
published, and it is impossible to judge
what the relation of fatal cases. is to
! those from other diseases.
| The mortuary statistics are of i'm
mense practical interest to every citi-
zen, and to every transient visitor.
What we want to make is a good show
ing, and where necessary clear ex-
PLANTATION. People abroad look at our
death rate. 1t looks large, but for Am
orleans and Europeans it is wonderfully
small
! 1t must be noticed that this month";
| for the first time since statistics began
| to be kept here, the word unknown"
| does not appear among the causes of
death. This is a distinct step in ad-
vance,
| ~ ~