The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-12-26
SCOTCHED NOT KILLED.

Inc plague was StOltntu not killed.
This ugly monster has once again rails
ed its head and struck in two places
widely apart 1t is best for us to realize
that we have entered into a great strug-
gle with very insidious foe and giro
up our loins to meet the inevitable
That such a disease can be fought
and beaten it is safe to predicate, and
our conditions here are such that we
are able to fight it better than in the
crowded cities Of China or India. Our
Chinatown is small in area and can be
handled 1t is possible to let in the
light and air into it's noisome dens and
to drive streets through its teeming
Ienements.
AS far as those of us who live in airy
and pleasant houses are concerned
there is really nothing to fear, but we
have to meet the situation in the pur-
lieu's of the city. There has to be a
most thorough and complete revolution
jn this direction. The measures taken
will have to be radical, and they must
be taken at once.
We are at a crisis when we need to
call in all the assistance we can. The
more quickly and the more thoroughly
we do our work, the sooner we shall
reach the desired result. There will be
no lack of willing helpers and the duty
of organizing them and utilizing them
to the best advantage rests with the
President of the Board of Health and
the members of the Board.
If we can keep the disease within the
radius of the Island of Oahu we shall
have done well. If We can keep it with
in the radius Of the district of Homo
lulu we shall have done still better. In
Its present condition it can hardly be
considered as an epidemic, what we
have to set before ourselves is prevent
ing it from becoming an epidemic
There is no need for scare. Every
thing can be done calmly and the more
elamly it is done, the more quickly will
il be done. The arrangements which
were in process of being carried out
towards the remodeling of Chinatown
can be hurried forward and estimates
AS to cost should be laid before the
Council of State as soon as possible
Meantime it will be well for the Coun-
Gil to be called together and vote funds
to enable the Board of Health to carry
cut cleansing work of a temporary
character.
The Star would again urge upon the
Board not to concentrate it's efforts en-
tirely upon Chinatown, but to thor
Sughly examine and cleanse other por-
tions of the city. There should be a
thorough examination of the slopes OF
Punchbowl and those portions of the
town lying between Nuuanu and Emma
street and even considerably beyond.
There are portions OF Pauoa which need
careful supervision, and any one travel
ing along the Waikiki road can be soon
-satisf1ed from nasal observation that
there IL room for Improvement in that
direction. Cleanliness is the one weap-
en- which can be successfully used
against the plague, and it is used most
efficaciousy before the appearance of
the plague in a particular district. All
agree that once established the plague
is hard to eradicate, but preventive
measures make it hard for the plague
to get a foothold.
Again, not only should every effort be
made to thoroughly cleanse the city,
but the outer villages in the country
districts should be attended to. Any
enc acquainted with the Chinese shacks
at Kaneohe, Heeia, Punaluu, Waialua,
Waianae and other places on this ISL
and, knows that they will prove fertile
breeding spots for disease germs. The
fact that one of the Cinnamon whose
death has been caused by plague came
from Kanoehe on December "a and died
the same evening should be a warning
of what may occur in that part of the
Island. Moreover it is far more easy
to conceal cases in the country than it
is in town and yet we have the fact
before us that in spite of our system
OF house to house visitation and the
military Gordon drawn around China
town. cases of sickness were concealed
and people in the infected district did
manage to escape through the guards.
Whatever steps the Board of Health
decides to take should be Loyalty sup
ported by the citizens, and any unpleas-
ant and irksome rules which may be
laid down should be cheerfully borne,
We must suffer for the public good