The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-18
DOCTORS DIFFER
Medical Society Discuss
Situation.
Many of the Physicians Believe BAG
THEOLOGICAL Results Indicate
Presence of Plague.

ent at the meeting of the Hawaiian
Medical Association held a. the Pacific
Club on Saturday evening. Doctor
| Cooper issued the call for the purpose
of discussing the present situation
brought about by the plague and quar-
antine. Among those present We're:
| DR.. c. B. Cooper. in the chair; Major
| Wood, L. S. A, Dr. Carmichael L. S.
Marine Hospital; Doctors Taylor, Nc
Grew, Wood, Meyers, Day, Garvin
Raymond. Alvarez. Scaparone, Herbert,
Hoffman, Sinclair, Burgess, Hodgins
Peterson. Camp, X. F. Lee, Geo. W.
Smith and others.
DIR. COOPER'S STATEMENT.
Doctor Cooper opened the meeting
with a speech announcing the reasons
for calling the members together He
said:
In the face OF a crisis, threatening
alike the health and business of the
community, / have deemed it proper as
the President of the Hawaiian Medical
Association to call together all the
members of our fraternity. 1t seems
TO me wise that we 81 ould at this time
come together to discuss conditions
and methods, with a view to such unity
of action as will best conserve all in
tereSts.
1t is due TO ourselves that We pursue
a scientific investigation, and having
arrived at conclusions to fearlessly SCI
them forth. 1t was my belief that such
a gathering as this would lead to open
and free discussion, which would in
turn, put before each of us, new ideas
and broader experiences, that prompted
me to ask you to assemble here this
evening. Very wisely such precautions
as may prevent a spread of the disease
have been taken. Their sufficiency
may be questioned by some who would
advocate the entire isolation of all sus-
poets while their quarters are being
disinfected.
Two points it seems to me, should be
uppermost in our minds now: Have
we the genuine bubonic plague here
with the danger that the disease may
become epidemic, and next what steps
should the medical fraternity take to
aid in stamping it out. There is every
reason to believe that upon the report
of Dr. Carmichael being made to the
United States Marine Hospital service,
that a federal quarantine will be de-
clared, for Dr. Wyman is a firm be-
lever in the energetic stamping out Of
any epidemic which once gets foot
hold on United States soil. Thus in
view of all conditions, careful, con-
sentative investigation by US seems not
,,,,r1,+ J,,& n =
the community.
One menace to the general health
lies in the servants, who by reason OF
long habitation and of constant visits
to the present quarantined districts
may have carried the infection to the
most healthful districts of the city.
The splendid work done by the Board
of Health and the volunteer inspectors
shows how much there was to be ac-
complished in this line and serves to
call attention to other localities where,
should the plague gain fOothold, it
would find at hand rare ground in
which to thrive.
There are at stake such vast material
interests as we'll, that our conclusions
must not be reached hastily or I'M
scientifically In a country growing as
is this, with a tide of immigrant and
tourist travel flowing through our har
Dor and our increased commercial re-
lations. it becomes a double duty for |
us as scientific men to know as absO- |
lutely as possible what is upon us. |
Bravely have we taken the first steps |
we shall not falter later, should we
prove microscopically and bacteriologi-
cally either that we have the misfor
tune TO face the plague, or a condition
it, has compelled the Board |
of Health to act with such prOmptitude
and severity. The dissemination of
reports that there exists in these ISL
andS the Oriental ScOurge will lay a |
Olighting hand upon our progress: but
his must not deter us from doing our
luty.
The men of our profession have new
Pr been backward when duty called.
Every page of the history of calamity
bears a record of the heroic sacrifices
If those who have practiced the heal
ng art. IN the cholera epidemic here
n 1895 not a single physician faltered.
Every one stood at his post bravely
md staunchly. Those of us here stand
ust as ready to do what is necessary,
md your gathering here tonight only
indicates the devotion to his duty
which has ever characterized the ply
;ician. Il
DR.. Cooper called upon DR.. Day for G
| statement of the conditions which 9
lad been observed by him. having been
me of the most prominent men pres
mt at the meeting who had examined
he cases that had been pronounced as g
,ubonic. DR.. Day, however, in turn G
Isked DR.. Herbert to make his state :
nent. he having been called in to ex-
mine the first case, at Wing Wo Tails
tore.
DR. HERBERT'S VIEW. c
My attention was directed 10 this =
ase on Monday evening. A Chinese e
Octor came to my office and started e
n 10 tell me about a man with buboes
which had but recently appeared, and
e was very much alarmed. I asked :
i'm why, and if he had seen any be- e
Ore He said Yes 7 saw 2 uoman .