The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-13
PLAGUE ON MAUI.

The plague on Maui seems to have
broken out with remarkable virulence,
and when DR.. Wood arrived he found
almost the worst case he had ever seen.
1t had been extraordinarily fatal. Out
of population. numbering a little over
200, there were seven deaths in seven
days. Considerable precaution had been
taken before DIR. Woods arrival, and
upon his arrival health matters were
put upon the same footing as in Homo
lulu. The inhabitants of Kahului have
been quarantined and the shacks,
which in great measure formed the
town, have been committed to the
flames. So far so good. What can be
done has been done, but people who
for further news.
The danger to the Island lies in the
fact that Kahului was a center to which
people from all parts of the Island were
liable to come. Though the first case
was discovered on February 4, it must
have been incubating for some days
before, and many people may have
been exposed to the contagion. OF
these many must have gone to various
parts of the Island, and may start fresh
centers elsewhere. That is where the
danger lies. Kahului ITSELF as was
stated in these columns yesterday, is
easy to control The isolated spots on
the Island are by no means easy to con-
troll. A house to house visitation upon
the slopes of Haleakala, among the
Japanese and Chinese settlers there,
will be no easy task, and the oppor-
tunity for concealment will be much
greater than ever it was in Chinatown,
while through the Koolau district it
will be more difficult still.
What we must all hope is that by
some good luck the infection has not
been spread beyond Kahului. Should
this prove to be the case, the stamp
ing out of the plague will be compare
lively easy, and the destruction of the
shacks on the bay will be distinct
gain. Maui authorities should not
pause there, either. In several other
parts of the Island are insanitary
shacks, and these should be as ruthless
ly rooted out as they have been in Ho-
nolulu.
A matter of grave interest and of
Importance is the conclusion that DR..
Wood has reached in his researches as
to the cause of the outbreak at Kahu-
lui. There seems to be no doubt in his
mind that the infection came from GER
tian Chinese eatables which had been
landed on the Island over two months
ago, when there was no thought of
plague. These eatables remained in
their containers till the Chinese New
Year, when they were opened out and
freely partaken of, with the result that
within four days the first case of
plague had developed. This certainly
is clear enough
The gravity of the matter lies in this.
Eatables Of this character are not like
ly to have been confined to Kahului.
Similar goods may have been lying at
many other points on the Islands and
may have been opened and partaken
of with equally fatal results. The Maui
did not recognize the cases
of sickness, as cases of plague at first,
indeed they were doubtful till DR..
Woods arrival on the 18th. Cases of a
similar character may have broken out
elsewhere and may pass unrecognized
TIL a plague center is established.
1t is always wise to look at the bright
side of things, but just at the present,
even upon Islands which are not in
fected, it would be wise to have instant
enquiry into all cases of sudden death,
for in spite of all the precautions that
have been taken disease and death may
be lurking in some Chinese eatables