The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-08
THE doctors SOUND
A NOTE OF WARNING
Continued from Page L.

CONTINUED from Page L.
am surprised to find so many absent. /
believe We should urge the extension or
the present sewerage system TO the
outlying districts, the establishment or
a garbage crematory and the abandon
ment of our present system OF ground
burial: the reconstruction OF CHINA
town and the immediate application OF
a system of filtration at the water res
ervOirs. 1t seems to me that the pres
ent is the proper time TO urge these
matters as an emergency measure. III we
attempt to cOmba1 the plague by any
other means we shall have the same
trouble as is experienced in Hongkong'
where the plague breaks out from
year to year and is never entirely Grad
icated. Nothing but the most modern
system of sanitation will do for US
now"
DR.. Hoffmann: Il have seen China
town and believe it is the dirtiest and
most foul district l have ever seen.
The stencil coming from some OF the
houses is absolutely abominaDle, anu
why such a district is tolerated is
matter beyond my Imagination. Rad
zeal measures will have to be adopted
before it can be safely called sanl-
tary locality"
DIR Cleveland: Il consider a perfect
system of sewerage necessary TO the
health of the community, and most
strongly favor a garbage crematory.
The establishment OF public baths, ana
the reconstruction of Chinatown will
go a long way toward making the city
bealthv-worthy of its claim to the
title of capital Of the Paradise OF the
Pacific"
Thorough Plan Outlined.
DR. RAYMOND: Il think the question
of unity in the medical profession on
the subject of sanitation Is one OF the
essentials of this meeting. The ques-
ton of the medical profession being
the representative body of the people
Is a well-established fact. Sanitation
is pure and simple a medical sclentlhc
propOsition to combat disease. We all
know that one must have a knowledge
of disease in order to combat II. very
much has been said this evening about
the necessity for prompt action, and
we all know that the laity of the COM
munitv is alive TO this fact. The ques-
ton in the minds of the laity and OF
those entrusted with the care OF the
city is a legal one. Have they the right
TO appropriate money for what seems
to be permanent improvement? Inc
answer is No not without legal au-
thority. There is. however, one law
/ the law of self-preservatiOn, the first
/ law Of nature. and there Is wanted
/ from the medical profession a united
/ opinion and an earnest request TO the
powers that be for prompt action on
/ The score Of emergency. We are con-
/ frOnted with a most serious CONDITION
/ of affairs.
/ There is no question whatever that
/ at the present time Chinatown is reek-
/ ing with filth. and is a positive disgrace
/ to civilization. There is no question
/ but that radical methods must be pur-
sued. but what line of action are we
/ to take? 1t is distinctly on the lines
/ laid down by the Board of Health. Let
/ il be understood. then, that the powers
applied at this time are absolutely nee
! essary for the systematic stamping out
, of this pestilence. The method of op-
Grafton in these radical changes is
one that must be submitted to the
! country. They can and will condemn
/ Chinatown: they will require every
shack to be burned down: they will re-
quire that Chinatown be moved and
/ that area bounded by Queen, Nuuanu,
Kukui and River streets be laid bare;
and they will agree with us that this
/ is the only thing TO do with the infect
/ ed district. The land should not be
occupied again for at least one year.
/ In Hongkong, I believe, the period is
much longer. The surface of the land
\ should be plowed up, oil poured upon
\ it and again burned; cesspOols should
/ be emptied and filled in with earth and
lime, and the whole area submitted to
/ the sunlight and pure air.
/ Now, in suggesting such radical
means, the question may be asked, Is
it feasible? / believe il is. BY acquir-
ing a tract of land, high and we'll ven
tilated, easy of access and where a
/ sewerage system can be put in at a
nominal cost, il is feasible. Have the
\ Chinese removed there. and so form
a new Chinatown and / believe pres
sure can be placed on the Government
to make it legal. and if not, then form
a syndicate and obtain the co-opera'
ton Of Chinatown merchants who
would purchase an interest in the new
district. l have in mind a trac' oil
land in every way suited to the scheme
but would rather not mention its To-
cality until the owners have been con-
suited. A strong plea by the profes'
sion is all that is wanted to make the
authorities consider this an emergency
measure.
1T is only a matter of a very short
time when the commerce Of the cOun-
try will be affected. Our exports ap-
proach something like fifteen million
dollars, and when We consider that ouT
commerce is placed in jeopardy the ez-
penditure of money TO carry out OuI
suggestions is but a mere bagatelle-
nothing. Merchants are ready and
! willing to Join us In making q request