The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-03
MORTALITY OF THE MONTH.


The deaths for the Honolulu district
during the month of February footed
up exactly one hundred, and the death
rate, in spite Of the fact that plague
is present in the city is 1896 per thou
sand, which is better than it has been
during months when we had no plague !
In point of fact plague deaths for the
month are not alarming in number,
only nine having Occurred, while the
deaths troEh pneumonia number eight.
IEere have been plenty Of months when
the deaths from other causes have ex-
ceeded the deaths from plague. The
most serious attack upon human life
during the month has been from con-
sumption. No less than sixteen deaths
have occurred from this cause.
There is no doubt that consumption
is very much on the increase in the dis
trict of Honolulu, and there is every
reason to think that it is increasing
throughout the islands. The Star has
again and again pointed out how dan
gerous is the disease. We know it is
communicable; we know it is deadly in
| it's results, and we know that it can
be fought and prevented, yet we take
no proper precaution. We allow the
consumptive to occupy the same room
with the well, to ride in the street cars,
to go to the restaurants, and to sleep
in the same atmosphere. Yet the con-
sumptive patient is constantly throwing
off germs which can be waited around
! by every breath of air. and finding a
proper habitation grow and multiply
and carry on their destructive work.
There could be no stronger comment
upon the danger of consumption that
| that in a city which is fighting the
plague, which is quarantined against
the outer world because of the plague,
/ the number of deaths from the disease
which We are lighting, and which we,
in common with the rest Of the world,
dread, should be far less than those
from a disease which we give little or
no attention to. If we quarantine
against plague the time is coming when
the world will quarantine against con-
sumption and when it will realize that
we must, to get rid of one of the most
fatal of maladies to the human race,
segregate those who are unfortunate
enough to contract it,
Another fact brought out by the NOR
tally report is the falling off of deaths
from fever. Last month there were six
teen deaths from fever of various kinds.
This month there We're only four. This
is no doubt due to the destruction of
Chinatown, which was a very hotbed of
fever, as it was of plague.
| There is no doubt that with continual
= care the death rate of Honolulu can be
r brought down considerably, and
aroused to it's responsible duties, as II
= now is, the Board of Health will I'M
, doubtedly continue it's course of keeping
things in proper sanitary condition ar
ter the plague fight is over But the
living condition of the Hawaiian needs
much attention from the Board, for it is
among the Hawaiians that the greatest
, mortality exists. Though the total rate
: per thousand for the month was &C. &c.
the death rate among the Hawaiian
portion of the population was 40 70
, Now, under the name Hawaiian are in
Guided, part Hawaiians. The part Ha-
waiians from other statistics we know
to be healthy and productive; therefore
the death rate among Hawaiians OF
pure blood must really be larger thar
r the figures given.
Another thing which will be incum-
= bent on the Board of Health when the
p present plague fight is over, is the
proper registration of births and deaths
throughout the group. There is law
enough on the statute book, but the Law
is practically ignored. Even in Homo.
lulu there is no proper registration OF
: births. But this will have to be ar
ranged later.