The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-03-06
DR.. Maxwell's Report.

Dear Sir:-In view OF the circum-
stance that | was absent from the
Islands during the period when ac-
tion bad to he taken dealing with
the plague, and that l have been
able to do little more than praise
the great efforts and sacrifices made
by your institution, and by citizens,
in handling the situation, ought
possibly TO apologies for troubling
you at all in the matter. | have
noticed, however, that the question
is already being discussed as to what
shall be done with the soil infected
areas where properties were burned
down. 1t ia suggested that disin-
fectants should he used; and, fur
ther, that sulphuric acid would be
the best agent for the purpose. After
considering the precise knowledge
to hand, OF the effect of dilute solu-
tions of the said. acid upon the
plague baccilli, and the value OF
acidulated water for surface street
sprinklng purposes, on the other
hand | am OF the opinion that sui
phuric acid, or any other acid, or
any other acid disinfectants, applied
in rny reasonable quantities, would
not be effective in treating soils.
and quite specifically our soils, and
for the following reasons:
A--As soon as the acid in any dis
infectant becomes neutralized by the
bases in the soil its antiseptic action
as an acid ceases.
B Hawaiian soils are ultra basic
as distinguished from old country,
acidic soils, and they therefore swal-
low up and rapidly render inert any
volume of free acid. This is due
largely 10 the excess of iron in the
soils; but in the neighborhood of
Honolulu, coral reef, underlying or
mixed up with the soil, adds special
ly to the basic nature of the soil.
The basic nat ure of Honolulu
soils makes them naturally more
antisceptic than old siliceous soils,
because of the ease and rapidity
with which the soil bases eat up the
organic matter. If, however, for a
special reason, and in any specific
localities it is desirable to add to
the soil some antisceptic agent,
suggest it should be alkaline, and
quite decided caustic or quick lime.
Lime would not only continue to
exert lis action in the soil, relatively
uninterfered with by the soil con-
stituente, it can be applied in am
pie bulk and at low cost, consider
ing thegrave purpose in view. The
outside coet OF lime, at normal
prices, would be about SIS per ton,
which, at the rate of application of
ten tons, would amount 10 S15O per
acre, of the land to be treated; so
that twenty acres would cost, at
that rate, $4,000 for the lime itself.
In applying tits advised that the
lime should be turned out of the
barrels and spread evenly over the
land and allowed to lie just 80 long
exposed to the air as is necessary to
to slake, and fall into the powdered
state, in which it can be absolutely,
evenly distributed. II it lies too
long it will become inactive, on ac-
count OF taking up carbonic acid
from the air, and returning to the
carbonate state.
UnlGss it is actually proven that
the germs lie at greater depth
than one or two inches, the soil
should be ploughed only to that
depth, Tor in proportion to the
mass of soil mixed up with the lime
will be the potency OF the latter.
Ten tons OF lime means 10000
pounds per acre; one inch OF soil
over the space of an acre means
100000 pounds of soil, SO that to
plough the lime in to great depth
would mean the dilution OF the anti.
sceptic until the action would be