The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-19
PRECAUTIONS.

Attention must again be called to the
habits of scavenging among small Por-
tuguese children. 1t is claimed by
some, but The Star is unable to prove
the truth of the information, that
charred wood from places which have
beer burned down, has been taken to
Punchbowl. If such really is the case
it is little less than criminal.
But even if this is not the case and
the wood and rags have been obtained
from places which are not known to be
infected, still it is a most dangerous
practice. No one can tell where a case
of plague may spring up. Take for ex-
ample the case of the girl Franz. She
was taken down suddenly. In the
course of her domestic duties before
the disease asserted herself, she might
have thrown rubbish into the rubbish
heap, and even rags or cast of gar
ments Suppose that one of the little
scavengers picked over her garbage
pile and carried off the choice morsels
to Punchbowl. 1t would certainly be a
very excellent way of starting a colony
of plague germs in that teeming local
! ity.
OF course this may not have happen
ed, but then again it might, and too
great care cannot be exercised There
are many ways in which plague can be
spread, and some of them evade us, but
at least we can put a stop to so patent
q,
of Health issue an order forbidding
scavenging by the little street rats, and
give authority to the police and the
sub-inspectors to prevent its being car
ried on.
The better class Of residents on
Punchbowl feel very strongly upon the
subject and are most earnest in their
desire that it should be put a stop to.
A. V. Peters in an interview published
in The Star few days ago, pointed out
The dangers of the practice Today he
brought word that the practice con-
tinues. In fact there was a small cara
van this morning bearing the spoiIs Of
the gutter homeward
In another direction their ought to be
caution. The market is being used as a
store house for fumigated freight. In
tracing up the cause for the Herminia
Franz case it was found that the girl
had purchased articles from the Chinese
store marked "Fumigated-Board of
Health" Upon this DR.. Wood COM
mented as follows:
This case happening in this manner,
as believe ii did brings more strongly
to my mind the danger which NAV re-
suit from merchandise from the uuar-
antined district, no matter how much
it may have been fumigated. Merchan-
disc from this district should be bond
ed in warehouse and kept under guard
for the safety of the people of this
community"
If the above is true of goods from our
own infected district, it must be true
of goods from infected districts of Chi
ma or Japan. Yet these goods, some of
which may have come from infected
districts, have been stored in a place
where a large portion of the city popu-
lation goes to obtain the daily food sup
ply Logically, the position of the
Board Of Health is not good one in
this matter.
1t was proved in the police court
some days ago that these goods had
been plundered by wharf and street
rats, so they certainly have been
handled, and according to DR.. Wood
there is danger in handling them. The
matter has been considerably comment |
ed upon, and The Star knows of a case
where a lady has stopped the purchase
Of fish from the fish market on this ac- |
count.
There may or may not be a source of |
hanger in this. But even if the danger |
S remote we must be careful. Pprecau
Ion must be our watchword, and there |
should not be the slightest loophole
given for the plague to make way In
hese remarks there is no desire to cri-
lcize the Board Of Health, the only de-
lire Is for the public good to point out
precautions which might otherwise be
overlooked.