New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
HAW4IPS SANITARY NEEDS.
MAJOR DAVIS TELLS OF DISEASE BREEDING
CONDITIONS He FOUND THERE.

Albany. Feb 1O-Ma1or Charles E. Davis. late
surgeon Of the lst New-YOrk Volunteers (who
were, sta. toned al Honolulu during the Spanish
American War; was once Health Commissioner OF
this city. H. has just returned from Europe where
he has studied the hospitals camp hygiene and
city sanitation He makes the following state
ments upon the health conditions in the Hawaiian
Islands:
The chief part OF the city trade is carried on in
a space OF about oue-haE mile square, closely built,
two story houses In this part of the city Chinese
Jal anese and natives found in great num-
entirely AIKEN I'D win cesspool and vault on one
or two o. The principal streets il IS Impossible FOR
pedestrians 10 travel without being met everywhere
has had a sewerage system until the present time
when one is being constructed through the main
thoroughf ares. II the history OF other cities re
peats Itself here II will be some years before this
Al present all refuse matter is disposed OF in
cesspools-in many cases they are properly built
ground with wooden boxes sunk into them N In In
many cases refuse is upon ground TO decay
and rot in the tropical sun This condition Of at
city is honeycombed with cessDools and vaults
InteTspersed mere and mere viii be seen duckponds
or plgstys, so tnal, viewed from any height over
looking the city. the picture is not unlike Venice
water added 10 the lakes and lagoons in the public
parks favorable breeding grounds for all kinds
is nm and which A. lines covers ey@rvrhiIg in
clouds and is so fine that il Denetrates ones
clothing. d water supply partly arteSian ana
collected from mountain streams admittedly
: fun of deCOmpDsed vegetable matter that IL Is
the rule boil II before il is drunk;
and rain almost daily during the winter wet
season; with very little attempt at street cleaning
and YOU have tie conditions which bound to
breed disease wherever they exist.
In this city of 30,U@ inhabitants OF mixed races
the death j. So per 1903 therea bout
crease and Is always endemic Pernicious tropical
malaria Is a common complaint while rheuma-
tisrn cararrh and bronchitis very preva lent
Climatic conditions especially bad for rheu-
matIsrn lung troubles.
The death rate is steadily increasing as the IN
The causes OF death have not beer carefully re-
corded and until the last few months interments
were made without permits. The mortality Is
greatest among the natives.
Now that these Islands have been annexed. the
people who 1--we there should look at these condi-
the United States Government know just how bad
" they need some active health work done.
The question Of eprCsy alone Is International
now that have adopted twelve hundred lepers In
these islands with many. more in Cuba Puerto
Rico and the PhIiipplnes-some National health
properly segregated and treated IN more complete
New hospitals should be constructed on the ISL
and Of MOlokI for these afflicted people live
work and be treated IN Al present attempt Is
made at treatment or classification or This
in the diseases Of the States. II becomes National
question and of the ~reatesJ importance
4 local government will take years do IN a
health and sanitary way what proper health
commission. not OF the country. could accomplish in
much less time.