The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-17
THE SITUATION.

The death of Mrs. Boardman from
plague has struck everyone in the city
with surprise. 1t shows how insidious
and dangerous a disease we have
amongst us. The plague is a filth dis
ease yet it counts it's victims not only
among those who live in filthy and
disease breeding quarters, but also
from among those whose habits and
habitations are of the cleanliest. Though
this was known, yet it came home to
us as a distinct shock when such a
death occurred in our midst
The Board of Health and the citi-
Zens are now joining forces to stamp
out the grim invader. With the work
as it is now laid out it will be almost
| impossible for any case to be hidden
away. 1t is in the hiding away of
sickness among those who fdad, the dis
ease that a great danger lies. Every
case becomes a new center from which
more disease radiates, and the sooner
the radiating point is seized and re-
moved, the quicker will it's evil effects
! be neutralized.
! The work before the inspectors and
sub-inspectors is no light task, and it
has to be done conscientiously and
thoroughly. Seeing the material Of
which this army of workers is made up,
| it may safely be predicated that it will
done thoroughly. Each person who has
charge of a district or sub-dstrict must
realize his responsibility. He is like
sentinel on the watch and upon his
care may rest the life and welfare of
several hundred people. 1t is no time
for laXity. Many of the duties are un
pleasant and will call for firmness in
insisting that the orders of the Citizens
| Committee, working under the Board
of Health, should be carried out.
There is probably no city in the world
where the inhabitants so readily sac
rifice themselves at the call of duty.
Rich and poor, professional man, bust.
ness man, tradesman, official and I'M
official all unite in taking a share of the
work to be done. Much of this is at
great personal inconvenience and at
distinct pecuniary loss. But it is done.
1t was done once before in cholera
times and is being done again.
While the efforts of the citizens are
directed to watching the individuals,
the efforts of the Board of Health are
directed to wiping out the infection
wherever it occurs. Thus the Board
man premises are condemned to the
flames, and every place where plague
appears is burned. The war is being
carried on in the infected district and
block after block is going up in smoke,
till not a vestage of Chinatown will re-
main.
But all this work takes time. Il
cannot all be done in day. When one
surveys the field one is almost appalled,
at the amount that must be done be-
fore we can lie down and sleep peace
fully feeling that the battle against
disease has been finally won. Time,
energy, and money must be expended,
before the work can be completed, and
it is quite probable that the lives Of
some of the foremost workers may be
sacrificed in the struggle.
ing put forward will eventually triumph
there can be no doubt, Aud when it is !
all over Honolulu will be in a sanitary
condition such as few places on the |
world wiz be able to boast. That il !
the hopeful outlook. We are paying |
now for the sins of the past. They have
been sins of omission and commission.
Just now, however, we have to meet |
the present and it is a very grim figEr |
indeed. Cases are sprnging up in UNI |
expected directions and the utmost |
vigilance must be displayed. 1t is go |
ing to be a long pull, but at leasr we |
know it will be a strong pull and a pun |
We are in face of a situa- |
tion that is even more seri us than the |
cholera was, and which is going to tax |
us more seriously. We must keep calm, |
not become hysterical, not give way to
fear, and work willingly at whatever
sacrifice we may be called upon to
make.