The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-18
DID NOT BURN
Egypt Fought PIugue
Without Fire.
The Methods Of Combating Disease
In Alexandra in LIST
Years Epidemic.

In reply 10 letter by Secretary
Wilcox OF the Board of Heath to the
authorities In Egypt asking for infor-
nation in regard to the measures TAX
IN by the Egyptian Governmen. ior
camping out the outbreak OF bubonic
.I.ague which occurred In the city of
Alexandria last year, the appended re-
Jort has been received from the direct
r general or the sanitary Department
If that city.
1t will lie noticed that the methods
ADOPTED In Honolulu have been SINH
ar In great many ways to the
Egyptian methods; the cher points Oh
Iinerehce lie in the burning or Intec.-
ID buildings In this city and the ad-
ninistration OF the prophyIactic. Con-
5idering the fact that Alexandria has
bout ten times the population Of Ho-
Iolu.u and that the plague epidemic
here .asted for about SIX months, dur
ng which times ninety-three cases Of
he disease were reported, that city
las had an easier time OF It., az far a.
he plague Is concerned, than Honolu-
u with It's seventy cases In q little over
three months and It's, say, 10000 in
habitants.
The following is the report in con-
lensed form:
Immediale.y the cases were an
bounced in Alexandria, the sanitary
department took over from the munich
Jality the whole responsibility OF car
ying out the sanitary measures con-
idered necessary for combating the
disease; the Government obtained a
Jote of money for this purpose and
supported in every way the depart
nent in its efforts to keep the epidemic
within bounds.
STAFF doctors were greatly increased
houses within the infected quarters
was carried out and limewashing
sangs were formed and a plan for
xeeping large bodies of the working
;lasses under observation organized.
The disease was at first confined to
1 quarter of the city chiefly inhabited
~ Europeans of the lower class, but az
line went on cases were notified from
almost all the quarters of the town.
The measures adopted in Alexandria
we're as follows: Immediate isolation
IF the plague case in either the Gov
eminent or Greek hospital, where spe-
.ial wards existed for the treatment oil
infectious diseases; removal of all per-
,ons who had been liz contact with the
case to the quarantine station, where
hey were kept under observation fol
a period of seven days, fed at the ex-
pense of the Government, and al
males of is years and upwards paid
shree piastres daily as compensation
Tor wages lost while In quarantine.
When a person was found to have
died outside the hospital the body was
| removed to a special place where II
was prepared for burial, all precautions
being taken to provide against dis
semination of the infection. The per-
sons who had been in contact with
plague cases on arrival at the quaran-
inc station were obliged to remove al
| clothing and take bath, afterwards
| dressing in clothes provided by the
Government until their own clothes
had been passed through the disiniect-
| ing stoves.
only one case of plague occurred
amongst the contacts" during the
| line Babbari, the quarantine station
vas occupied. All articles OF clothing
| Jedding, furniture, carpets, curtains
| ETC., were removed in special carts
from the infected houses and were dis
| infected by superheated steam in the
| .toves at the Government hospital. A
| The commencement of the outbreak two
IF these stoves existed at the Govern
| ment hospital and two at the quaran'
| line station, but measures were taker
o supplement these machines by 9th.
ers which were at once ordered from
| Germany.
The house where the case had oc.
Cured was then thoroughly disinfected
| by a gang of trained disinfectors by
means of a solution of 1000 perehlo-
ride of mercury, after which gang
OF lime washers followed on and lime
washed the house throughout with so
luton of lime freshly slaked. The mud
| floors were strewn with quick lime anc
| the houses were then closed until thu
proprietors came out of the quarantine
| establishment.
! Carts were also sent around to re
move the rubbish from inside tn
| houses. This included old grass mats
soiled rags. cushions. etc, which were
| taken outside the city and burnt. the
mats and cushions being replaced by
new ones at the expense OF the govern
/ mani IL Ia worthy Of note that nc