The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-15

and precautions. DR. Hoffman,, who as
bacteriologist to the local Board of
Health earned fame and money during
the epidemic. is on the sea now bound
for San Francisco.
His confreres hint that he goes to Of
fer his knowledge Of the bubonic baciIIi
to the San Francisco Board of Health.
DR. j. II. Raymond of this city is In
print in the Examiner Of a few days ago
with statement on the danger of infec-
ton. The Examiners article Is as fol-
lows:
visiting In San Francisco, had much ex-
perience with bubonIc plague during the
recent epidemic in that city. and came IN
personal contact with the disease in its
worst form. One yictinY of the plague a
Chinese servant, was treated by DR.
raymond from the beginning. but moth
ing could stay the ravages OF the disease
in his patient, for the man died within
two days after beginning to feel SICK
BESIDES observing the plague victims he
studied the disease. and gained knowI-
edge which the local Academy of Nedi-
cine, at a meeting last week requested
MIN TO impart during a discussion on
plague.
rae told the Academy that the slides
submitted by DIR. Kellogg bacteriologist
% the Health Department. were those Of
true bubonic plague.
In a dictated statement to the Exami-
ner, DR. Raymond said:
1 attended the Academy of Medicine
meeting last week, ana from the evidence
brought forward by the representatives
OF the medical profession present, and
the slides exhibited, there is not the
slightest shadow of doubt I'm my mind
that the cases reported and the microbes
shown were those of plague
The slides exhibited by DIR. Kellogg
were similar to those of cases of plague
in Honolulu and slides from Hongkong
use the word slides as meaning the MI
ero-organisms shown on the slides.
i believe that the diagnosis should not
be made wholly on the appearance of mi
cro-organisms as shown under the micro
scope; that the crucial test should be
made by incubation OF animals, which
together with what is observed under
the microscope. should be sufficient to
establish diagnosis in light of modern
research.
There is characteristic appearance of
the plague microbe. 1t is a micro-organ-
ism that shows the staining fluid at eth
er END OF the rod, and you see between
these two poles the Jack of STAN. What
appears to be two microbes is SEEN but
the trained eye can detect the connect
ing part, which does not take the stain.
There are other micro-organisms that
have very much the same appearance,
but when the guinea pig and rat are in
tive.
Assuming that the slides shown the
Academy of Medicine were taken from
the cases reported by DIR. Wilson and
Dr. Ophuls, and that the incubation ex-
periments as carried out by DIR. Ophuls
of the Cooper College were with microbes
taken from the bodies reported by DIR.
Wilson. I have no reason to believe it is
anything else than bubonic plague In
fact, scientific men cannot come to any
other conclusion.
The clinical history of each case was
quite typical of plague: the micro-organ-
isms as exhibited were characteristic;
the incubation experiments as reported
by Dr. Ophuls were undoubtedly carried
out on scientific lines.
feel the proper thing to do is to
out Out OF the infected district. and to put
an embargo on all goods and articles
| leaving IL. Inhabitants of the district
insanitary conditions. The essentials are
sunlight. air. ventilation. avoiding over
crowding. then fumigation of certain
houses. plenty of soap and water paint
and the use of steriliZing agents.
| The worst danger is supposed to be
| from dissemination of the disease from
rodents. IL the health authorities OBJ
I serve strict quarantine regulations and
\ thoroughly sterilze the buildings and
/ avoid overcrowding. there Is no reason
/ why the plague should not be confined to
| the district and within a reasonable time
stamped out. 1 don't believe there Is any
danger from Inhalation. even in the pueu-
mcnic form, but I think the sources of
Infection are I'm the food and water sup
ply and incubation through abrasions OF
the skin.
Considerable stress IL laid upon the
/ fact that the failure of the disease "a
spread should be considered an argument
| against the probability of the existence
Of plague I'm Chinatown. The fact is
| comparisons are made between our con-
/ ditons and those of India and thicklv set
tied parts of China. But such compari-
/ sons should not be made as the condi-
/ tons here are such as conduce TO sup
preston OF the disease. 1t IS a fallacious
argument which proves nothing. II Is
/ possible for US to have a small number
I Of cases. There Is no danger of the dis
Z ease spreading to any extent
/ In the trea tment Of cases the element
/ Of fear. especiallv among Chinese, lessons
their chances OF recovery. The prevail
/ ing Idea among Chinese is the plague is
fatal In It's results, whereas In the cases