The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-16

THE DISEASE WILL BE BROUGHT
FROM MAINLAND.
Is Very Prevalent Throughout States
and Honolulu Bound Passengers May
Contract it on Railroads.

In spite of the most rigid enforce
ment of the quarantine regulations by
the Federal marine service and the To-
cal board of health it is regarded as
more than likely that smallpox VIII
soon reach Honolulu. Indeed accord
ing to the experience of the last week
it looks as if the islands were between
the devil and the deep blue sea. The
transport Lawton arrived with two
cases of smallpox from Manila and
few days later the Doric arrived with
a third case from some point in China.
Subsequently the transport Fitzpatrick
arrived off port with two cases of the
dread disease contracted probably in
San Francisco.
But although the smallpox appears
to be prevalent in several places in the
Orient it is not from that quarter that
the disease is expected to reach Homo
lulu. If the smallpox is brought here
at all, it will come from the Main
land.
1t is not generally known that at the
present time there is a general epidemic
of smallpox throughout the United
States. According to official advices
and reports received by the marine SER
vice smallpox is more prevalent there
now than has been known in many
months. Indeed the increase of the dis
ease during the period of December,
January and February is astonishing
and is nearly 100 per cent larger than
that which prevailed during the same
period a year ago. The official report
issued by the United States Marine
Hospital Service gives the total num-
ber of smallpox cases in the States
for the period mentioned as ,496 as
against only 6,749 cases for the same
period of the year previous. At the
time of the issuance of the report how
ever, although the disease was more
generally prevalent, it had not been
nearly so fatal as that of the previous
year. The present epidemic of small
pox had resulted in but 149 deaths
throughout the United States while that
of 1900 which attacked nearly 1000 few
er, caused the death of 319 people.
These figures on the death rate are
reasSuring but, as a matter of fact,
there is as much, if not more reason
for feeling alarm as if the deaths had
been more numerous. During the
spread of the disease in 1900, Louisi-
ana, Mississippi, and Georgia were the
principal sufferers. This year those
states are comparatively free from the
disease and each shows surprising de-
crease in the number of cases. On the
other hand, the disease seems to be
more prevalent throughout the middle
west and northern states. Kansas es-
pecially is suffering from the disease.
There are 2,236 cases given there by
the reports of this year While only $50
cases were reported for similar period
of the former year. In Colorado there
are 1,l9O cases given against only, 80
for the previous period. In Minnesota
there are 1881 cases against 223 cases
for 1900. In Wisconsin there are $50
cases with only last year. Other
states show an increase proportion
ately greater, although the disease is
not by any means so prevalent The
report on Louisiana is surprising. In
1900 there We're 2,146 cases while this
years period there have been but 142,
a decrease of over 1000 cases.
There seems to be scarcely any sec
ton of the mainland which has es-
capped the disease. The incessant
traffic over the railroad lines is the
most probable cause for the spread of
the sickness and it will be by this
means that the disease will be Indirect
ly brought to Honolulu.
Smallpox requires fourteen days in
which to develop. 1t is very easy for
travellers whose destination is the Ha-
waiian Islands, in passing through
| Colorado or Kansas which are central
states, to contract the disease while rid
| ing in the railroad trains through those
| states. The steamer to this port is
boarded within two or three days and
the passenger is landed in Honolulu
! fully five to seven days before there
| is the slightest chance for any signs
of smallpox to be detected. The result
is that the community wonders how the
disease could have been brought into
the city, and the work of restricting
the disease spreading has to be inau-
gurated.
! Just how this danger from the main
/ land quarter can be avoided has not
/ been devised. Passengers on the local
boats especially would object to being
detained in quarantine long enough for
| the disease to develop
PACIFIC HEIGHTS RAILWAY.