The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-11-09
PLAGUE STORIES
WERE EXAGGERATED
A QUIETUS
ALARMING STORIES BEEN CIRCULATED RE-
HEALTH CONDITIONS HONOLULU-HE BELIEVES


The following report was submitted
| by President Pinkham at yesterday
afternoons meeting of the Board of
Health:
Wednesday, Nov. s, 1905
| To the Members of the Board:
AS published in my report of June
| Goth, 1905, there occurred seven deaths
| from plague in the district of Honolulu
| during the preceding twelve months.
| Several of these deaths happened in the
latter part of the year 1904. At that
time local rumors and gossip became
so exaggerated your President felt they
should be publicly refuted. This was
done by means of his address before
the Hawaiian Medical Association. A
similar state of rumor and gossip exists
this fall and requires the same refuta-
ton.
1t is proper to consider places similar
ly exposed as Honolulu. In Manila each
month the Board of Health publishes
the number of deaths from each con-
tagious disease including plague, small
pox, cholera and typhus. The same
publicity is given in Hongkong, Shang-
hal, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki.
The prevalence or absence of these
diseases has no effect on the great toI-
rist and other travel to and from these
ports.
The weather conditions and dampness
have recently favored dormant plague
germs. In five weeks we have had, in
the district of Honolulu, six deaths
from that disease. Three of these
n
ond story room where two victims had
slept in dirty personal surroundings.
one of the two at post norton had no
indication of ever having had a bath,
and his under clothing could not have
been changed in months. From this
room, circumstances indicate, the in
lection was carried to a third person,
who died of the disease. A fourth vic
tim lived i'm a second story room across
the street. The room was well furnished
but was not properly cared Tor as dust
had been allowed to accumulate for
months. A fifth victim lived in a
house situated on low damp ground,
made by harbor dredgings, but left
several feet lower than the surround
! ing ground. The sixth death we can
|
| fair condition. 1t was near a stable
however. In this district we have
have unable to find or catch any rats.
To those persons who are correct in
their personal habits, and reside in
sanitary districts and homes, the dam
! gers of plague are less. than any other
disease under the observation of the
Board of Health,
The health reputation of 4-Onolulu,
FIilo and the Territory is from time to
time infinitely more injured by sensa-
tional correspondence, and romancers
who wish to spin a big yarn when
visiting the coast, than would be pos
sible from plain official statements of
facts.
l suggest you consider the advisable
ity of publishing weekly the number
of deaths occurring in Honolulu from
contagious diseases, including plague
and tuberculosis.
There is but one hospital over which
the Board of Health has absolute con-
troll, the Quarantine Hospital, This
hospital has of course no regular staff
or nurses, but a keeper only In case
of emergency we usually detail one or
| two of our inspectors as nurses, and
depend on the good will of two physi-
/ clans for medical attendance. AS cases
are infrequent and those we depend
upon efficient we are able to perform
our duty to the public
The Queens Hospital does not re-
! ceive those afflicted with contagious
diseases, and also declines tubercular
patients as they are regarded as dan