The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-05-10
CLIMATE VS.,
PEST|LENCE
Diseases Lose ViruIence
in Hawaii
Matters.


| roll under the tongues of residents of
these balmy isles-had some medical
promotion at yesterdays meeting OF
tile Board of Health. This was the
terrors OF other chimes, become mod
flied in righteousness and virulence
when tke.- strike the Hawaiian Is
lands. More Satisfactory than any the
at the same time, that certain kinds
of .-pestiIence that walketh at noon
elsewhere have never yet appeared IN
Hawaii
u" Wayson, discussing the report Of
a special committee on the recent Pa
paaloa quarantine for diphtheria, ex-
pressed a doubt of the necessity for
rigid quarantine in such circumstances
as reported. Segregation of patients
and orders to persons exposed TO re-
port periodically would fulfil every re-
quirement. He had never known of an
epidemic of diphtheria in these islands
nothing but a few isolated cases
and the disease did not appear even
to run through families here as else
where. Indeed, the disease seemed to
become modified in it's effects in this
climate.
Mr.. Robinson asked, the question
being raised as to how far the quar-
Of fba hna rd
how it would be if yellow fever APP
peared.
DR.. Judd answered that there had
never been a case of yellow fever in
fever so far as he knew.
THE PAPAALOA REPORT.
DR.. Judd and Mr.. Fernandez, as the
special committee appointed last week,
reported on the claim from Papaaloa
for quarantine expenses. Two cases
of diphtheria developed in February
last at that place in a camp of Lau-
pahoehoe plantation. and a quarantine
of % persons was instituted by DR..
Irwin. Bills to the amount of $293.35
on account of such quarantine were
presented to the board for payment.
For the services of four. guards for
fifteen days at 81 day each an item
of s12o was charged. Supplies were
charged to the amount of $17S.35.
The committee said there was no
precedent to go by, but quoted the fol-
lowing law on the subject
Removal and Quarantine. - When
any person shall be infected with the
smallpox, or other sickness dangerous
to the public health, the Board of
Health or it's agent may, for the safety
of the inhabitants, remove such sick
Or infected person to separate house
and provide him with nurses and other
necessaries, which shall be at the !
charge of the person himself his par
entS or master, if able, otherwise at |
the charge of the Territory
The Government physicians, said the !.
committee, We're not instructed to in /
stitute a quarantine against diph- !
theria. DR.. irwin acted. in the cir-
cumstances, for what ne thought was /
best, but the board had not the funds |
to pay for such guarantees.
If the interests of the plantation |
were mainly involved the committee
thought it fair that the plantation
should share the expense 1t recon-
mended that the board pay the ser
vices of the guards at the rate of
so instead of 50 a day. Also that
the bill of s17335 for supplies be di-
vided-the board to pay 1920 for the
food used, and the plantation $80.45 for
such supplies as cooking utensils,
blankets and lanterns, which the COM
nittee regarded as unnecessary pur-
,hases and not in the possession OF
the Board of Health. Further. the
committee strongly urged that the
BOARD should adopt a definite policy
or governing such cases.
After the report had been discuss
ID. il was agreed that the president
write a letter to DR.. Irwin which
hould en1body the conclusions of the
committee and form the basis of
precedent.
OTHER QUARANTINE.
President Pinkham quoted the same ,
aw as the Papaaloa committee had ,
lone. in reviving a problem as old as !
civilization in Hawaii. He declared in
lis message of business to the Board ,
hat the spread of a certain class of ,
onta giouS disease needed attention.