The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-09-18
FLIES SPREAD
INFECTION
Agents in Epidemic of Typhoid
in Labor Camp at
kahuku.

Flies have been an active agency IN
the spread of typhoid infection at Ka,
huku according to report made to the
Board of Health yesterday by a com.
mittee consisting of President Robin.
son, DR.. j. I. Wayson and DR.. j. S. B.
Pratt.
! According to the report, typhoid
! fever has been in evidence, more or
| less, since the Kahuku Plantation was
started, but this summer the number of
cases has increased alarmingIy, princi,
pally among the japanese and Chinese
in the laborers camp, near the mill
site and railroad station.
The report of the committee pro,
ceeds:
''This camp was, unfortunately, poor,
" located for good drainage; it being
SO low and fiat. The worst feature
about it is that all sewerage empties
into marshy spot, about 1000 feet
away, where pond lilies grow luxuriant,
". On the edge of this pond, many
piggeries, owned by Chinese and Japa,
nese, are located.
1.-The myriad of flies that were OBJ
served around and on these pigs,
coupled with the fact that the pigs
were watered from this polluted marsh,
impressed us very forcibly that flies
from such a foul spot could readily be-
come a source of contamination in con,
nection with foods, etc, in this camp.
In fact we consider that the number
of cases now existing are due to the
contamination of fOod-stuffs and the
water supply. the former in all prob,
ability by flies.
''The water supply of this camp is
obtained from an artesian well at the
mill site. From an investigation of
the surroundings we thought there was
a possibility of the water being con.
taminated Mr. Andrew Adams, man
ager of Kahuku Plantation, seat sam
pies of water both from the mill well
and from the well at the japanese
camp to Honolulu for analysis.
ga report from Mr.. r. A. Duncan,
Food Commissioner and Analyst, shows
conclusively that the water from the
mill well is unfit for drinking purposes.
Sin view of the foregoing we would
respectfully submit the following
recommendations in the premises, with
the suggestion that if they are approx
ed of, the manager of the Kahuku Plan.
tation be so notified.
"1st-DiscOntinue the use of the
mill well water for drinking.
2nd-Adopt the surface dry earth
closet system in place of the open hole
in the ground, as now in use.
50 3rd-That concrete material be in
stalled around all taps where water is
drawn, and places used for washing
laundry. That the same material be
adopted in place, of wood for the floors
of camp kitchens. That cement drains
be established to properly drain all
waste matter TO the stump, or other
place receiving the sewerage.
"4th-Discontinue using the pond,
and bitches leading thereto, now being
used and install a sewerage system
which will empty into a cesspool or
reservoir so that the contents of same,
can be thoroughly disinfected When
full this reservoir should be emptied by
pumping the contents over the sand
bank into the sea.
5th-Disinfect all the bitches, and
all houses of the camp in which case
of sickness has occurred, and white.
wash same.
6th-Remove' the pig pens further
away from the camp
"7th-Owing to the location of this
camp, even under the best sanitary pro-
visions that can be made, the need of
a hospital is urgently recommended
Such an institution, of modern eharae-
ter, the location of which should be in
the discretion of the plantation physi-
clan. should be at once provided in or.
der that patient suffering from con-
tagious or infectious disease could be
promptly removed thereto. Such a
course would make it possible that
proper precautionary measures in the
way of disinfection, could be immedi-
ately taken.''