The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1910-12-24
DR.. Pratt
interviewed
He Gives a Most Concise Review Of the
Diphtheira Situation.
Honolulu, Dec. 20.


DR.. j. s. B. Pratt, general sani-
tary officer of the Territorial Board
of Health, was interviewed laJt night
for the MAUI News on the subject OF
health conditions on Maui. He said :
II have received no information
in the past few days from Mr.. Char.
lock, chief sanitary inspector, who
was sent to take charge Of the 'situa.
ton there. This is taken as good
news, for the reason that Mr.. Char.
locks explicit instructions were to
notify me at once by wireless should
there be unsatisfactory manifesto
tions at any hand.
Our first attention is being turn.
ed to the camp at Hamakuapoko,
containing about 800 families, or a
population Of between 5000 and 40O(
souls. This place will be system.
atically gone through and placed in
satisfactorily sanitary condition
besides which every case of illness
must be thoroughly diagnosed and
properly treated.
After that, attention will bt
given to Paia. Microscopic exami
nations are being made. Cultures
are'not attempted, as they are not
deemed necessary in cases of diph
liberia, the microscope usually being
quite sufficient.
II wish it understood that ther,
is no quarantine against Maui. Th'
regulation being enforced is milo
measure intended TO take the plac,
OF the more stringent expedient o
quarantine. And this regulation
will be removed just as soon as thu
ailment now there is no longer epi
demic. We have no desire to apply
the regulation a minute longer thar
is absolutely necessary, and / car
assure you that il. will not be done
But the duty of the Board of Health
is to protect all parts of the Islands
from epidemics, and in doing that
some communities may occasionally
suffer temporary hardship.
Passengers leaving Maui, are re.
quired to have DOCTORS certificate
Of health, carrying a statement as tt
destination, etc. Most Of them
naturally, come here. Their abid
ing place In the city is made knowr
to us and they are kept under sur
veillance for few days, after which
they are discharged. The same viii
be done at Hilo and elsewhere ir
the Islands should persons arriv,
there from Maui"
Complaint has been made il
Honolulu of exhorbitant charges b,
doctors on Maui for certificates o
health. 1t is represented that ~ .5(
is collected from each person fo,
these certificates on the Wailuk,
side of the island, while the rate a
Lahaina is only 81. One woman
with two children, landing here
claims to have paid $15 for the thre,
certificates, or S5 apiece. Although
efforts are being made to verify thes,
reports, definite information has no
yet been received here. When ask
ed about this matter DR.. Pratt said
Yes l have heard the reports
but have made no effort to verif,
them for the reason that they d,
not concern the Board of Health
except in very general way. TIL,
law merely prescribes certifcat,
by a duly licensed physician, il
such cases, but fixes no figure as t,
compensation Of the physician fol
his services. So far as the BoarC
Of Health is concerned, the fee is
matter entirely between the intend
ing passenger and the physician. ;
The large truck horse belonging to MIR