The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-03-10
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC
TRAGElBLE TO A
RECENT ARRIVAL

Remembering that Chief Of Detec-
tives MeDunHe found It necessary to
pay recent domiciliary visits to mum.
Der Of the poorest Of the arriving Fiji.
Pine immigrants, who had squatted with
Hawaiians along the Ala Moana road
in the vicinity Of the spot first visited
by cholera in the present epidemic, the
following Official communication to the
board Of health is of decided interest.
The writer of the communication is
Moses Clegg, Of the public health and
marine hospital service, who says:
"Sir;-In compliance with your re-
quest of the seventh instant, / have
the honor to make the following state
ment regarding the characteristics of
the bacillus Of Asiatic cholera and the
possible mode of infection in the pres
ent outbreak:
1.-THE micro-organism of cholera is
one of the most delicate known in
baeteriology. 1t is readily killed when
exposed to a temperature of 1902 +.
for thirty minutes and will Immediately
undergo degeneration when placed in
boiling water. 1t is also very suscepti-
BILE to the acid compounds
1.-THE growth of the bacillus occurs
only in liquid OF moist media, but it
may be carried by the hands or cloth
ing, and when again deposited in a
suitable media multiplication is re-
sumed. The bacillus of cholera multi
plies rapidly. Millions can be produced
from one organism in twenty-.four
hours.
Infection depends on three factors.
The susceptibility of the host, the num-
Der of micro-organisms ingested. and
the virulenee of the micro.organism.
For instance, a person suffering with a
CASTRO intestinal disturbance, due to
improper diet or following a period of
heavy drinking, is more susceptible to
the disease than those whose digestion
is normal. Some authorities claim the
normal acidity of the stomach contents
is sufficient to kill the bacillus.
In regard to the present outbreak
and its source, can only present n
few facts. The rest is deduction. Two
days after the first case developed I
isolated the bacillus of Asiaitic cholera
from pond in the vicinity where the
sickness occurred. 1t is very probable
this water was infected prior to the
present outbreak of cholera, the heavy
rains of the week before playing an
important part, or the pond may have
been infected direct, as fecal matter
was undoubtedly drained into it from
the nearby privies and vaults.
"The last epidemic occurred in this
city in the year 1895. The recent out
hTnal~ fbnr1 loAo
due to recent importation of the baciI-
lus, At the present time. or at least
three months ago, cholera was present
in twenty three different places in
Japan, twenty-eight places in Russia
| and four places in the southern part
of the Philippines. The countries I
have mentioned are those from which
these Islands draw most of their i'm
migrants, one of whom harbored the
bacillus of cholera, the carrier either
being immune to the disease or the
bacillus was an avirulent one, regain
ing its virulence through suitable media
here.
" Inasmuch as the present outbreak
was not general one, no large amount
1 of single variety of foodstuff was in
fected; it was, then, probably carried
by individuals. Considering the rapid
multiplication of the bacillus, it can
be readily understood the ease with
which one bacillus, when introduced
into bowl of poi or bucket of water,
may become a source of danger in
twelve or twenty-four hours.
The bacillus has tendency to grow
on the surface of the media infected,
especially liquid media. Therefore the
first person to partake of recently in
fected food would be in greater danger
of receiving a sufficient number of the
baeilli to produce the disease than those
who partoOk of the same food later.
'1The disease known as cholera is a
toxemia, poisoning. The poison is pro-
duced by the bacillus, and up to the
present time there is no medical remedy
known which acts directly on the micro
organism in the intestinal tract. If all
early cases of cholera were reported to
reputable physicians. the mortality
would be decreased to between forty
five and fifty per cent. Not only would
there be a decrease in the mortality,
but decrease in the number of cases,
by giving the agents of the board of
health ample time to disinfeet the
premises before the infection is spread.
The average mortality in large cpl.
denies is seventy-five per cent. BY
educating the people to report the cases
early, the mortality in Manila has been
reduced to ifty-eight per cent.
"In regard to the method of preven-
ton, / can only emphasize what has
already been stated by the board of
health: BE clean; pay especial atten-
ton to the hands. am, sir, very re-
Especially,
an. It. CLEGG,
Assistant Director Leprosy Investipa.
ton Station, u. s. P. H. and M.
II. So