The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-05
S. 5. WILLESDEN
GREATEST DANGER

" consider the danger from Jne WIZ
lesden the greatest that Honolulu has
ever been subjected to- said Doctor
Ramus this morning. There have been
twenty cases of smallpox and thirty
six cases of measles.
He then went on &c state that the
smallpox on board was the old-fashion-
ed kind. 1t was not light variety
by any means, and everyone on board
had been exposed to the danger. He
thought that it was about the first
time that everyone on board, includ-
ing the captain and officers, had been
placed in quarantine, and about the
first time also that the ships papers
had to be fumigated before being sent
to the agents.
Everyone will go into quarantine,
even the doctors attending the pa
tents. Doctor James perhaps may
escape, because the staff is so short
handed at present that work is piling
up with great rapidity Therefore,
Doctor James might be excused from
quarantine as he may be needed to
take his share of the work. There is
so much to do over there that Doctor
Ramus has not had time to be vac
cinated. He intends to be vaccinated
though as soon as he can spare the
time, because he is so much exposed
to the danger that he fears that he
might catch smallpox himself. OF
course he is taking all sorts of pre-
cautions by having his clothing steril-
lied. Fresh gowns are being ordered
for use by the doctors while making
their rounds.
In order to lower the chances of
infection, the immigrants are being
split up into squads, so that should
fresh cases occur it will only be ne
cessary to quarantine those in each
squad. Possibly, of course, the last
person attacked might be isolated in
time to render it unnecessary to quar-
antine the whole lot. No chances will
be taken.
The strictest surveillance is being
applied, and now Doctor James has
under him a big staff of doctors,
nurses and guards. The doctors are
Doctor Buffet of Honokaa and Dr. R.
w. Bentz, with the following nurses:
Misses King, Kingsbury, Thomas and
Sewall. Twenty-seven additional
guards have been employed. This big
staff, of course, makes large differ
ence in the expenses of the Quaran-
tine Island. The average cost per day
now is said to be about $3.50. OF
course, the cost of feeding the immi
grants is to be borne by the steamship
authorities.
Just now all quarters are being tax
ed and later on, when more people
have been taken from the ship, il
may be necessary to accept the offel
Of Inspector Brown to house some o
them at the Immigrant Station, will
the quarantine authorities supplying
Il the necessary guards. The people arr
coming off the ship at the rate o
about four hundred day. Doctor Ra
mus thinks, however, that this mum
Der will be increased from today t
about five hundred daily.
Every precaution is being taken b
, the staff, for it is realized that tn
danger from infection is great. TIL
, clothing and baggage CT the imm
, grants will be sterilized in name
-. that will not injure anything, and tn
- immigrants themselves will be sui
? jected to shower baths The garbag
, and refuse from the ship will not b
: able to spread any infection. 1t wi
; be taken out to see in a scow that
tied up alongside the ship, and the
dumped overheard. This refuse, ha
been deemed to be infectious, there
fore it will be handled by no one bu
= those aboard the steamer. Youn
=, Brothers launch will tow the scow GU
: to sea and there the contents will b
=, dumped by seamen from the WilleI
: den.
. Regarding the condition of the ve
sci, Doctor Ramus spoke in high terms
: The discipline, he said, was good an
= the work done reflected great cred
on those who had it in charge. TIL
> nurses showed that they were con
. petent, and it is to the influence
= those in charge that he attributes tn
Il excellent discipline. OF course, thel
were some things that could be rem
u died, but he did not wish to be critica
because it is easier to see what shou
have been done after events have o
al Cured than it is to anticipate ther
IN A careful guard is being kept
lie the boat to see that no one gets ava
The customs men keep an eye on he
al and at night the lookout is very kee
h. The people who broke quarantine W
Id be prosecuted as far as possible