The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-03-21
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IS
ADMITTED To Be now
"A THING OF THE PAST

Federal and territorial officials agree
in the statement that danger from the
epidemic Of cholera is past, providing
the precautions which have been placed
in effect are retained and the residents
continue to pay decent attention to the
laws Of sanitation.
After a period Of twenty three days,
the last eight Of which were free from
new cases or new foei of infection, the
city has been given an immense i'm
petus towards a sanitary ideal as near
perfect as present conditions will allow.
Coupled with the statement of Doctor
Ramus that the port win continue to
be declared unclean until some of the
plague spots are wiped out, is the as
surance of President Mott-Smitt Of the
board of health that there will be no
halt in the new campaign of the board
to "clean the city up"
Bacteriologically, the nature of the
epidemic has been proven beyond a
doubt by the work of Moses T. Clegg
and DIR. A. N. Sinclair and the clinical
examinations have born the diagnosis
out in every manner possible Homo
lulu has experienced cholera, and es-
capped through the vigilance and string
ent action of the board of health from
severe visitation, but has had a les
son logged into her that win do in
calehble good
Nine Clean Days.
Today is the ninth successive day
since February twenty-fourth that no
case of cholera has been reported
From medical standpoint this cpl
demic is still abroad in Honolulu as
there are still many chances for spor-
adic cases. During the epidemic of
1895, which has been the most severe
4 Hawaii has experienced, eight days
passed without cases followed by an
other outbreak SO the present hiatus
is significant only of reduced chances
for the spread of infection and not of
the end of the epidemic.
The situation today from a CONNER
cial standpoint, is little improved, what
betterment there has been in it being
the assurance that residents have that
they are protected and will be pro-
tected in the immediate future against
the probabilities of infection.
Not a, Clean Port.
The emphatic statement is made by
the officers of the federal public health
service, whose duty it is, not to clean
this port, but to protect others, that
Honolulu will not be declared a clean
port until the infected ponds at Ke.
walo have been filed up.
81 have an idea that it is going to
be very big job, !" said Doctor Ramus
chief quarantine officer of the port, last
night. II do not know what the board
of health is going to do about it as ii
has plans of its own. AS long as that
focus of infection exists this port is not
clean and we can not declare it so.
incidentally those ponds are drain.
ing out to the reef through the ditch
on Ward street and the reef must be
undoubtedly infected. After the ponds
are filed, we will have to wait week
or longer before we can open the port
the time depending upon how long the
bacilli can live on the reef.
"In view of the fact that there have
been no new cases lately, we are going
to take off some of the restrictions
, which have been placed on the port re.
garding shipments. Pineapples and ba
nanas and other fruits from the out,
lying district the shipment of which
has been forbidden, may now be shipped
providing they are properly certifeated
to the effect that they are from the
outlying districts. ~
Restrictions in Force.
1t is probable that the recommends
lions of Doctor Clegg win be followed
g by the board of health, for there is nj
intention at present of resembling am
of the precautions which have beer
taken.
The embargo, ON poi win be kept VI
0 stringently, as this is considered by th'
board to be the keystone of its defens,
against the disease, notwithstanding
;, the widely spread opposition to it, nat
/ nral under the circumstances.
The bathing and fishing restriction
are still in force, although it is prob
able that in view of the present situa
y ton the lines will be drawn closer t
1 the city and the western limit of Ka
lihi Bay again placed in effect. Tn
guards. at Waikiki, who have been post
ed to prevent bathing, were given OF
ders yesterday not TO interfere wit
g anyone who chose to go in bathing blu
:. lthey are still retained and the enforce
= ment of the rule may be ordered agail
Il at any time the board may see ht.
Nine Patients.
There are now nine patients in tn
q Kalihi quarantine hospital under tn
: care of Doctors Wayson and Moori
g These are those who have been seize
with cholera during the epidemic, a
. with the exception of two, having bee
contacts and consequently taken
time. 1t is possible that they win hav
to be kept in quarantine for two @
three months or until the bacteriologist
prove without doubt that they hav
3 ceased TO be carriers of the choler
! vibrios.
Filling Kewalo Ponds.
Referring to the matter of filing /
the Kewalo ponds, President Mot
Smith of the board of health yestel
day stated that it would be some tim
before this work eo1ld be started an
. L. 4