THE EPIDEMIC OF 1889–90.
The 10th Pandemic which had its origin in the month of March, 1889, at Bukhara, Russian Turkestan, ultimately reached Hawaii, both from Japan and San Francisco: from the former country in August of that year, and from the latter city in December.
Influenza became epidemic in the Islands in the year 1890, in the months of January, February, March and practically ceased to exist in the latter part of April. Its morbidity was extensive, its death rate almost nil.
Extract from the Report of the President of the Board of Health to the Legislature: session of 1890.
“Early in the autumn of the year 1889 a disease started in Russia, which on that account took the name of the Russian disease.”
It spread rapidly over Europe and the British Isles; very soon it crossed the Atlantic, and with extreme rapidity spread over the whole continent of North America.
Early in January, 1890, Dr. Trousseau, the port physician, reported many cases existing among passengers, on the mail steamer en route to the Colonies.
In its journey westward from its initial starting point in Russia to the confines of California, its march has been marked by great prevalence and fatality.
In Hawaii with its mild and salubrious climate, its intensity is greatly modified, and although it caused great distress and physical suffering, very few deaths have resulted from it. This disease has prevailed as an epidemic on several former occasions under the name of Influenza. Other extracts from the same Report are as follows:
Agent Reynolds, “Influenza has visited most of the families in town since its arrival, but deaths have been few.”
Dr. S. B. Swift, “At Kalaupapa, females at the Bishop Home were most affected.”
Dr. Jared Smith, Kauai. “Extreme prevalence of Influenza of mild type, began the middle of January.”
Dr. D. Campbell, Waimea, Kauai. “Influenza widespread.”
Dr. Greenfield, Hamakua, Hawaii. “No Influenza epidemic. Catarrh and Bronchitis; wet and cold weather.”
Dr. G. Herbert. Wailuku, Maui. “One-third of the population affected: at least 3,000 cases. One Pneumonia case fatal. Symptoms: Fever, frontal and occipital headache, spinal and limb pains. Pulmonary congestion and occasionally Pneumonia.”
Estimated number of cases of Influenza:
| Island of Oahu | 6,500 | Population | 28,000 |
| 〃 Maui | 3,300 | 〃 〃 | 19,000 |
| Deaths in Honolulu | |
|---|---|
| February | 3 |
| March | 5 |
| Total | 8 |