The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-07-22
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, JULY %.
Communicated

thiLS SubiSCt VI saving Lax 44ftAoA- i4A AA---Ac |
the Hospital more efficient for that purpose. l
fear much that placing young natives for a gear
under the Instructions of the physician would be
very inadequate 10 qualify the most talented young
man for = license 10 practice A little know!-
edge IS q dangerous thing. and it would be ray
little which could be 30 acquired in merely watch
ing the practic. for q gear. not having the elemen-
tary knowledge of the first principles OF anatomy,
pharmacy and surgery, 30 necessary 10 derive ben
eft from seeing the practice. II such a one were
licensed to practice. l should fear he would be
little qualified to distinguish the cases to which the
remedies he had seen used were applicable, or
where they would be hurtful. II over-confdent,
IA the ignorant generally are. he might do much
harm. and if timid would DO little good.
This reminds me Of an old friend Of mine. who
was solicited by a lady in the country, wishing to
make herself useful among the poor. to procure
her a medicine-chest and give her proper direc-
tons for using the different articles. He did so,
and told her that they would be useful and safe in
ire cases out OF sir. if used IS directed. The next
time he came to the neighborhOod. the lady at
tackled him with. " Oh, D. what is this you
have done: You told me the medicines would be
safe in yfre GU; Of SIX cases, and | have nearly
killed the first one ] gave II to- Well, Madam"
said he, " it is all true. but the Sirth case happened
to come first, and you could not distinguish one
from the other
| would fear such would frequently occur, II
such persons were allowed to practice. | find that
there is generally most confidence and rashness
where there is least knowledge and l therefore
entirely protest against allowing such parties to be
sanctioned in practising among an ignorant COM
munity. Very possibly they might be less danger
Gus than the native practitioners. who not only
deal in the harmless amusement Of eating pigs and
white fowls for the beRstt Of the patient. but also.
unfortunately, use the most dangerous remedies,
the dangerous effects of which they only discover
when it is too tate to prevent their fatal results.
Though native ~quackery is most destructive TO the
race. and allowed. as it is. to run riot, without any
effort to stop it. Will soon carry them of. yet, in
endeavoring to check it. the substitution of a mea-
sure not much better, is not the course which a HUI
name Government ought to pursue.
have. years ago, suggested, in quarters where
il might hav. received more attention. that the
most likely way to get rid Of uaiire practice would
be to select two or more (and the more the better)
smart young natives. well educated in English
classics. &c. and send them to one of the best
medical schools in Europe or America, for SAY
fO,o. years. during which they could be properly
grounded in the different branches of the profess
sion. and qualified to practice bring them home,
and send them among their friends to cure disease,
showing them at the same time how and with what
difficulty the necessary knowledge is acquired,
how II rests on the laws which govern the body in
health and disease. and that neither spells. dreams,
nor incantatiOns can change the invariable laws OF
nature the becoming acquainted with which. and
living i'll conformity with them, is the only safe
means of prolonging life and rendering ii happy.
Bv such means. inroads will be made on the preju-
dices. especially of the rising generation, and a
stay put to the rapid progress which disease and
l...l, go, ,,,liDr oD,Cpr This thpupbflpSS DpnDlp
who will. if not interfercd with. soon be spoken OF
AS the things that were. The prima .fdcie objection
TO this plan is its expense. but, if we put any value
on human life or human suffering, the cost would
be a mere bagatelle. Two thousand dollars. judi
ciously expended, would give a course of foul
wears study to each. Now, how many lives nigh
we place against this sum, If only a question O
dollars and cents. and how soon would ii be repaid
TO the country by the number Of inyalids who
could be made fit to work, and the number who
might be rescued from death. 1t would not be 9
large calculation to say that each OF these young
men. with proper encouragement to practice
would save thirty or forty lives yearly. and make
a hundred infrm and disabled from chronic dis
eases able to work and Cease to be Il burden Il
their friends. and pay their taxes. by which. in
few wears. the Government would be reimburse
: for the pccuniary outlay. besides the infinite salts
faction of staying the progress of disease anC
death.
would further suggest that. until proper hospi
tails. are established in the different Islands, dispen
saries should be located in different populous dis
trictS. where a proper supply OF medicines an'
, other appliances should be constantly kept, ant
where the diseased should apply at stated times 70
advice and medicines The Government shoul'
assist in making a salary for q medical attendant
where he could not make a competency by prlC
tice. and finding the necessary medicines. On
medical attendant. placed in a central locality
could not only relieve those in his neighborhoOd
but could attend. on stated days. within Il rad!U
of ten or twelve miles on each side. so that advic
could be had at least t1cjce Il lreeh, for a very larg
:. district. 1t might also be arranged that. as tn
residence of the Surgeon, a small hospital might b
fitted with a few beds, where very urgent and In
portant cases could be treated. Very dangerou
cases. or those requiring extensive operation.
= could be sent 10 the Queens Hospital in Honolulu
3 As soon as your natives were tit to practice, thes
- dispensaries would be We'll adapted to give thel
ID an opportunity OF making themselves useful 10 the
fellow-beings.
l believe. after much reflection. that in this wa
a vast number of those who are rendered USeieS
@ bv neglected chronic diseases could be relieved
' their sutfcrings. their lives spared. and themselv.
. made useful members of society, instead OF drai
!, ging ont a miserable existence. dependent UpO
friends who. however willing, are little able
- minister to their wants. The above outline | sal
Is, nit a. the best means Of giving relief, staying Il
progress of the destroying angel. which, if not i
e. terfcrcd with Immediately and decidedly. any ru
ie, edy will have to he applied to another race. a n
present * being rapidly eNtnGuiSEcd. while "
look on with folded hands and do nothing.
~. On the subject of ample education for medic
- men instead of a year IN az hospital. | spea
-, strongly. My age may be my excuse tor a seemir
''' er c1thcIrG dictatiOn on the subject Of ample STUD
- and sufficient education. il such i possible, havu
myself been engaged upwards Of half a century
the study of my profession, anu am now as nucn
student a. | ever was. and as anxious to advan
with tho G.ji- imD~oV pmtutS going on in Il