The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-01-12

by far the greater portion Of them cannot do
much Their hands and feet are a terrible sight.
Inc disease evidently Progresses very rapidly
among those who have b5en sent there. | visited
them last April. and on this my second visit, L
was surprised at the rapid progress of the disease
IN various individuals. There they are. thrown
constantly together. in all stages of the disease,
'cRh no medicines, no physician, no colaforfs-fur-
nished only with the absolute nece>slries for keep
ing soul and body together in Il well rersan-and
PUT ON STARVATION RATIONS AT THAT
"a mass OF SETTLING, fostering corruption, rofiing
TO death.
The Board of Health have done perhaps as
well as they could under the circumstances but
if they cannot control the circumstances better
than they are now doing, | shall begin to consider
the plan a decided failure. At first, | believed
the plan of isOlating them there was the best
but having seen how it works, | am more and
mort inclined TO believe that the best and least
expensive plan would be to have but one
hospital, and that in the neighborhOod of Homo
lulu, where they could be under the immediate
supervision of Tie Board Of Health and q physician.
:. The rations for some time past have been four
biscuits of hard bread per lreek 70 the stronger
ones. and ten ditto per week to the teebler ones:
and even that only allowed to tIose who have
been there less than six months. Those who have
been there longer are told 10 'tcork y they 'r0nt
f00d.' Four pounds of salt beef or salmon per
week is the lOwance of meat TO each one. The
beef as a SiCindie. Much of 1t is corrupted. and
some OF the barrels are daubed lCith tar on the IN
side, which imparts its taste and flavor to the
whole contents. The salmon is in good condition.
The old thatch houses which were standing when
they went there are all the houses they have, ex-
cept rs some of the stronger ones are able 70 put
up huts for themselves. They have no suitable
house of worship, and ought to be furnished with
a plain frame building for the purpose.
Notwithstanding their wretched condition,
they have planted some sweet potatoes and other
vegetables. They have no kalo or POI at present,
rhpnph fhara il enpnOh Enla land tn SuprlV them
well. if properly managed. But they have Il good
quantity of kalo planted, and when 1t gets ripe,
some months hence, may again ENJOY their native
staff Of life. The agent who has Immediate charge
of them, Mr.. Louis Lepart, does as well as he can
by them. but is often at his wits end to know
what to do. He can only dole out to them such
supplies as he receives from the Board OF Health.
- ought perhaps to mention that there has
not been IL single birth among them up to the
present time.
- physician went among them, saw them.
examined Il number of them, and unhesitatingly
affirmed that several who were there rs lepers, had
not that disease at all. Many of them have been
subsistIng in great measure, for months past, on
wild horse-beans, which grow abundantly among
the rocks. But the weaker ones cannot endure
the fatigue of gathering and roasting them. | am
sure, If the Board of Health could only see and
know the truth an The case, they would endeavor
to remedy matters and yet Mr.. Lepart and Mr..
Meyers say they have represented the case to DR..
fiatcnlSOn.
Such are the facts as 1 learned them on the
spot. and saw them with my own eyes. and gath
cred them from satisfactory testimony. j believe
they are correct, us l was careful to make full in
quiries of all parties"
Here is II clear impartial statement of the Mo-
lokai Leper Hospital, rejecting sadly on the
Hawaiian Government. The Minister of the In
terror, as President of the Board of Health, is
responsible for the condition of these lepers, and
to hirn-a physician. supposed to be qualified to
take charge of such service-the public look for
reform. The whole plan of isolating the lepers
in such an out-ofthe-way place on Molokai, was
a great mistake. They should have been kept
here near Honolulu. where their wants can be
supplied, and where proper medical attendance
can be given. The hospital'a at Kalihi is a credit
to the nation, but for it's condition, DR.. Hoff-
mann chiefly deserves credit for he is untiring
in his zeal and efforts in behalfof these poor crea-
lures. Now let the rest be brought here, kept
from starvation, and cured if possible. Under
DIR. Hoflmann's care, a large portion of them may
yet be cured. n