The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-23

for the two years ending March 3lst, drawn up
rather crudely, but sufficiently clear to enable
readers 10 gather from it what has been done dur
ing the period to check the leprosy and to establish
and support an insane Asylum.
From it we learn that there have been $50 cases
received at the Kalihi hospital pronounced to be
lepers, of whom Ia have been sent to Molokai.
In addition, 6 lepers have been sent to Molokai d.
rect from Maui, making the total number ofcases
thus far discovered and admitted to the hospital,
$40. In addition to which thirty or forty known
cases are still at large on the several islands.
\ The Molokai hospital is under the sole charge
of Mr.. and Mrs. Walsh, who have now under their
care l26 persons, in the various stages of the dis
ease. 1t has been found necessary TO provide for
the entire support of these patients, who are all
unable or unwilling to aid in cultiyating food or
performing other labor.
Allusion is made in the report to the statements
published in this paper a year and a half since,
regarding the management of the hospital and the
treatment of the lepers on Molokai. The report
in various particulars substantiates the charges
then made, and while recording changes made,
and the present condition of the hospital, admits
their correctness, showing that reform was need
tA anu AAd' btNh N$A@ ~ va Oh N"S bP@N "
fore, the publication of the statement of gross
encouragement has done good and effected the
change needed, and which might not have been
made To this day.
Respecting the contagiousness of this disease
and its durability, the report says:
Is the Disease COHtd gi0uS? Although there is
high authority in other countries to the contrary, the
Board believes that it may pronounce a positive opin-
ion in the affirmative, and 1t Is believed that that
opinion will be upheld by every physician ON the ISL
ands who has had experience OF the disease but it
can hardly be determined exactly under what condi-
tons the contagiOn takes place it does not appear to
be very active and probably (under ordinary cir
cumstances) il does not occur in the early stages of
the disease but in the Lucrative form, the danger is
great. BY reference TO the returns from kalihi, it
will be seen that the male sex are more liable To the
disease than the female, and experience shows that
the latter communicate the disease much more readily
than the former. Ii may be worth mention, that
there is n man on Molokai in the last stages of lepro-
sy, who has n wife apparently healthy this woman
has had two husbands, who have both shown the dis
ease after their marriage to her. There can be no
doubt that the disease is inherited in some cases, but
il does not show itself until after the sixth year after
birth.
is Durable ?-To this question, we are constrain-
ell TO answer "No - ut least, under any known
treatment. This has been the experience of all coun-
tries and ages to the present time, and it would seem
desirable that leprous patients should understand
this it is cruel TO hold out hopes that can never be
realized Cures have been reported which seemed
real, but they have no doubt been eases Of other dis
eases, difficult to ID discriminate from leprosy in the first
stages of their appearance. Medicine and Hygiene
win ameliorate the condition of the victims for a time,
especially when first used but soon the poison begins
to make fresh way, and despite what is done, the in
evitable result will occur, viz "a premature death.
The duration of the disease varies much in some
cases, the operation of the disease goes ON for many
years i'll others, it runs its course very quickly.
The expense of the two asylums for the past
two years has been $31 ,S27 ,0S, and it is probable
that the cost in future will not be any less. 1t is
n burden and work of charity which devolves on
the nation, from which there is no escape. 1t is
proposed to vote the sum of go, 900 a year for the
III ture support of the same.
We observe that the writer of the report could
not allow the opportunity to pass of another fling
III va. Emerson, In stating that among the items
of expense wasthe sum of sos CO paidonaccountof
his family. Government officers should never al
private feelings or malice to influence their
official duties. 1t betrays a narrow and small mind,
wholly un%becoming the position held.
The condition of the Insane Asylum is stated to
be us follows
Number Of patients admitted
discharged as
present inmates.
OF the whole number f~orty-six have been males,
and sixteen females. Forty-threc were Hawaiians,
six Chinese, five Portuguese and eight other for
eigners, and the average age has been forty years.
The report could not omit making an thrust Mt
Americans and the American Government, in the
following paragraph.
Two of the inmates are discharged seamen from
the U. ;. Hospital one of these went direct to the in
stitution Of his own will the other was sent there by
the L.. ;. Consul, Gen. NJ. l.. Smith, and from some
misunderstanding the Government ut Washington
have not authorized the payment of his board, &c,
for the last three months
The facts respecting the above are simply these:
George Kempton, one of the patients referred to,
claims to hail from Maiden, Massachusetts He
came as passenger to these Islands in 1919, not
os a sick and destitute American seaman, which
is the only class of men the United States under
takes to provide for in foreign ports. He worked
his trade ms n mason here for several years,
paying taxes in the meantime. About
1854, he showed symptoms of insanity. as sup
posed, and about this time also he was imprisoned
in Honolulu by the Government for over Il year,
for what cause their records will probably show.
After his release from prison he became Il eORre-
uIenf man for DIR. Lathrop then United States
Consul, and was by him foisted upon the United
as n sick and destitute American seaIDan;
and from him was passed down through the vari-
ous administrations of Parker, Pratt, Dougherty,
and Caldwell, until Mr.. L. +. Wilson arrived to
investigate the Consular affairs.
1t was then seen at once that Kempton had no
to the Hospital relief, that he was a " bum
not insane, or if so of q very convenient
type not described in the books, which enabled
aim whenever he wanted change to leave the
for days at n time, and seek it among
the natives. Up to the date of his dismissal the
United States had been mulcted for his support
$1,000, and as the only wny to balance this
,ne sided account Mr.. Wilson turned him out of
the Hospital, from whence he vent among a