The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-05-13


Two Of the inmates are discharged seameu
from the U. s. Hospital one of these went
direct to the Institution Of bis own will the
other was sent there by the U. S. Consul Gen.
NJ. l.. Smith, and from some Misunderstanding
the Government at Washington have not au-
thoriEed the payment of his board, &C., for
the last three months.
The total expenditure for the year 1867 has
been 81 ,4l0 20 receipts from private patients,
81 ,O7s IS. Thus an average expenditure from
the public funds of $527 81 per month has
been required
The full expenditure of the establishment
for the last two years will be found in a sepa-
rate table.
Wherever possible the Board has appointed
physicians to look after such poor Hawaiians
az may be unable to pay the usual fees, and
this policy they will be happy to continue. and
to enlarge the scope of its operations, when
ever an opportunity presents itself. Medicines
have also been supplied to any gentleman
making application for them. who was willing
to devote a portion of his time to their distrib-
ution it is believed that great deal of suffer
ing has been relieved, and that much good has
been done by this means and it is the opinion
of the Board, that the system may be very
extended and improved, by the establishment
on each island of small hospital, containing
about twenty beds, with dispensary attached.
Whether they should be considered branches
Of the Queens Hospital in Honolulu. or sepa-
rate and distinct institutions, is a matter for
the consideration of the Legislature, sho1ld
they think it well to provide the funds for
their establishment. Perhaps it would be
better, at least at first, to have them attached
to the Queens Hospital the experience gained
already by the trustees of that institution
ell. 4
ayers of the branch establishments and, fur
thermore, tn ere being fund Of nearly $4,000
to the credit of that establishment. by follow
ing such course, the direct appropriation
from the Legislature need not be so large, as
would be necessary, we're the small hospitals
made independent.
The establishment of steam communication
between San Francisco and Honofulu will
doubtless increase the number of visitors land
ing here, and increased vigilance on the part
of the Board will be required to prevent the
introduction Of infectious diseases. For this
purpose, building should be at their disposal
at any moment, for the isolation of those dis
eased persons who may be thought dangerous
the community at large. The house belong
ing to Mr.. Sumner. and situated on the reef, is
thought to be well adapted for that purpose,
and should the Legislature vote the sum asked
for by the Board, an attempt will be made to
secure the control Of it to that use. Another
question connected with the subject Of these
diseases is important. Whether in such cases,
the persons quarantined should not be forced
to repay the whole amount expended on their
cure during their detention. 1t is difficult to
see why the tax payers Of this kingdom should
be burdened with such expenses as these.
The Board is we'll aware that the charge on
the Government funds under the operation of
the "Act to Mitigate" &C., is not popular
one with many persons in the community, and
feeling this very strongly, when the appropri-
alton was found deficient, the dispensary for
carrying out its objects was abolished for a
time but was afterwards restored. very
slight experience showing that the public
health would seriously suffer from its discon-
tinuance, and that a great increase of public
and open prostitution would ensue. The bene-
fits rendered are therefore very great in COM
parison to the small expense incurred by its
maintenance.
During the past year, the health of the peo-
pie has been comparatively good, but larger
number of deaths from accidents have occur
red The number of births and deaths for the
two years ending Dec. 81, 1867. were as fol-
lows: 1866 Births, 17l3; deaths, 294l.
lS67-Births, 1747 deaths, 2606. Excess of
deaths over births in 1866, 1925 in 1867, $50.
In conclusion, the Board trusts that the Leg
isature will place at its disposal the sum asked
for in the Appropriation Bill. The amount is
the same as that which was freely granted by
the Legislature of 1864. There are hopes, in
deed, that the whole will not be required but
it is very desirable that the Board should feel
that it has the necessary funds at its disposal
for the ordinary provisions for the public
health.
MAY GOD PRESERVE THE KINGi
For the Board: