The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-09-19

we are warranted, by the testimony o: the Board
itself. in condemning them as outrageous and
demanding that they be rectifed.
But more especially in regard 10 the cell for
lepeH at the prison, their conduct is particularly
noticeable and reprehensible. What an effect
ual means this, Of aiding that complete and
absolute isolation which is deemed necessary 10
erfer1ninGte the disease, \ door opens into the
prison yard, through which access Is had TO the
LPers' cell; prisoners are required TO take them
their food, and clean the cell, for it is not 70 be
supposed that rotting extremities, as many lepers
are known to have, Will be capable of rendering
necessary assistance to the miserable being of
which they form n part. What double injustice
this to the one whose lot it is 70 do this truly
APPALLING work, leaving aside the danger oi con-
tagion 70 all with whom this prisoner Is again
brought into continual contact. Is this the
81 isolation /" that the Board intend to practice?
That this is rank injustice 10 the prisoners, no
one can doubt and we are constrained 10 be-
lieye that such an action Is illegal. Whether or
not, according to law, in case OF contagion under
these circumstances, whoever may be the authol;
of this evil, would not be responsible TO the at
ficted party for damages, is a question. But,
that in such a case be, or they, (whoeyer have
charge,) would be morally responsible Ne the
cause of their - inerifa5le course To the Craze
every one will agree. From facts that are cuI-
rent. il would seem that the whole system en-
ployed to prevent the spread of this king Of
terrors Oor IL Is worse than death) is little
better than useless even at Molokai, for there the
husbands of diseased women and the wives OF
diseased husbands are allowed unrestricted inter
Course with the leucrs.
Although there is a law by which tins COM
munieation might be prevented, there is none by
which, after having - communicated, they can
be prevented from returning whensoever they
list, TO spread the infection which may hang
about them. However hard it may seem to scIa-
rate husband and wife, parent and child, the
public good Is a sufficient excuse, and it Is only
falsc humanity or perverted philanthropy which
would sacrifice the public safety, TO the comfort
and indulgence of a few unfortunate individuals
who themselves even, can gain no real benefit by 1t.
Too much importance cannot be given to this
subject and, until the Board and its executive
agents have shown by their conduct that they
appreciate the importance of the momentous in
terests committed to their care, the public ought
to be unreuli;ting in their efforts TO impress it
upon them and if they are unequal to the task,
they will appear 10 much greater advantage in
the public estimation, by rcsigning the posts
which their actions have proved them so incom-
petent to FIJI.
One thing il certain. that the life of the natiorf
is wasting away with frightful r~apidity. No
schemes to introduce foreign population will he
Of any use while we neglect to care for what we
have. The employment of persons to make
,I...r,r. .c,r. .F fha Ia1,nI. rular tho pau,a 80
travelling agents of the Board of Health-to ride
around Oahu and report four or Eve cases of
leprosy where forty or fifty are known to exist
is not the way To stay the plague or save this
dying people.
From all qusrters-from Kauai, from Maui,
and from Hawaii-wc hear the repeated echo that
the leprosy l. spreading at n fearful rate, and the
groans of the poor creatures, hid away in huts-,
and caves, are heard night and day praying for
relief. Something must be done, or five years
hence will see n thousand lepers where now there
are n hundred, and ten years later the Island of
MOlokai will become the grave yard of the Eia-
waiian people. -
The above article has been in type two weeks,
and since it was set up, we learn some facts per-
tanning TO what has lately been accomplished.
The same reasons that led 10 the preparation Of
this article have sparEed the Board ~ increased
activity in searching out cases of leprosy, at least
on this island. Daring the last four weeks, 10
cases Of confirmed leprosy have been sent to Mo-
lokni, SO confirmed cases arc now in the hospital,
81 suspected cases are in charge, required to re-
;Jrt to tie physician from time to time, and the
names Of thirty others are on the roll rs tainted
but not yet examined, making n total OF l46 con-
firmed. doubtful and suspected cases collected
from this island alone.
Active search, we are informed, will soon be
made on Maui, Hawaii and Kauai, and it Is prob
that quite as many lepers will be found on
the first two named islands as on Oahu, all of
whom will be taken charge of as speedily as pos
sible, and all confirmed cases sent to Molokoi.