The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-05-22
I.eper TrenIuleuI.

Mi. EDTor - assure you that l have no arnbi-
ton to appear in print; yet in selfjustihcation l am
compelled to DO 50; and as it is a matter Of public
interest, You viii obige me by publishing the follow
ing statement:
Ia the course Of my practice during the last few
years | have treated many cases Of what Is commonly
called lepro<y, and l found that even confirmed cases
were cured when they followed my prescriptions for
a sufficient length Of time. But as many were either
unable 10 continue to pay for medicine, or when
they got a little better, considered it unnecessary TO
continue the treatment, l had not the opportunity Of
eicctiug so many cures as | might have done under
more favorable circumstances; and although perfectly
satisfied myself Of my ability TO cure a majority Of
the cases which presented themselves, could not
convince the authorities that l could Go 50 IS, If l
should show them a patient l had cured. they would
deny that he had had the disease; and if should
let them see him before l commenced my treatment,
he would be Immediately ordered TO hahhi or Mo
lokai.
Now, believing that a government which processes
so great 4 desire TO increase the population OF the
country by importing kanakas from other islands,
would be most anxious to try any and every means
TO preserve the population they have, by arresting a
disease which is carrying off hundreds, l communi-
Gated my ideas 10 the Honorable President of the
Board Of Health, who, although expressing his dis
belief in my ability to cure them, Immediately prof
fered TO place q number Of patients in the kalihi
hospital under my charge; and on my saying that
the treatment would require to be continued for from
nine to eighteen months, he told me I could have
them as long as l wished.
Consequently in the beginning of January 1 took
charge of FIVE patients in the Kalihi hospital, one Of
whom, in whom modification had already COM
- IL = -. III. ,+ln~- rro-o o1
doing very well, and l had no doubt of their recovery
in the time l had allotted myself, when, without any
notice whatever being given to me, they were sent
off to Molokai. The first l knew of it was from the
poor people on their way to the schooner, coming to
me and asking me to prevent their removal. | felt
truly sorry for them. There they were going to a
certain and horrible death from which l believe l
could save them, were 1 not prevented from doing so
by the selfish jealousy of those in charge of the hos
pital. For l cannot otherwise account for their re-
moval, than by supposing that the visiting physician
was afraid that if l cured them he would lose his
sine ~(without) cure situation. For he does not even
pretend to cure q single case. Now such a fear was
utterly groundless so far rs l am concerned, as l am
neither seeking favor nor reward, 1t Being my inten-
ton to leave the Kingdom in a few months. l was
visiting the hospital and supplying the patients with
medicine at my OIcn expense, with no prospect of re-
Enumeration, aud therefore consider that l had n
right to have a fair trial as l was promised.
1 maintain that my patients were doing as well as
| expected. l doubt not those who removed them
will assert that they We're getting no better-perhaps
that they were getting worse. Mere assertions prove
nothing. All | ask is that l have time for a fair
trial; then whether | fail or succeed there can be no
doubt about the matter. Nobody has anything to
lose by their remaining under my care except myself;
and the object TO be gained by my success is of the
first and most vital Importance to this nation, namely
the preservation and continuance of the Hawaiian race.
For who can doubt but that unless that loathsome
disease which is now extending and consuming the
very vitals Of the nation be arrested, the lovely val
leys and ~park-like plains of Hawaii mel, where once
innumerable children Of the soil lived in happiness
and plenty, viii become n desolation, trodden only
by the herds and focks of the haole.
y. KENNEDY, y. NJ, VI. D., VI. c.