The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-06-08

however, need not have occurred, had the people
taken the advice rendered them, both verbally aud
from directions published in the Az OKoA, and dis
tributed in separate slips to influential Individuals
around the island the fever has been of two kinds
one of continued Initiative type, the other is scar
let fever, which made its appearance here in the first
instance, the Island of OAHU and had apparently
very little effect on the native race this has also
been the Hawaii and Kauai, from which Is
lands reports made that few of this DIS
ease had appeared, mild in form and resulting fa-
vorably. DR.. Storer has been placed in medical
charge of the Island of Maui, and has been well
received by its peoples he has travelled through the
several districts, distributing medicine and giving
advice to those who willing to accept it.
Those portions of Dr. Storers letters which bear
this matter are given below:
LAHArNA, MAUI, April lsth 1870
sIR:-''T The plague % which is decimating the
natives upon this island is 'scarlatna aDginosa,
and the treatment adopted by me was, first, an ac-
tive eathartic of calomcl and rhubarb, calome
and jaap, followed by the chorate Of potsssa used
both internally and gargle in the proportion Of
a tablespoon to pint of water. or this table
spoonful every two hours, gargling the throat at
the same time In my hands this attended with
satisfactory results. Usually tonic OF gum
seneca wise precaution; the mode of living and
general habits of the people are apt to provoke
relapse
- This is, perhaps, as simple plan of treatment
be devised, aud one that any one of ordinary
understanding can carry out. The prominent symp-
toms of scarlatina very well be overlooked,
as the intense headache, sore throat, crimson
cous membrane, high fever and eruption, plain
enough to be perceived by any tyro in medicine.
The eruption, though, was often absent or failed
TO detect it.
But, there were very many more cases OF what
have denominaied acute fever; this is an Initiative
fever without any particular pathological lesion and
which is simple enough if promptly treated; but
usually fatal If neglected In this affection the
tongue is coated, pulse one hundred, one hundred
and twenty hundred aud forty, skin hot and
dry, the bowels usually eonstipated or impereetly
opened and complaints made of pain in the Wa6iR
cal region
"This is not contagious, but extremely prevalent,
and very many, indeed die of it,
1.-The treatment is good cathartic, followed by
the nitrate of potassa, tablespoonful every hour
or two until perspiration occurs, then tonic.
Under this mode of treatment the affection is usual
/ ly cut short and fair recovery soon follows.
when started upon my tour proposed to dis
tribute remedies with instructions, to competent
and responsible persons; but l found so much sick
ness and many patients visited me, that this In.
tention frustrated for want of supplies in fact
could not carry sufficient for my own service, but
had to renew my stores before leaving waihee.
Again, it was difficult for me to find parties,
outside of the plantations, who would be willing to
do this work. The owners OF plantations take
comparatively good care OF their people aud issue
medical remedies not only to them gratuitously,
but to all Others who apply
aside from the plantations, could not aud
single individual who offered his services to dis
tribute medicines,
Among the natives there are some who wish to
perform this duty; but have so little experience
thatT dare not recommend them, but must leave Il .
TO your moUe extended aud ripper knowledge to .
judge Of their eompeIeney,n
Under date Of May LIST, he says;
MY services have been devoted to attending ep, .
on those sick aud wounded, g,a,aitaOesly who IL, .
Spircd il; aud from the tabular report il win be .
seen that my time was not IDLY spSat, was sur,
pylsed to 6aa So much sickness, with such variety
Of disvase-aorV diversified aud vireloa, than Is .
usually met with IN The aiSPSassTy practice Of
large city,
"It is very sad To Know that much Of this saler-
ing might &c cured or at least aesiatea. ftheseUu,
foytaaa,es could only be taught how 10 care Tor
themselves, and DC educated 10 the knowledge tAa,
there arr some members Of the profession, who
really ar Interested Tor the sake Of science or ha,
mani,y, in curing people,
"The fever so much spoken about as having
such rapid aud fatal termination is seNrlatina an
gnosa It's initiation Is marked by general feeling
Of prostaliOn with pains In the throat and Stiffness
Of the neck, On the second day the pharypx Is In,
famed, deglutiton Is difficult, aud the mucous mem
brane presents vivid rcd appearance, This is FOL
lowed by intense headache, congestion Of the eyes
and Increased febrile excitement the pulse running
up TO one hundred and twenty OF one huddred aud
forty The bowels usually eonstipated, in fact,
this is an almost invariahle eoneomitant, Daring
the third fourth days the tongue is Of dnsky nd
color, dry and roughened by the elevated papilla,
symptoms OF gastritis with nausea aud nose bleeding
supervene, the sufferer becomes restless, the mind
wanders, the language is ineohcrcnt, delirum sue
eeeds and death. The Characteristic eruption ap-
pears on tbs third day. though this is not well marked
as it sometimes disappears suddenly frequently on
the day after its appearance and returns again al
uncertain period.
Throughout the disease the patient complains OF
nothing but sore throat and headache is Indifferent
10 nourishment, lies in eomatoSe state or is &C
lively restless, and dies in three or i've days,
There can be no doubt about Its eoutagiousnosS !
for many cases came under my observation where !
those affected had been removed to another locality
differing totally In Its surroundings aud their advent
formed centre from which the disease radiated. {
The peculiar sentiment OF the people which de- a
mands change OF residence when they are sick, Is
fruitful source OF It's propagation. The form Of
treatment adopted by me was, 1t the bowels had
not been opened to administer brisk cathariic ol-
lowed by the ohlorate Of posssa, given both inter
nally and Is garglc aud amer eonvalosccncc was
established exhibit quinine as a tonic, to promote
\ safe recovery, y
The general public usually apply the expression
II fever to all affections accompanied by an sccol q
grated pslse ana bot, dry skin, Every atmospheric h
,hsogc Is followed BY sickness ana death, ana Nc q
,rc a. likely 10 aud case Of pneumonia IS anything
slSe which has been represented as fever, more OF
cSs bad.
TAc mortality on this Island Is sAocsiags !,
,evef knew IN now that people could die 50 easily
Y with much fnaife-eucc bat the ratio q deaths
rom scarac;ina Is not lspcc, when compared with =,
hsl from all other diseases
- Il Is pot ucccSsSrS cor nc 10 sPeoiSs IN detail /,
he sanitary oauScs 81 this extreme oSaoxsoesness =
. disosces Se, briefly remark shss TIC national h. =