The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-11-16

: elementary instruction N the trratmenV
Of sickness and disease; or to learn any
thing of hygienic rules for the preserva-
ton of health; or the curing of those
simple maladies which form so large
part of the ailments of population.
Outside the seaport towns, there are no
resident physicians, atd@consequentfs, in
the country districts, proper medieattreat-
ment is almost, if not quite, beyond the
reach Of the people; and by reason Of the
population being scattered over large
areas, it is most unlikely that any i'm
proyement wiz ever take place through
the voluntary settlement of foreign ply
sicians in tine various districts OF the
/ Islands. g.tr .asssaa III g 81. a.raa
In the matter of health, therefore, the
people are left to take care of themselves,
depending either upon their own crude
and imperfect knowledge of medicines, or
what is far worse, the dangerous remedies
and the death-provoking practices of the
native Kahunas. These persons, despite
the oft-repeated instances of their utter
inability to deal with disease even in its
simplest forms, and the many unnecessary
and suddenly fatal examinations which
end their patient and treatment at one
and the same time, are still able TO retain
their hold as skillful doctors, upon the
imagination OF the natives chiefly because
there are no others of their own race who
are better instructed than they in theuse of
medicines, or who have a superior knowl-
edge of the nature and treatment of diseas-
es. Medical superstition is stronghold in
the hands of the native charlatan, from
which he can only be driven out and his
practices be rendered harmless by arming
some Of like class with himself with
sufficient medical education to meet and
combat his miscellaneous, ignorant, and
bad practice. g aiaoe71a9 s-e
The law is insufficient to meet this evil,
although its penalty for malpractice is
heavy, and although the courts have, in
some instances, applied the punishment
in cases where the death of tie confding
victim has been little short of murder at
the hands of the ignorant kahuna
As these persons thrive by the ignorance
of the people concerning proper medical
treatment, and depend upon that tendency
in every sick person, whether of this nation
or any other, to listen to any information,
however absurd, which promises to shed
light on the path to restored health, and
to try any remedy, however inappropriate
and severe, which they are assured will
prove a sovereign and sure cure; so it is
their interest to perpetuate popular belief
in their skill, and to make popular supersti-
ton retain its hold upon the public
We advert to one that has been so
sedulously instilled into the Hawaiians
that it may almost be said to have become
an universal belief: Certain kinds of dis
ease or sickness are mai ntdoli certain
other kinds are mai haole The former,
therefore, can only be cured by native
doctors and native medicines, they are be-
yond the reach of foreign physicians;
the latter can, perhaps, be treated advan-
tageously by the foreigners, as they know
something about them.
However absurd such classification of
diseases may be, and more especially as
the range is extended or shortened, ac-
coraing to the belief that the individual
kahuna treating the case may have in his
own medical skill, or perhaps in the pecu-
mary reward, or otherwise, that is in
prospect, its effect, in perpetuating bad
practice and in sacrificing the lives and
health of the people, is just as large as
though the classification were the sound
est IN the world H
1t is impossible, we believe, to recon-
struct an old kahuna by any instruction
in the domain of the medical art, or
to supplant his influence over the peo-
pie by any amount of talent in i'm
ported medical men. But we do believe
that he may be gradually rooted out, and !
his place supplied by native practitioners, 1
who, having a fair knowledge of the /
proper treatment of the simpler forms of
disease, the nursing of the sick, the man.
agement Of the sick room, and the ability
to instruct their ailing neighbors and
friends in hygiene and the rules for the
preservation of health, will do a great
deal for the preservation of life among
the native people. Among such native
doctors viii probably arise some who will
be ambitious to go abroad, in order to fit
themselves thoroughly, while in any case,
they win acquire sufficient knowledge to
distinguish grave diseases from light ones,
and TO recommend such as are beyond
their own skill to the hospitals, or the care
of our competent physicians. i
IL