The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-04-05
THE BOARD OF A

In the prosecution of their Grduous and very i'm
portant duties, the Board of Health has our most
cordial sympathy and support. No position half
so trying is occupied by any official or board un-
der the Government. To men of any sensibilities,
or who have a kindly human sympathy with the
unfortunate and suffering, the execution of the
laws in relation to the unfortunate lepers, is cal
culated to make their hearts bleed and their eyes
overflow with tears.
And yet the stern necessities of the case require
them to subdue their sympathies, and to subject
their feelings TO the imperative discharge of the
duties imposed upon them by the law.
Twenty-Five years ago, few if any cases OF this
fatal disease were known in the Hawaiian Islands.
But on the Sd of January 1865, the following
preamble to Act to prevent the spread o:
Leprosy," shows that the disease had made such
progress that additional legislative action had be-
came necessary:
Whereas, the disease of leprosy has spread TO a
considerable extent among the people, and the spread
thereof has excited well grounded alarms and
lrheTeas, further, some doubts have been expressed
regarding the powers Of the Board of Health IN the
premises, notwithstanding the 3O2d Section of the
Civil Code aud Lrhereas, in the opinion of this As
sembly, the 302d Section is properly applicable to the
treatment of persons afflicted with leprosy yet for
greater certainty, and for the mere sure protection
of the people" &c.
The law enacted ut that time authorized the
Board Of Health to provide an establishment for
the isolation and seclusion of lepers and to cause
them to be isolated and confined.
In obedience to the above law, the Board of
Health with great %promptness secured a tract of
land on Molokai of large extent, erected a large
and commodious establishment, and commenced
Immediately the removal of leprous cases thither.
But in connection with the removal of the lepers
to Molokai, quite a large number of healthy per-
sons were allowed to accompany them, who went
in the capadity of kOku0S or helpers. These ex-
posed themselves to the disease, and when they
returned, on the death of their friends, were
liable to contaminate others, and thus continue
to spread the disease.
In consequence of this danger the Legislative
Assembly in 1870, added to the previous law the
: F,lIoy;,r striprapt Saotia--
"a SEC. 5 ~. No person, not being a leper, shall
be allowed to visit or remain upon the land, place or
Enclosure, set apart by the Board of Health for the
isolation and confinement of lepers, without the
written permission of the President of the Board, or
some officer authorized thereto by the Board Of
Health, under any circumstances whatever, and any
person found upon such land. place or inclosure,
without n written permission. shall upon conviction
thereof. before any Police or District Justice, be fined
in q sum not less than ten nor more than one hun
hiCd uolidlS lI SuSu uChSC uhd III l1H VI pay
ment, to be imprisoned at hard labor until the fine
and costs Of Court are discharged in due course Of
law"
The views of the Board of Health at that date,
are the views of the present Board. If the loath-
some and fatal disease of leprosy is to be eradica-
ted from the Hawaiian Islands, every known
case must be isolated, and outside communication
with them suspended.
The execution of the law often occasions sepa-
rations that are very painful to witness, but par
TALLY in its execution would only lead to hard
feeling, and a sense of injustice and favoritism,
which could not be met or garnished.
And now what is the sense Of the community
on this important question. Shall the law be ex-
ecuted, or its operation suspended? Is not the rap
Id speed of the disease since 1865 q sure indication
that if is left unchecked. another decade would find
but few left who had not fallen victims to the
frightful scourge? We think so. And in this
view of the case, is it not a little discouraging to
find dcmagogues melting the people to oppose
this sanitary measure, and throwing obstacles in
the way Of its humane execution. Shall not, rather
the safety of the many be considered, as far out
weighing the feelings of the few?