The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-07-05

To te Editor Of the Pacific Commercial advertiser:
SR:-T have read in your last issue with much
interest your very appropriate remarks upon the
communication of J. O.. c., on the use Of opium II
these islands, with an especial reference to its dele
terious effects upon the natives, many Of whom have
unfortunately contracted thst terrible vice, (the
habitusl use Of this most pernieious drug. / mos;
eordially endorse every word you have written, and
fully agree with you that it Is high time that some
real and energetic steps should be taken to put a
stop to q traffic so ~nefarious and fraught with 50
many evil results, physically, morally and socially.
As you request further testimony on the subject /
have no hesitation in adding mine. | regret 70 say
that within the last few years, a very considerable
number of Hawaiisns have come under my obServa-
ton, or care professionally, suffering from IFS effects.
Many of these were young females, who had con-
tracted the habit from Cinnamon with whom they
were living, or associating more or less intimately,
and I am most reluctantly constrained TO state that
tnoe its use is increasing amongst the natives,
which, when we consider our very limited popnla-
ton, certainly appears rather a slur upon the author
tiles, whose duty it is to suppress it. The law under
which the licenses to sell opium are granted, restricts
its sale to Cinnamon only. Surely if due vigilance
were exercised in a matter of such vital Importance,
and a few salutary examples made, the use of this
drug in the form alluded to might at least be re-
stricted to the class intended by the law.
When on this subject, 1 cannot help reverting to
another which IN my humble opinion is productive
of much more mischief from Its more general use,
and therefore well worthy of reform. 1 mean the
too general use, and I may say the comparatively
unrestricted sale of ava, the deleterious effects of
which are so well known to all who take the least in
J .o-aa, IN tba uaIfaro Of this poopia According ~
the law, this root can only be sold on the production
of a medical certificate, stating the disease for lchich
IT as intended ; this must be in every case fled away
and produced on demand. But what is the practical
working of the law? Ava is drank only for its in
toxicating effects, and no respectable medical man
having the least knowledge OF natives would stOop to
such a miserable subterfuge, thereby lending himself
to the evasion of a law which his conscience must
tell is right and proper, and only intended for good /;
consequently the right of granting these certificates
has been given to other men not regularly qualified,
who probably, in ignorance of the evil they are
causing, freely issue them to every applicant. receiv-
ing the usual fee. Before L was aware of the injuri-
GUS results from the habitual use of ava, 1 was occa-
sionally in the habit of giving these certificates, behev-
ing that it was used rs represented, incidentally, but
as soon as | found that many diseases Insanity fore
most among them) we're at least aggravated II not pro-
duced by It. I have persistently refused granting
them, although frequently importuned to do so.
Seeing the rapid diminutiOn in the native population
from q variety of causes, many Of which can be
ameliorated if not entirely removed, it IS high time
that all the sanitary Iqlrs in the statute books hav-
ing a tendency to stop this decrease, should be vigor-
ously enforced, and | am satisfied that every right
feeling man in this community will give his influence
and help to such a noble work, in which there is SO
little time to be lost, for
GOOD is hest when soonest wrought,
Lingering labors come 10 nought"
RoBERr MCKIBBIN, Jr., NJ. d.