The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-24

Pay"asfc5's IeIk-Dav MoTrat.
DraUghtsmGH-H. Bayer.
Mr.. EDITOR The subject Of leprosy on these
islands cannot be too carefully weighed when we
consider the vital relation it seems to bear to the
very existence of this people, a proper appreciation
of which has, until quite lately, been entirely neg
lected. From this and allied diseases, and from
causes particularly favorable to their dissemination,
to be found in the habits of the people, the seed of
decay has germinated and is fast cropping out into
full luxuriance, threatening their utter extinction
and that ut no very distant period. Whether this
disease has of late received any fresh impulse from
the introduction of a new influence, or whether the
extra exertious of our new Board of Health in the
discovery of its hiding places, have caused such
results, remains to be proved; but the fact is appar-
ent that the proportion of recognizable lepers cap
tured within the last few months have nearly equnlled
the previous accumulation of years. One or both of
these causes might upon investigation be made &c
c%ountable for this apparent increase of the disease.
Bearing with it the germ of reduplication, however
small the existing seed, it is capable like all zymotic
germs of indefinitely multiplying upon itself. And
thus, whatever care may be bestowed upon attempts
at removal and i~solations, the task Of entirely eradi-
eating it, must prove for q protracted time exceed
ingly difficult, if not entirely impossible. But that
duty points in this direction, no one can deny; and
the only question is as to the most e~xpedient and
humane way of procedure.
Among the first of our efforts, should be a thorough
investigation of the most probable causes of its rapid
propagation, otherwise our preventive measures will
necessarily prove abortiye. That it is readily propa-
gated and even hereditary is known, but as to the
most prolific cause of its dissemination, irrespective
of its existence as a congenital affection, from want
Of evidence or observation Our in formation IA NOT 60
clear. And that it may be COMPOUNDED with, or ag-
gravated by, s~yphilitic faint seems to be a question
more worthy of study than at a superficial glance
might appear. But, be this as it may, the disease
known here as leprosy, and on account of which its
unfortunate victims are forcibly isolated from society
at large and considered as legally dead, is sufficiently
terrible to command the attention of every thinking
mind in something more important than the mere
consideration Of a term most applicable to its desig-
nation. Call it leprosy, or call it syphilis, the dis
case is the same-at once revolving and deadly. And
it is this fact more than any other that demands our
attention and care. Surprising in the first place CO.
habitation and contact of any kind to be q fruitful
source of its dissemination we cannot in reviewing
the means hitherto adopted for its prevention, but
consider them as utterly useless, if not even favoriug
its rapid spread.
In regard to the institution at Kalhi as formerly
conducted, We might without fear of contradiction
say, that is was but the nucleus around which the
disease festered, communicating the whole vicinity
n poison-hOuse without a barrier to the ready egress
Of its inmates, some of whom have been known to
have roamed about at will, under cover of night,
through the streets of our city, mixing freely with
whom they pleased, requiring only to return regu-
larly before daylight to evade the observation of
their keeper. Brought here perhaps from some dis
trict sparsely inhabited, and capable of exerting this
freedom to mingle with the throng of a populous
town, is it not likely that the field for their work os
contamination should be thereby, greatly increased?
Again, glancing at the regulations of the settle
ment at Kalaupapa, and taking also into considera-
ton its natural features as a place of confinement,
can we soy that anything like perfect isolation is
effected? impossible mountains may wall it in on
every side, but what avsileth all this, when q harbor
like Kalaupapa is open to all who in ships should
wish to visit it from the sea Although the isolation
of lepers in this valley might be made complete, and
their escape be rendered almost impossible, by the
adoption of proper means, yet, under the present
regime, they still have facilities of mixing (f not so
freely as before) with others untainted by the dis
ease. The friends Of the leprous are allowed access
10 their quarters, and even make express visits to
their suffering friends and relations, and this too
after knowing the truth Of the remark made lin his
last report to the Legislature) by the late President
of the Board of Health, that the lires of half a
dozen are endangered by the aloha TO one person. 1t
seems an anomaly that a loathsome thing for its sup
posed infection should be cast out from our midst
only to be sought after and again received into our
bosoms in another locality. You say to the leper;
you are LoGthsome-depart from among US and re-
turn not, for zoe fear the CONCENTRATING influence of
your proximity. And yet with the veriest incon-
sistency imaginable, admission is not denied to the
heslthy-from whose society they were but yester-
day cast out, to the place Of their pseudo quarantine.
Until stringent laws are enacted to prevent under
circumstances the commingling Of those untainted
with the diseased Of the settlement, or until q rule
shall be made, forcing those who having once volun-
tarily entered the plague-stricken spot TO be con-
sidered, and be treated, as one of the settlement, no
hope for al eradication Of the disease can ever be
looked for. In fine weather, communication may be
readily effected with the settlements further to the
windward of the island by means of small craft or
and even canoes. Recourse is had at times to
this mode of communication persons from the other
valleys making frequent visits to the leper settlement,
and if report be true. receiving Mt time. visits from