The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-10-16

To The Editor Of As Pacific Commercial Advertiser:
SIR Now that free expression ON both sides, has
somewhat tempered the public feeling in regard to
matters pertaining to the practice of medicine in this
little place. and, as a consequences, people have be-
come less inclined TO take extreme party views Of the
subject, I trust that the following remarks may re-
ceive q share Of attention, even If they should fall
harmlessly upon the obtuser members Of a Profession
who, having, as a brotherhood. long since lost their
prestige for pure philanthropy. are everywhere seek
ing to force upon people by legal enactments and
otherwise, their own peculiar party-claims.
think it matter Of little surprise that with grow
ing intelligence, there should be heard among COM
moners an indignant protest against the traditionary
faith in the infallibility Cf doctors.
In this respect the time is pear when new light
will deal with them as il LIS already done with
popery. As TO our local aflaiB l cannot see how any
one after investigating the mGtter can avoid the con-
clusion that our Board Of Health Is little better than
a farce, whose chief end seems to be 10 protect 10
certain parties q very lucrative business. "
Under the auspices Of this august body the doctor
and his business are sacred. N
Under the present regime he can land does) re-
fuse to attend the sieks unless the case is fitted 70 the
following requirements the Doctors payment must
be guaranteed beforehand; the time and place Of visit
must be convenient (unless special considerations be
offered II the case be otherwise); the patient must
have had none other to attend him in his illness pre-
NlOuel1g Al kDJ uCCllCull u DatlCuI owes
the doctor a bill, it must first be paid, or a sufficient
endorser be found; there must be no personal dislikes
between the doctor and patient; the sum Of which
considerations amounts TO this, that il the doctor
feels exactly inclined TO attend a patient he does 90,
if not he simply refuses. Under these circumstances
il not unfrequently happens that the sick 1.-THE poor)
go without the skilled attendance which the Board
holds to be so essential
If the sick one dies, the Board has nothing to say
about the matter-unless he has been subsequently,
treated by some unskilled without dipIoma) person,
who may have taken a fee, In which case 1t becomes
its solemn duty to sustain the dignity Of both the
law and the profession. The offender is forthwith
condemned for malpractice or manslaughter. Sup
posing the case to be altered, and the sick live, the
irregular practitioner (f discoyered) is fined or i'm
prisoned-not Of course for saving life. (this would
be too absurd) but for practicing without license,
which amounts to the same thing az interfering with
trade.
The Board of Health and those enjoying its patro-
mage In the matter Of license, are perfectly willing
that any one wishing to do so, shall prescribe oil the
medicine he pleases so long as no charges are made.
1t would seem from this, that the danger Of injury to
the patient from the indiscriminate administration
Of drugs by unskilled persons, is a matter Of no i'm
portance whatever. the only consideration being the
fee, which is to be regarded as the rightful property
only Of the doctor. ! know that 1t may he objected
that, in this matter the Board are only enforcing a
distinct provision Of the law, with the making Of
which they were unconcerned. This may be 90;
but, there are other laws On our statute books, which
being opposed to common justice and public opinion,
are AlIOWeu 10 remain unODserfeu, auu tue DOaru IN
their actions, at times, have not been remiss in max
ing such distinctions themselves.
For instance, the Law is as distinct upon the two
points Of professiOHGI qualification and good moral
character, as il is on that Of the fee; but while the
latter has been strictly o6serUed, the former has
been entirely ignored.
The Board must know that the natives known as
DR.. Judd's students, and also the Cinnamon at pres
et practicing under its sanction, are all totally I'M
qualified, in the technical meaning Of that word. II
has been said that as these licensees received their
licenses under q preceding administration, the pres
ent Board have nothing TO do with the matter. The
case Of the Rev. l.. Smith is sufficient evidence that
they have perfect control Of such matters, and exer-
else that control when it pleases them to do 20.
When the ex-Minister Of Interior, DIR. Hutchison,
licensed the several Irregular practitioners referred
to, II was doubtless from a knowledge Of the INSULT
cheney Of the supply Of regular practitioners in pro-
portion to the demand for medical aid, and from
purely philanthropic motives. In doing this he sup
piled an acknowledged need with the best material
at hand. To form an adequate idea Of the disparity
Of supply and demand just mentioned, a few figures
will be necessary. The whole kona district OF Oahu
contains a population Of about 1900, and affords a
handsome support 70 an average Of from seven 10
eight doctors (Which Of course must be needed)
which makes the requirement, at the least figure,
one physician to every 1000 inhabitants. The re.
mainder Of the population on this Island (about gix
thousand) arc without any one but kdhaHds TO call
upon in case Of sickness. Fifteen thousand people,
in the Maui district, are supplied with one medical
adviser, who may be found 10 case Of need anywhere
within a radius Of seventy miles, extending over sea
aud land. Kauai, containing a population Of six
thousand il supplied with one physician ,SLois, as
I am Informed, in too feeble health TO be ~dTSurbed
BY patients at night, or 10 travel beyond his own o.
mediate district, People wishing TO consult the doc
tor, have to travel 10 him from distances, varying