The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-03-07
Oar Health.

Of the diseases and plaques which have so fire.
quently, in the past, decimated the most popu-
lous nations, and which are still, III spite of
the advances Of science, greatly feared in
almost every land, we cannot oarelessly de-
vote ourselves exclusively Ia the pursuit of
wealth, or honor, or pleasure, with no regard
to our physical well-heing, without having
sooner or later to pay the penalty. The con-
ditions of health here are the same US they |
sre in other lands. As q community we must |
expect, or rather VIC positively know, that i'll
the near future our neglect of ordinary sani-
tary laws in the city of Honolulu, with re-
spect TO drainage and removal of excrementi- |
tious accumulations, will result in rheumatism, /
fever, diptheria, and other PHYSICAL ailm ents |
which will largely increase the death-rate. |
and will also lower the tone Of general health. |
The case of the city of Port Louis, in Mauri-
| tius, stands terrible warning TO us. From
being one of the most delightful and healthy
towns in the tropical world, it was finally
converted, through inattention to the agencies
| above alluded to, into lazaretto, where, at
different periods in IFS history, typhoid fever
and other kindred diseases have been ramp
ant, Staying their tens of thousands.
But il was not our intention TO dwell on this
branch Of the subject, as we desired more par
| ticularly TO call attention TO those means of
preserving health which every individual has
at his control The warmth of our climate
has undoubted . tendency TO discourage bodily
exercise, but we can only yield to the tend
ency at the expense of enervation and physical
deterioration Exercise is SIS essential to
health in this country as in more temperate
regions, and perhaps even more so. We see,
where the highest civilization exists, that the
most careful attention is given to physical
education And this care is not limited to
the growing generation, but is continued
through adult life, and in this way only is the
vigor of the race preserved. Lacking as we
do, the tonic Of cold weather, with its incen-
tives TO exertion, there is all the more reason
why we should use especial care in supplying
its place with such practices as science and
experience have indicated TO be necessary.
III Europe and America, in addition TO the
gymnasium, there are, for the benefit of those
classes whose occupations do not provide
sufficient exercise, athletic field sports, and an
adequate supply of opportunities for exercise
for all the requirements of health. Here,
what have We in this line2 Almost nothing.
One Of the greatest mistakes ever made by
this community-oHe ef its most deplorsble
steps backward-was allowing that noble in
stitution, the Olympic Club, which was
ushered into existence just ten years ago with so
much enthusiasm and eclat, to die The amount
of dyspeptia and consequent misery which
would have been alleviated and prevented in
this town, had it lived, and been patronized
as it should have been, is simply incalculable.
We trust that before very long popular senti-
ment shall be aroused and educated on these
= matters sufficiently to justify Reorganization
and permanent maintenance Of the above In
stitutiou. A community that does not care
enough for its health TO even sustain q bowl
ing alley, may succeed in acquiring riches,
but Will not be likely, either to retain that
s freedom from disease which is essential to the
= enjoyment of afiuenee, or to possess sufficient
,. vigor to propagate generation of offspring
a Z
It's inherited wealth In short, such q CON-
munity hardly merits the designation ot
\ Christian.
But although destitute of conveniences fol
the practice of many forms of active exercise
we are never prevented from that last resoTr
-yalking-an exercise which is too generally
despised, but which is of itself, when sufi-
4 GENTLY INDUCED in, ample to preserve the
health in vigorous condition. While On thi:
subject we must not fail TO mention the fac
that there is one man in this city vino take
enough interest in physical culture to main
=. tain, in the face of the general indifference OF
the subject, . gymnastic class. We refer Il
Mr.. Charles Derby, who is doing much gooC
!. among the few who patronize him, by helping
them to 8 state of sound health.
Sea-bathing is another invaluable sanitar,
agent which does not appear to be adequareI,
appreciated in this country. Abroad it i
more and more acknowledged to be Of grea
v. service, not only in preserving health, bu
q. also in restoring tone to the system when re
duoed by functional disorder, dissipation
/ ON6I-NOtAs vi OA44SA 1~h4SG. sail
ng water baths are now 10 be found in all rh
ri larger cities of the sea-board, both in Amer
ica and Europe; while here, in Hawaii, wher
Il. Nature Las furnished unsurpassed con
veuiences for the luxury, If is very much neg
lected, SO that the great mass Of the popula
= ton, natives included, do not probabl
average one saltwater bath IN year. In tn
for olden time when Hawaiians were lIsty heath
~ en- they were accustomed TO spend about hal
of their time in surf-bathing, and it Is not III
likely that large part Of their former vigc
was the result Of this practice. Certain it
that sea-bathing is just the tonic required I
u coun1eract the somewhat enervating influence
Of our tropical climate,-one Of those compen
sations SO often seen IN the natural world.
81 Another sanitary mems which is With