The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-05-04
ICommunicated.l
The National Health.

We read with some surprise the editorial in the
PACIFIC COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER last week. Al
though we feel panied by the decrease of Hawai-
ians and would hail with delight any real proof of
improvement, We are forced by unpleasant facts
present with US to enroll ourselves among the
skeptics.
The number of lepers, in and about Honolulu
alone, is simply appalling; and the total indifer-
ence of the authorities, is an outrage. We know
of several we'll authenticated cases, and complaint
of them has been made to the Board of Health,
but that august body returns answer that they
know all about these cases, but it is not policy to
notice them. Cool, is it not? Government has
provided a good home for these unfortunates, and
we are glad to do our share in providing for them.
We ask for no new or better law, but that the ex-
listing law be enforced. When a law is wanting
the want may be supplied, but when a needed law
is allowed to become a dead letter it is simply dis
graceful. We cannot imagine what everybody is
dreaming about. Our families are in Imminent
danger. To talk of how this horror may or may
not be communicated is to waste breath. 1t sounds
well to theorize about correct living. but cases
have come TO light which prove these theories
wholly at fault.
Why. may we be allowed to ask, are Iepers al
lowed at the Queens Hospital? We know that it
is SO, for we have seen them. When an old citizen
was taken there to die not long ago, the man who
sat by as his attendant was a leper. The dying
man did not care, to be sure. but there is the fact,
and we think you will admit that it is an ugly
one. We have good authority for saying also that
a few weeks since a leprous woman was seen in
the Hospital tending a little baby who was afflicted
with a skin disease. And now, we would like to
know, is there no redress? Cannot the people de-
mand that the law be enforced? We want impair
tial justice. Let every leper, whatever his or her
station, be removed from the community accord
ing to the law. We do feel deeply sorry for them,
sorry for their isolation; but We think they need
our pity more when they become so blunted as to
lose all consideration for their families ana friends.
1t is not too late, but it may be before long. II
the nation increases. with such an Inheritance it
would be better for it to die as rapidly as possible.
As things are now the society Hoola Lahui is of
little service. The ak must be laid at the root of
the tree, or time. money and labor will be worse
than wasted. Lepers live among their healthier
friends and little children play about them; we
hear of a leper selling oranges on the streets.
Leprous dogs and pigs wander freely about; in
short, the Hawaiian Islands seem in a fair way to
become a thriving nation of lepers, human and
brute. Kill off the NANCY, loathsome dogs and
pigs. Let it be understood that no number of tags
will save an unhealthy dog, and that no leprous pig
will be acceptable, even for sausage meat.
These measures seem to us absolutely essential
to the national health, and we cannot help feeling
that the citizens have every right to demand that
they be carried out. Yours, ETC.,
RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION.