The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-05-25
THE PACIFIC
SATURDAY,. MAY p.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

The transactions of this department of the
Government are OF much interest to the general
public, as showing what has been done for the
improvement Of the sanitary condition of the
people.
The sums voted by the Assembly of 1876 for
the public health amounted to nearly $12O,OOO,
and the expenditures to nearly Sl19 900, details
of which are given in the accounts appended, ez-
cept those of the Queens Hospital, which insti-
tuition is under the control Of a Board of Trustees.
The first subject dealt with, and one Of great
public importance, is the Leper Settlement on
Molokai. The Report states that this establish
ment is still a public necessity; that the Board
has endeavored to carry out the laws regarding
the lepers with fidelity, and that there exists suf-
fcient reasons to persevere in the measures hlth-
erto pursued. The following statistics are given:
Total number of lepers admitted to March 3lst,
1873, 1927; total of deaths to the same date, l.
1855; leaving 692 patients to be provided for.
There have been discharged during the two last
biennial periods, 10, for what reason, it Is not
stated. 1t seems to us that there is but one rea-
son to Justify such discharge, and that is, their
restoration to sound health, or that they were
" lCHCAos oc cum tLC dSC LHC pdDHN
have a right to know the exact truth in the mat
ter, and it would have been much better to have
kept nothing back, for then, as regards the indi-
Vidual5 discharged, everybody could be on their
guard against personal contamination, if there
exists any real danger. The number of dis
charges for the first eight years of the settlement,
if there were any, is not given; we therefore take
it for granted there were none. Owing to the
great rise in the cost of the various articles of
food, ETC., supplied to the unfortunate people of
the Settlement during the past year, it has been
difficult to keep the expenses within the appro-
p%riatiOn. The Report states that no pains is
spared in looking after the well-being of the
lepers, and providing for their wants; that it may
be affirmed that the Settlement is a refuge for the
diseased; that they are wards of the Government,
and have everything provided for them necessary
for their unhappy condition, etc. All this is un-
doubtedly true to the letter. Now, if the only
way to eradicate this terrible disease of leprosy
is to isolate its unfortunate victims. why is not
the law, which is amply sufficient for the purpose,
carried out in it's strict integrity? The commun-
ity is rife with reports that such is not the case,
and the Board owe it to themselves and to the
Nation that all cause of complaint on this score
shall be removed. Efforts have been made TO Sc
cure the residence of a physician at the Settle
ment, but hitherto without success. 1t is i'm
portant that there should be one there, if posi-
ble,-not perhaps to reside permanently, for that
can not be expected, but to make periodical visits.
The system of travelling physicians in the outer
districts of the Islands has not operated satisfac-
tOrily. The appropriation has not been sufficient
to engage the physicians services exclusively for
the public, yet by reason of his appointment
many seem to expect that it is his duty to prac-
tice gratuitously in all cases; hence arise dissatis-
faction and complaints. The only apparent
alternative seems to be to provide medicines for
gratuitOus distribution, and small subsidies in
sparsely settled districts to enable the people to
maintain a resident physician, and thereby place
medical help within their reach.
The Insane Asylum continues under the charge
of the former officers. The following figures
cover the biennial period: Number of patients
April l, 1876, 10; admitted since, 80; discharged
as recovered, y; discharged for other reasons, 5;
died, 20; leaving in the Asylum, April l, 1873,
81.
The Queens Hospital still maintains a high
standard of usefulness. Notwithstanding this
fact, it has not yet gained the high estimation in
the native mind to which its merits justly entitle
it. The number of patients admitted to the
Hospital the past two years amounted to 725; the
number of dspensary patients, 90I, total receiy-
ing its aid, 1920.
The Quarantine Buildings on the reef have be-
come dilapidated, and are no longer fit for use.
Their situation is not convenient, and ~recogniz-
-. 1Lo ~aooooiE- nF oooo ,o-ie;o 70 ,A -
sudden emergency the Board that
suitable buildings be erected on F~isherman's
Point, and ask for the sum of 81 800 for this
purpose.
A Cemetery for the Hawaiians has been located
on the eastern slope of Punchbowl, and neatly
fenced in. 1t contains an area OF SIX aeres, and
has been appropriately laid out in avenues and
burial lots. From its opening IN June last to
April l, 1878, there have been 81 burials.
Capt. j. H.. Brown, agent of the Board, reports
that the sanitary condition OF the town and its
surroundings for the last two years has been bet
ter than for some years previously. Capt. Brown
says (and in this we heartily concur), that it
would be a public benefit if the Board had the
discretionary power to remove sick natives who
are entirely unattended. He states that many
deaths have occurred because they have 90 refused
to be removed from filth and poverty to a house
of cleanliness and plenty" He also adds the fol-
lowing: 'sOf the deaths that occur in Honolulu,
60 per cent. die without having any medical as
~sistance whatever during their sickness" We
suppose we must accept this grewsome statement
as true, and as made from proper knowledge of
the facts. The mortality report for Honolulu for
the biennial period is given at 10, and out OF
this number 400, or more than ~one-half, died en-
tirely unattended I! In the midst of our surprise.
we must take into consideration, what is IN
doubtedly the fact, that the native Ha"aiians are
to a great extent averse to the attendance of for
- -C-I~ ShaIr nn1 E1Raya1r
and claiming that the latter understand their
diseases and circumstances better than the former
can possibly do. Moreover, it must be remem-
bered that the masses among the Hawaiians are
too poor to pay for the visits of foreign physi-
clans. But on this subject of medical treatment
native and foreign. the Hawaiian has yet a great
deal to learn. The pulpit, the press, and the
higher schools, aside from the strong arm of the
law, are the only mediums by which the subject
can be easily and readily brought home to their
IL III 1900 a. -L.al