The Newtown bee., 1879-07-30
A Home for Lepers.

A Honolulu correspondent writes: After the scouree of smallpox had swept over the Hawaiian islands some years ago, at which time compulsory Vacclnallon was resorted to, leprosy in
 creased to such an alarming extent that the government was compelled to take measures to arrest its progress. When less extreme measures failed it finally decided upon segregation, and the island of Molokoi was selected for the settle ment ecause of its peculiar natural ad- vantaSes. The trade winds sweep across it in such a direction that all the infac- tlous gases are carried out to sea instead of toward the other islands. The valley is fertile ana abundantly supplied with
 fresh water, while at its back a perpen- dicular wall of rock-called pali-rises several hundred feet, and like a grim.
 unyielding sentry seems to say, s.Thus
 far shalt thou go and no farther.'' Of course, the law met with violent opposi
 tion, for tn onatives themselves have no dread of the disease, and freely use the garments or occupy the same bed with
 leper of the worst type; and the enforce ment of the law would sunder families.
 for though husbands and wives might
 immolate themselves for each otherthey were not allowed to take healthy chii-
 dren with them. However, time has
 done much toward convincing them of the wisdom of the policy, and now op- position is rarely met with farther than in cOncealing the existence of the disease
 as long as possible. When a person is i discovered who has indications of the ! disease he is taken to the island. but in
 order that no one may be held there ! without reason each person committed 1 first receives treatment for the diseases l bearing some resemblance to it, and in
 occasional instances persons have been 1 cured and returned to their families, but
 usually the march of the disease is so rapid that two or three months make it uumistakable, and they are committed to the island for life. 4..at sa e.a4 ] The provisions for their comfort are most generous, and those who have the means to do so are allowed to built cot ! tages for their own occupation, and there l they live with as much seclusion as i
 they had the world to choose from. 1 The government has perhaps erred on | the side of mercy in allowing husbands | and wives to follow each other, for the
 only obvious blot upon the system of ! isolation is the addition to the settle
 ment by births, numbering some years as
 many as fifty-a mistaken kindness it
 would seem when the child's heritage is lOathsome disease and its care entails a
 still greater financial burden upon the government, but so far as is consistent
 with the hygienic regime established for their good they are allowed their own
 habits of life. The settlement now
 numbers eight hundred persons. at least two of whom are Americans It would
 be mistake to attribute to this afflicted
 class the intense mental or physical suffering which we are wont to imagine ! characterizes the disease, for a mereiful provision of nature brings with the dis
 ease an apathy of mind and numbness of body which prevents acute suffering.
 Indeed, it is asserted that pin may be
 thrust into any part of the diseased flesh
 without causing the slightest sensation ! of pain. @ @