Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-09-18

Islands the strctcst measures must be enforced,
and carried out, and complete segregation, ,ren ~
the early stages o. The disease, insisted upon. No
half measures will be Of any avail especially here.
In other countries where leprosy has been known
for centuries tho disease IL feared and when
member of the family becomes affected he is al
once isolated, and kept strictly apart from the
rest but what Is the case here Precisely the
verse The disease is not feared. Every care, ~
rule, Is taken to keep the matter from the knowl
edge Of the proper authoritcs; the eper often eats.
sleeps wears the same clothing and smokes tho
same pipe as the rest Of the family, even although
his body may I've covered with sores, and his fingers
Is to be seen only too often. To condemn fell
low-beng TO the doom of leper" is indeed most
painful task, and to be fully appreciated must be
witnessed, rs 1t has been my duty too often to do
to see husband torn away from his loving wife,
mother from her young family, perhaps never to
meet them again, Is indeed a most beart-rendine
to enable one to do it but know IL the separation
has to be made, which IT must he. the sooner the
better for all parties, provided II IL done in the
kindest and least painful manner possible, explain
ing TO the unfortunates that were this course not
pursued that the rest of Il cir families If not
already affected, might become victims of the same
disease, besides others who might be brought in
immediate contact with them. I cannot consider
that sending lopers TO Mooltai Ia condemning them
to living tomb" BY wise provision of provi-
dence their feelings become considerably bunted
to their state, and when settled down in their
new home, where they are well fed and taken care
of as rule, they become tolerably happy and con
tented. f sz t.s
The experiment of treating leprosy in it's early
stages was tried for years at Kalb under the most
conscientious care Of my friend DR.. Hoffman, and
proved nm utter failure--in fact much worse--ss
the patients frequently escaped often went out vt
night, and their friends came TO see them in spite
of all the supervision that could be used, thus
spreading the disease; aud no one ieas cured The
same will happen again with all the available
means 70 prevent It. To establish such hospitals
consider would be- waste OF public money and the
source of much mischief. II the money must be
spent, why not do it on Molokai A doctor has
been appointed for this purpose. the settlement Ia
large enough for the establishment Of such hos
l'ital where the patients can be kept quite apart,
and have much more room for open mir exercise
and liberty. than they could possibly expect any
place else when kept under proper restraint there
by giving them q better chance Of cure and should
there be doubt about any of the cases, send them
to Honolulu for further examination and advice.
In conclu ion, would say that there il no lse
in adopting half measures, or to expect by Il few
soft words or pandering to natural prejudices Of
tta natives to expect any good RESULTS that this
will induce them to give up Their friends to the
proper authorities for treatment I fear when too
late II will be found to be vor, ct proerea nihii"
...fs Very truly yours,
RoDERT McKIBpIN.