The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-05-26

and Gladstone rolled into one.
THE Minister of Interior has reported very
clearly upon the work of his Department dur
ing the past biennial period. Among the most
interesting of the papers presented by him to
the public is the report of DIR. Emerson, the
superintendent of the leper settlement at No
lokai.
The treatment of the lepers is the brightest
trait in the character of Hawaii nei; no money
or care in reason is spared to make them COM
Portable and conteuted; 1850 have been
spent during the last two years. The number
of lepers in the settlement on March Slst of
this year was 7I2. The death rate is not SO
large as we might have imagined; it is at the
rate of 57.s5 per thousand. Unhealthy cities
like Alexandria nearly reach this rate, and as
we recently showed, Honolulu itself has at
times touched similar average.
We mark with pleasure the effort that DR..
Emerson has made to improve the physical
condition of the unfortuDates under his charge;
this he has done "by seeing to it that the ra-
out regularly and were sufficient in quantity
and of good quality: by bettering their habi-
tstions; by inGnciug in them better habits of
cleanliness; by ministering, so far as possible,
to their comfort; by applying the arts of medi-
cine to the relief of their various inter cur
rent maladies; and finally by diligent study
of the prime cause of their woes, to alleviate
and, if possible, promote the radical cure OF
leprosy ITSELF" The Doctor then proceeds to
give detailed account OF the rations issued,
which seem abundant. Many of the lepers
being industrious, raise food stuffs in small
patches; they are thus enabled to supply
themselves and commute part of their rations
for money equivalent, in fact, as the report
says, the people shave more regular, abund-
ant and better supply Of food than would be
theirs were they at their own homes"
DR.. Emerson has used medicines reported to
be specifics for the cure of leprosy, but with
out any results Neither the Chinese nor jap
anese medicines have had any effect 1t is sad
to think that tallacious hopes have been arous-
ed in the bosoms of these poor people; like
all sick persons they are ever on the lookout
for some chance of cure; they hope against
hope; to our mind it seems unlikely that any
specific will now be found, leprosy has been
known and studied so long. OF late years in
India great deal of attention has been de-
voted to the subject and DR.. Vandyke Carter
has recently published the results, which are
after all nil. OF course the Rising Star of Ha-
waii may be able to do more than this profes-
sional gentleman, who has devoted large
portion of his life, has used the microscope.
and has studied the disease in every place,
but we fear not. Nothing can be effectual but
segregation. 1t makes our blood boil when We
hear people talk of turning the lepers of this
settlement loose upon the community; we have
visited the place ourselves and have seen and
deplored the corrupt mass Of humanity there,
but We came away with firm conviction that
the government were doing their duty by the
country in keeping the lepers there. This ma
ton does not protect itself; in India, China,
Syria and other countries where the disease is
prevalent legislative action is not required,
the people protect themselves, leper is at
once driven from the family circle; here he is
allowed to continue in intimate relation with
every member. In the report DR.. Emerson states
that during his rounds outside the settlement
he met leper girl "holding and tending
child !" a similar circumstance has come un-
der our notice in Honolulu. IL Is the dutv of
the government to carry out the law for segre-
cation to the uttermost; we sympathise tho
roughly with those who execute and those who
suffer from the law, but this Is case for no
half measures; We must cut out the wounded
part lest it infest the whole sound body. aS-
In conclusion we thank the doctor for his