The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-09-15

EDITOR OF THE GAzETTE-Sir: l notice in the
last issue of the Advertiser that it is the intention
of the Board of Health to establish hospital
here, and probably similar ones on the other Isl
ands, for the reception of lepers in a suspected
state, or in the early stages of the disease. for
treatment before being sent to Molokai this idea
was backed up by very sensational editorial on
the subject, against both of which now wish to
enter this my public protest After an experience
here of over twenty years, with exceptional oppor-
tunities for observing and studying this disease
well as the character and mode of life OF the Ha-
waiians, [ consider that am in position TO speak
with some confidence on this most important sub
ject and wish 1t to be distinctly understood that
the remarks and the suggestions / am about to
make are neither actuated nor prompted in
cavillng or fault-fndlng spirit nor with any bad
feeling toward the present Board of Health for
much as may dissent from its present constitu-
tion, wish the members TO distinctly understand
that they have my best wishes, and | only hope
they may practically prove themselves in their
thanllless task much more useful than any of their
predecessors. | heartily bid them God-speed in
the work before them.
l am only reluctantly writing this from what
believe to be conscientious duty which owe to
the public, and from professional standpoint, as
all doctors are at present excluded from the Board
To begin, am reluctantly compelled to state that
the advanced progress that medical science
has arrived at in the treatment of disease we have
still to admit that leprosy is incm'dbie that its
diagnosis to man of experience is easy, that un-
therefore if ii be stamped out of these fair
Islands the strictest measures must be enforced,
and carried out, and complete separation, eren 10,
the early stages Of the disease insisted upon. No
half measures will be of any avail, especially here.
In other countries where leprosy has been known
for centuries the disease is feared and when a
member of the family becomes affected he is at
once isolated, and kept strictly apart from the
rest but what is the here Precisely the re-
verse. The disease is not feared. Every care, as
rule, is taken to keep the matter from the knowl
edge of the proper authorities the leper often eats
sleeps, wears the same clothing, and smokes the
same pipe the rest of the family, even although
his body may be covered with Sores and his fingers
dropping of This is no exaggerated picture, forit
is to be seen only too often. To "copdemn a fel-
being to the doom of leper' is indeed a most
painful task and to be fully appreciated must be
witnessed, it 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 most heart-rending
sight, and requires strong feeling of public duty
to enable one to do it but know if the separation
has to be made, which 1t must be, the sooner the
better for all parties, provided 1t is 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. cannot consider
that sending lcpers to Molokai is condemning them
TO living tomb" By a wise provision of provi-
dence their feelings become considerably blunted
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.
The experiment of treating leprosy in its early
stages was tried for years at Kahi under the most
conscientious care of my friend DR.. Hoffman, and
proved an utter failure-in fact much worse-as
the patients frequently escaped often went out at
night, and their friends came TO see them In spite
of all the supervision that could be used, thus
spreading the disease; and one lras cured The
same will happen again with all the available
means 20 prevent it. To establish such hospitals
consider would be waste Of public money and the
spent, why not do it on Molokai. A doctor has
been appointed for this purpose, the settlement is
large enough for the establishment of such a hos
pital where the patients can be kept quite apart,
and liberty than they could possibly expect any