The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-06-26

wholesome huts without lights, TO have no soap fol
cleanliness, no clean rags for sores; and on dying, t
be liable to have their uncofhned corpses rooted oui
of shallow graves by wandering hogs, as proven by
testimony. till the representatives of the people
raised an cutlery, visited the lepers In their living
grave at Kalawao; and urged and obtained the addi
tional food and comforts, needed by the sufferers
No sir-there is no triumph, or honorary monument
for the Board on Molokai. There is no voice oil
praise, nor sign of honor for this Board in all this
broad Archipelago. There is no song of thankfuluess
in the hearts of the people for any mission of bodily
healing. And yet there should have been. What
opportunity for a true physician, representing the
authority of the Government, and backed with emol-
ument and patronage during the past twenty years!
What opportunities with so docile and teachable a
people, to have taught the laws of health, to have
lnculcated the paramount virtue of chastity, to have
devised ways and means to train nurses for the care
of the sick and the little ones, to have made house
holds healthful, and to have made a glorious mark
in promoting through wisely devised, and energetic
ally carried out measures for sanitary improvements,
the increase of the people!
With such opportunities a man could have visit
ed every poor dwelling in the Archipelago to look
into its needs for an improved sanitary condition.
Tie could have made instruction, in respect to the
laws OF heath. as plain to the Hawaiian as 1t Is to
the foreign educated mind. He could, aided by
the authority OF his position, bave so insisted upon
instruction for the care of children among Hawaii
ans. that the islands would now abound in busy
household nurseries. He could have improved all
the habitations of the poor, and have advanced the
sanitary welfare of a kingdom. He could have
been an Apostle of Health, and the physical Saw
our OF a People. And to have accomplished all
this be would not have required any more means
than have been at the command of the profession
al gentleman or gentlemen during the past twenty
years.
He supposed that about one million of dollars
have been spent by the Board of Health for sani-
tary objects during this period. This is the amount
usually said to have been contributed to the
Board of Missions to establish Oh. istianity in these
lnn A nd thnk cEpn nnnu IN ,po-l 80 Al. Il
of the Board of Education during the above men
toned period.
But look at the different results accomplished by
these several three millions With that of Mis-
sions there has been accomplished the evangelical
ton of a people; with that of Education there has
been accomplished universal knowledge in this
archipelago, but tor tine million in the hands of a
medical Board, what have we 20 show except the
continued unhealthfulness and decline OF : people.
But it is not because medical science is a failure.
sir l disclaim such an idea But medical
science. as represented by every light and ability
in this country, has not been fully and fairly in
voked and tested by the professionals that have
our Board of Health.
Then away with the Doctors But in the same
breath, he would say, let us invite every doctor
in the land, to assist with his skill. his knowledge
aud experience to consider and combat the de-
influences that decimate the people. Let
us strengthen the hands of good doctors. Life or
is often in their hands. Let them give their
time solely to the care of the sick. And if, AS
he hoped not, another dangerous epidemic fever
should rage, let the doctors un~entrammelled with
care or business of boards, give up their uu-
divided attention to Sufferers, who claim their at
t%ention, and the faithful physician will win his
emoluments, and the blessings of a grateful
people.
MI. President, it is stated 10 the minority report
the two medical gentlemen on the Board, have
given their time and services, freely, gratnitously,
and without thanks. Now he thought it was high
time we should relieve these self sacrificing gentle
from their thankless situation. 1t is true that
II 81 ~. m O.
and emolnments Medical service under g act to
mitigate - 81, 349. Physician to Queens Hospital, !
ZOO. Assistant physician to Hospital 500.
attendance Insane Asylum So 400. Medi-
cal examination of lepers sent to MOlOkai, 81 200
and also the duties OF port physician, and surgeon
of the troops. Now it is just possible, that other
capable professional medical gentlemen might be
found ready to assist with medical advice a Board
Of laymen. for the sake of a monopoly of these
oHices and emoluments. But in order to secure the
talent and the most faithful service, we might
we'll add a salary as officers of the Board. Mr..
we ought to have a change. After a
of twenty years OF doctors directing the
Board we might make a trial for the next two
7ears at least, of a Board directing the doctors. We
night not, by so doing, diminish the frequent
vail of death on these isles. We might not stay
lecline, nor crown the land with healthful in-
crease of people. We might not win any triumphs
o gladden. the hearts of the friends of Hawaii and
If their kind. All this result is in the hands of
1od. But we might place every town, hamlet. aud
w CiilbA hbNSA - hC'DNS1 AHFiO'~N oNhitha !
We might visit and satisfy every poor
Hawaiian, even in the most out OF the way district
hat his health was cared for. We might with orr
appropriations in the hands of faithful
business men. employ the very best medical skill,
md the noblest energies of not only good men.
tut good women, to cooperate In the work OF pro-
'iding for the health of the people. so that a salts
ed country, and an enlightened opinion every
Vhere should say, this Board of Health has done
IS duty.
He assured the Assembly there was no personal
ceiling as alluded to in the minority report. The
linister of Finance bad said in this House that he
his influence neutralised by the two profess
ional gentlemen on the Board. He would now
cave the bill In the hands of the Assembly with
he assurance that it would pass.
The Minister of the Interior said he was sur
rised at the speech of the Hon. Member for La
He had fought a great deal for the
ealth of the people for 20 years or more, but es-
,ecialIy the last 10 years. For the past seven
ears he had BEEN connected with the Board of
giving more time to it than he thought
e should ever give to any Institution. He had
II to do with the lepers sent to Molokai, and
uring that time he had never failed to alleviate
he sufferings of any leper or the friends of lep-
RS. No one Hawaiian could say he had given a
old answer to their supplication. All this time
he two doctors were on the Board OF Health
hitch it was now proposed to dismiss and dis
race.
Mr.. Gibson here said he had admitted the ex-
client administration on the part of the Presi-
ent.
The Minister said he accepted it with thanks.
he Board had been called a professional Board
f Health. There were two doctors and three
lymen, the latter being members of this cabinet.
he board cannot therefore be controlled by two
gainst three.
If the administrator had been go wretched as
His Majesty would have been advised
} displace the members. but by their being re-
aimed it would seem that he is satisfied. The
,ueen's Hospital was controlled entirely outside
ne Government. The doctor in charge had kept
is position after many trials and attacks in the
apers, and the best record of his skill was when
ne epidemic existed last year. The record of bis
ractice in proportion to the number of patients
the best on the list. Ii was not the duty of
physicians to 60 about seeking out the sick.
he Queens Hospital doors were open for all who
aid. Free food. medicines, &c were Of
,red. But natives will not accept of it. In the
lonth of June, there were 81 deaths in Homo
L., NTH dnatOrS Was it fboir fault ? rbaaa