The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-02-16

1Ssr interesS awakened in the minds Of all IN
this community, AID throughout the Islands, at
the present time, On the subject Of the public
hs,lth. Is seep and earnest. The prevalence Of
SMALLPOX in Honolnlu. or IN eny part Of the
group is a soorce Of very great solicitnde> We
fully realize the importance % avoiding fright and
needless alarm but at the same time cannot forget
The danger TO which 50 many are exposed
1t behooves every thouShtful person 70 inquire
intellicsatly into the causes which pru<iuesd the
present result. and learn If possible how reeur-
renee Of similar calamity Is 70 be averted in the
future. The restilence came 70 Us from abroad /;
1t came in the eourSe Of commerce and 50 long as
we continue 10 maintain commercial relations
with foreign Countries - long viii We be exposed
70 like DANGERS in the future. And as our eoIn-
rperre increaseS and means Of communication
become more frequent and rapid. 50 VIII dangers
Of this nature become more imminent
We are striving to developer internal resources;
to promote eo-nraerce; and 10 strengthen posi-
non among the nations. To accomplish these
ends. and at the same time 10 secure ourselves
froun the evils 70 which we r.sy thus become ex-
posed. demands our best thought and highest
wisdom
A lesson Of value Is 70 be learned from our pres
ent experience and ii Is with no spirit Of eSPtious
fault-fndnG or unkind feeling, that we call atter-
ton TO serious failure in the past which enhances
the present danger. All enlightened nations deem
vaccination to be the best safeguard against, and
preventive Of, the eontaGPn of smallpox. Its
worth has been demonstrated beyond question.
and systematic performance Of vaccination at
stated intervals Is demanded as public duty. Oar
statutes are ample and clear on this point: The
Minister of the Interior shall appoint, upon the
Recommendation Of the Board Of Health, suitable
person 70 be vaecinating officer in each Of the
gubernatorial divisions Of the Kingdom; and
the vaecinatins officers shall visit the several
stations appointed by them at least once in every
SIX months and oftener, required 50 10 do by the
Minister Of the Interior, or Board Of Health" ;
and - the several vaccinsting officers shall keep a
faithful record CT their transactions and make an
annual report Of the same 10 the Minister Of the
Interior This has not been done. save In a
desaltory way, for many years The responsible
authorities are culpSble, sad cannot excuse them
selves bat the public is also to blame 1t cannot
be expected that Government ofhCers viii hold a
much higher standard Of duty than the public sen
tiraent which sUStzins them denandis This has
especially force when relating 70 the euforcement
Of scmptuary laws and laws relating to Tho public
health and morals
This country received terrible lesson IN 1852
and 1855. when smallpox prevailed and death and
desolation strobe over the land. taking away
nearly one-third Of the whole population. After
that sxpsrience, for some years vaccination was
performed Systematically. Bat gradually it WIS
omitted
The experience with the disease in 1872 produced
an alarm; and spasInodic but ephemeral effort
70 execurs the law Of vaccination followed.
And nov the trouble Is upon Us again. and we
have been found sleeping vaccination has been
neglected. and the enemy Is at our doors.
That the disease 50 far developed appears to be
Of a mild type. and but very few deaths hays
resulted is a matter for profound congratulation
but It IN 10 wise relieves the public officers (by
public officers We do not mean only the present
ircGnbsnts. but all who have gone before theml
and the public itself from the heavy responsibility
which attaches for the cenSurable nsglect Of
the past.
The lesson 10 which We seek at this time to
direct serious attention Is the responsibility which
rests on each citizen 10 SEE to 1t shat the laws
enforced that each one has at all times an indi-
yiduaI responsibility in the mairtenance Of wise
government and the execution CT the laws. No
one can with inapunity preserve continued IL
difference as to his duties and liabilities il this
regard