The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-04-20

Epros GAxxrrr; The Importance Of thorough
and uniwrSslyaeoinat;oa cannot be kept too promi-
nently before the pnhlic. There is great danger
thatthoSs Entrusted with earo Of the publie health
will hccOme careless and fail in performing their
dusy. heavy responsibility rests on the GSy-
eminent and the Board Of Health at this time. 1t
might Be idle to discuss the question whether Or
not many lives might no. have been spared had
more thorough and systematic means been used 10
stay the progress Of the smallpox after il had
been first introduced for thlt is in the past. But
it is Of the utmost inporlanse that every effort at
the present ard for the future be made TO arrest
its course. and remove every germ of the disease.
Ii Is now 50 DERBY rooted on this Island that there
is TO believe that it Will continue 20 spread
until there Is material for 1t 10 work upon
until every one who Is not protected from its in
fiction has had IL
Vaccination seems 70 be admitted BY all medical
science to he the only safe, and the sGrcSt. prutee-
tion against il. The testimony Of those who have
placed themselves in position 10 know state il Is
apparent that since successful vaccination has
been performed in the Inogt infected parts Of
Honolulu that in these places the disease has dis
appeared. And the simple reason is because in
those localities every one there who has not had
the disease hSs now been thoroughly yaocinated
The disease is now running IN the suburbs and
valleys where vaccination has not esen sySteInat-
ically performed.
the Board Of Health causes every person on the
Island Of Oahu to be successfully yaccinated. I
place SPECIAL emphasis ON the word SscrsSSfsilgs
for il the evidence Of those who have had the best
opportunities for intelligent observation is be
credite ;. a large proportion OF the so-ealled VIC
cinatiOn which the Board Of Health has paid for
has been entirely useless The work which is now
being done by the physicians, and few young
men acting under the advice and direction OF ply
sicianS. is more valuable and success Is crowniEe
their Efforts. liut this must be extended until
every one on the Island has been attended 70.
And then what l. Of equal, If not greater inn
portanee. is that this thorough vaccination Should
be carried ont on each Of the other Islands.
Maui and Hawaii seem 10 Be waiting for the
disease to cctne. That vaccination has been
cssSfully executed IN some localities. and many
have BEEN protected. there can be no doubt. But
that a thorough and systematic performance of
this duty has been carried ont throughout those
Islands il Is well known has not been doue. How
ever FsniSS and culpabls others may have been
and still are, not particle OF the responsibility
which rests on the Government can be shifted on
TO them
Ii IS not time for dealing in generalities or
trusting to luck; exact and methodical action Is
required of the Band of Health AZ this time II
the present inefficient plan is adhered TO, one
tell when this loss of lives will be stayed. and
health and quietness restored
The Board of Health and the Government can
not say that they have done their whole duty in
this matter. They deserve commentator for
much that has been accomplished, but they must
not rest for one moment until the last vsstige Of
the plague has disappeared. CITIZEN.