The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-03-02

VIZ had occasion short time since TO point out
the extreme desirability of correct information
the part of the public as 10 the extent and charac
teristics Of the epidemic which exists in midst
The disease has unhappily spread with rapid
strides, and all the more urgent has become the
necessity that means should be adopted for caus-
ing the circulation of correct knowledge concern
ing the cases which have occurred, the probable
safety or danger of other members of the COM
munity, and the steps taken by the Board of
Health for checking the misfortune. It is vain TO
expect that public rumor will transmit intelligence
of this kind in any correct form the tendency
which mouth-to mouth gossip has of totally alter
ing the complexion of the matters it deals with is
too well known to require reiteration; but rumor,
although unworthy foe is powerful one and
should sometimes be combatted Doubtless the
government is secure in its consciousness of hav-
ing acted with much anxious care for tho public
veal, and doubtless it has taken great care in its
treatment of the sick but this consciousness may
not be shared by the multitude who have no ready
means Of satisfying themselves by personal inter
view with the authorities; and, if the government
wishes TO see amongst natives and foreigners
ready compliance with its judicious and desirable
regulations it should oppose every way the spread
of nisconception. We may not believe the rumors
of overcrowding and want of care In hospital, or
Of dangerous exposure of patients during their
conveyance to the reef: but belief, nevertheless
may be very prevalent amongst those whose only
practicable source of information is rumor and
such belief would greatly help to account for the
criminal concealment of cases from which already
a vast amount of harm has resulted. Rumored
want Of vigilance on the part Of police officers
may be totally untrue; but the uutruth can best
be met by afording general information as TO what
police instructions are. And especially, when the
fear of smallpox is in danger of becoming panic
which not only drives strangers away but may
render its subjects all the more liable, through
their fears, to illness, should we be allowed to
know as fully and reliably possible what are the
conditions under which the disease exists here
Statements are circulated about the streets to
which we do not choose to give ear to, but many
people say that things are grossly mis-
managed-such statements should be met and dis
proved at once.
As we have before said we do not intend to ham
per department which already has its hands very
full: but we would earnestly recommend that in
formation be published from an authoritative
source as to what are the regulations adopted by
the police department for surveillance, and what
the provision made for conveying and caring for
the sick. Especially would we again urge that the
public should be informed as far as possible to
what extent smallpox and varioloid respectively
have attacked the unvaccinated, thosenot recently
vaccinated, and those who have lately been vac
cinsted. The diffusion of correct knowledge on
these points would assist and strengthen the work
ing OF the Board of Health. and would tend 10 al
lay fear in those cases in which we trust fear is