The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-01-21
Dispensary Statistics.
E. To the Board Of Health {:

.Gaptsmen-I herewith submit my report
for the quarter or portion OF the quarter ehuins
December Slst. 1881. in which l hnd eh"rBg Vi
the Government Dlspensary on Alhuna n
str..t Nv service commenced on the Esd DAY
of October; during the siNty-nIne days "hlSH
rompleted the quarter, the total number oil pa
tents applying ut the Dispensary or Whomt
visited at their homes-In either case
charct-was 1887. Total number OF pfescrlp-
tions ?. $50. Diseases treated: syphllis I,los'
leprosy 81. coughs and cold a. gonorrhHa 20
gastric catarrh %. diarrahea IL, constipation ID,
balance miscellaneous. OF IN" lepros! ca'I'
treated six were in charge OF the police; the oa-
ance called at the Dispensary voluntarily Tor
treatment. In addition many called to ask my
opinion and if ] thought best for them tope
treated with the design of warding on the uisease'
Deaths >. Cause of death 3 cases syphiuS'
l diarrahea. l obstruction of bowels.
&. Expenses: for drugs S527, of which AT tea7'
S75 worth remained on hand nj the END ol tHe
term. for furniture Sil; shelves and carpenter
work S5.14: salaries 1861 printing and stationa-
~ 1872. 80; newspaper advertisement OF once
hours. in three papers, Sll.5O; painting slBn
-. 80; total $3.50. 40. During the first week oil
my service total calls at dlspensary "a during
last week of quarter 622. Respectfully submit
ted. Gro. l.. FTrcH, Md
The letter of DIR. Fitch presents n remark
able statement, and one deserving of very
earnest consideration. OF 1902 eases treated
during the quarter, the enormous proper
ton of 1857 were sexual diseases. This
statement of facts goes 10 show now
thoroughly the Hawaiian race may be SAID
to be saturated with "A syphilitic faint.
But this fact does not warrant any con
clusion with regard to the absolute dec'-
dence and disappearance Of the race. Dur
readings of medical history inform us that,
at one time, eminent nations of Europe
were tainted in every rank of life with
syphilis, and that its dreadful associate
leprosy) followed in its footsteps. Diseases,
rs epidemic or endemic, have n rise and
progIess-a climax and subsistence. And
we are happy to believe that the virulence
of the syphilitic virus is weakened in these
islands, and is in n state of subsistence,
though still widely spread. The disease Is,
we understand, now more easily and effect
lively treated than I'm former years and IL
we would single out Il paramount subject
for the consideration of Hawaiian Govern
ment, it would be the providing of sani-
tary and medical means for the treatment
of the poor AMI uniformed people of the
country, for this general disease and other
ailments. The dispensary in Honolulu is
showing forth remarkable results. The peo-
pie are now coming forward eagerly to be
healed. Dispensaries, or branch hospitals
under similar management should be on all
the large islands, as was provided for by
the last Legislature. 1t was urged at the
time, by the senior member for Lahaina,
who introduced the resolution providing
$4,000 for branch hospitals or d~ispensaries,
that the native sick, lepers especially, would
readily go to the branch hospitals, where
they would still be i'm the vicinity of their
friends, but would resist being dragged
away and doomed to an isolated pest settle
ment. The statements of this report to the
Board of Health, prove the correctness of
the members views-that of 80 leprosy
cases, 40 Il" called at the Dispensary volun-
tarily for treatment" What IA change in
the action of Hawaiians afflicted with dis
ease compared with their former conduct.
A while ago the Board of Health employed
police agencies at considerable expense to
aunt up the afflicted ones, who hid them
selves rather than be taken to IA hospital
that was to be their final home. Now they
hasten voluntarily to the Dispensary to ask
a kindly doctors opinion if he thought il
best for them TO be treated with the design
of warding of disease"
The people are needing the advice of the
book of "Sanitary Instructions for Ha-
waiiaDs, which said in the article on lep-
rosy :" Go to a good physician at once, and
let him examine you thoroughly. By act
ing thus promptly and frankly, you will
make him your friend. He will; not report
you as u leper to be sent to the lepor
hospital at Kalawao but he will strive to
heal you, and to prevent these beginnings
of disease from leading to confirmed
leprosy."