The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-11-08

The Leprosy question seems TO have
sunk almost completely out of sight.
There have been times when il has exer-
cised the public mind very much. when
the whole white population has been ter
ribly alarmed, and when hardly any other
subject formed the topic of general con
versation. Like any evil which is con
stantly with us, the mind of man gets
Injured to It's presence, and as it is not
ostentatiously placed before the eyes of
many of the people who think, the fact
that this disease, this fell and insidious
destroyer Is forever oyershadowing the
healthy and the pure, is gradually lost
sight of.
Yet, we are given to understand. that
never has the number Of lepers at large
been greater than ii is at present, that
many bad cases are not only in town, but
are actually at work among healthy and
sound people; in position to spread con
tagion to an almost incalculable extent
The leprosy hospital at Fisherman's Point,
we learn from enquiry, is over full: We
may ask, why Is not the law properly
carried out in regard TO this establishment
IT was never contemplated to make it
more than a house where, if possible, the
lighter cases might be treated; there
never was the slightest intention of max
ing it permanent abode for those unfor-
Inmates who are acknowledged to be in
durable. We can find, however, no evil
dence of any number of consequence hay
ing been removed to Molokai during the
last eleven months.# There is evidence.
on the other hand. of an acknowledged
leper having been released, from Molokai,
but who had the authority to make such
a release we must acknowledge we have
been unable to discover
The present condition of things reflects
most seriously upon the Board of Health:
the President of that body has been fond
of posing as the friend of the Hawaiians.
Is this true friendship, which allows
CHASTITY spectre like leprosy to stalk
through the land and, because he fears
loss Of popularity Che need not fear, for
that has long gone with the majority of
natiyes), dares not use the repressive
measures which the law has solemnly en-
trusted to his hands. What must be said
of the other members Of the Board also?
They serve their country without pay truly
but when they accept the position which
they occupy, they are bound TO do their
duty: and It Will be hard to make the
public believe that they have done their
duty in this matter of leprosy.
We have been told by the organ" that
in consequence of the increase of work,
the Board had been obliged to pay the
son-in-law of the Premier S1.S00 instead
of $500 per annum for his arduous labors.
As a fact the meetings of the Board have
been by no means so frequent as the pub
lie has been led TO suppose. Instead of
formal meetings, the opinions of the vari-
Gus members have been picked up hap
hazard on the street. and when the Premier
President has not been able to find his
colleagues. he has blandly and smilingly
carried on, on his own responsibility. The
members OF the Board are to blame in
that they have allowed matters to come TO
the pass they have without asserting their
right to be heard. and to have their advice
followed
There Is one other thing connected with
this matter, and that is, that power has
been in times past unjustifabiy used in
preventing lepers from being isolated,
we may reasonably suppose that that
power IS still used, and used more FIRE
quently now than heretofore: if such is
the case, as we have every reason to sur
mise it is, the public protest ought to be
loud and strong.
This question of leprosy and the action
Of the Board of Health is one of para
mount Importance, and we shall return to
II again and again until sompthinor is
done.
The number seut TO Molokai since December
10Th, 1881, isnbout y.