The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-03-14


Vienna. sends the following interesting
statistics on leprosy which will he read
with interest by all here.
NIESNA, January q, lssJ
EuI1oE GAzrIE: / have received from Norway
the f0ll0gug short statement Of the decrease Of
leprusy IN that country and send it to YOU as
further proof that in isolation Is the only hope
against the plague Of leprosy. Yours truly.
NIDEIlE KNUDsLN.
d" In report given a few days ago by the head
physician uf Norway for the of leprosy, il is
shown that by the end Of 1886 there were known
in Norway 1853 cases Of leprosy, Of whom then but
23j were treated in hospitals, and 2.G2S in their
houses. Since then there has been steadily more
isolation and thereby steady diminishing Of new
cases, 50 that by the end Of 1856 there were 2,70i
cases, and Of these IJj IA hospitals and 1909
in their houses. A decrease of l59 cases. by the
end Of ls7G there were known zoos casea. showing
q decrease Of GyC cases.
Since the decrease has been regular Thus
there were known IN 1871. 1923 cases in 1873.
1S5 cases in 1873, LIN cases in 1850, 1S2: of
whom Gl7 were in hospitals and9G in their houses.
Thus the decrease Of this disease is from Glcases
in 1876 To ls2 cases in 1850 in all l2sl. q per
cent
There can be no doubt that this happy result
Is due 10 isolation. and the head physician states
that this has only been imperfect, thereby ntimat-
ing that If Il had been thorough the result might
have been still better.
The number of cured IN the same period of -
years Is lOI while the number Of deaths by leprosy
during the same time is 1891
We regard tins as a most important
contribution upon the subject of leprosy
and we recommend the perusal Of ii to
our authorities II Is evident that in
Norway segregation Is regarded as the
means by which the disease can be stamped
out II must be remembered that in Nor
way the horror and disgust at leprosy is
very strong. that no such contact a Is
common among Hawaiians would be per
mitted by the people Of their own volition.
4 very pregnant fact, showing the differ
ence between the two peoples is this. that
during p years with a partial segrega-
ton the disease. in both countries. the
number Of sufferers has decreased in Nor
way from 2,S63 cases to 1852 or 4j per
cent. while in Hawaii during the same
period of - years the diz zease instead of
decreasing has increased. As we have fre-
quently pointed ont the blame of this does
not rest on the native people of Hawaii nei.
1t rests on those who have thwarted the
proper carrying out of the law Such
people have 10 settle this matter with their
own consciences now, but they will have
TO answer for IT before God hereafter
The San FTWrisc0 GyoHjc7c has published
a most atrocious set Of garbled quotations
from papers here, and pure fabrications of
so-called interviews; it Is evident on the
face Of 1t that the sheet in question has
no desire for the public good Of San Fran
cisco, but Is only desirous of throwing
mud at the community. now that it tinds
that It's onslaught on the treaty has come
to naught The information furnished by
Mr. Knudsen Is Of quieting nature
and shows that with proper carrying ont
of the segregation law. the cases Of disease
can be rapidly decreased. As for there be
ing danger from our products that is sim
pie and madulterated rubbish Lepers
are not employed by any of our planters
and merchants, they are much too careful
Of that: It Is only among the Hawaiian
homes that the disease will be found and
1t Is on behalf Of the Hawaiian that the
authorities have TO act. We are glad to
see that the authorities are now carrying
out the law strictly: with proper care the
disease can be thoroughly eradicated, and
We feel assured that now that effort is be
ing honestly made