Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-03-17

Had we kept silence on these matters, things
would have been infinitely worse to-day thanthey
were few months since, and the possibility Of
a final riddance from the danger Of contagon
from fearful disease, immensely postponed.
For political reasons, and none ether, the Glib
son Board Of Health have ignored the rights
OF healthy citizens, and, acting in open con
trariety with the spirit Of the law, have en-
couraged the congregation OF lepers in the
most populous district Of the Islands. Free
dom from restraint and wild scheme Of cure
OF amelioration, held out to them on the part
Of the authorities had induced lepeIs to travel
from all parts 10 locate in metropolis and
how but by exposure from the "oppositon
press" could the continuance Of so foolish and
fatal scheme have been prevented. Was
this community to be satisfied by the mere
assurance, from newspaper owned by the
President Of the Board OF Health, that the dis
ease is not contagious, especially when such
supposition is so maniiestly at variance with
the general experience OF residents here, and is
unsupported by the opinion Of single medical
practitioner residing among MS, unless we ex-
cept that Of Dr. Fitch, who believes
that leprosy and syphilis are but two names
for one disease. Certainly, if the disease be
non. contagious, or not more so than eonsmmt-
ton OF eaReey, as the Premier's Organ would
have people believe, in order to justify the
conduct Of the Board Of Health, any outcry
against its action in the matter would be with.
out justihca,ion; but we hrmly believe in
the theory Of fonfagson, and have upon previ.
GUS occasions expressed our reasons for that
belief. The assurances of the dds0iissy have
not soothed us, and We are sure also that they
have not soothed the community, and il is but
running in the face of Providence" to attempt
TO thus hide the missloings Of the Board Of
Health, OF To attempt to attribute the natural
effects Of that misconduct TO the work Of those
who have done simple duty in making cx-
posuIes. The law calls for the segregation Of
lepers; the physical health and social comfort
OF this community, as well as our foreign Iela-
tions, upon the friendly continuation Of which,
We are commercially dependent, call for
rigid and continued enforcement Of that law
by the authorities here; and il is only thus,
and not by the criminal silence Of the press Of
this country, that We can hope to escape a
realization Of the direct predictions that the
n c. dass,fis<, has seen hi To make, and for
the realization Of which II would make the ss-
POSER, but no, the delinquent. responsible.
Stimulated by the articles which have lately
apPsared in the Opposition press" upon this
painful subject, and fearing the accomplish.
ment ii the predictions made by its O,gus,
the hoard Of Health are al last displaying an
unwonied dsgree u energy in the capture and
segregation u lepers. Many have been lately
isolated, and sosne fifty mote are shortly to be
sen, away TO Kala~ao; ind Il the Board will
continue as Il has already begun. the CON.
muniiy will soon be Iid in great measure of
the impending danger. Bs, " long as
" Bsaneh Hospitals" with only packet iences
10 peveni communication with lhose outside.
os 10 guard against nightly escapes. arc main
,ainrd In the immediate vicinity u the ,own
gseAi dAnges ~ill aill semAia. Psopes s<gse-
CATION i shat Is iaprsasively needed. and his
can asves be secured in such IN iasiiialion =
thai which ssisss u Kskaako. vA<ss Access 10
lrp<u : Almoss e see a i no pss<enss Il
seclsssoa were made.