Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-04-14
LEI'ROSY.


Perhaps on no one subject is the mind of
this community so greatly exercised as 1t Is
about the disease known as "Leprosy." Being
in constant attendance on several hundred
cases, and having for over two years made it a
most earnest study, desire to impress upon
the public mind what believe to be the true
nature of the disease.
This am anxious TO do for many reasons.
One reason is that sensational newspaper in
San Francisco has raised hue and cry calcu
lated to cause the public to believe that the
people of the Pacific coast, perhaps of the en-
tire world, are in great danger of contracting
this disease, these Islands being regarded as
foci of contagion.
Friends in California are writing to me in a
tone indicating mortal dread of disease no
one need contract by observing ordinary pru-
dence and forethought In my opinion this
disease is nothing more than syphilis and there
are thousands of cases Of that all over the
world To distinguish between the syphilis So
called by other physicians and. the form of
syphilis called by Others ''leprosy," continue
to use the latter term. That the disease is far
more severe here than in many other places is
true, but the reason is easily explained.
Jonathan Hutchinson a noted surgeon OF
England says. "Now it is matter of well
proven observation that any specific disease
will be especially severe when imported into
community previously free from it. The ravases
Of smallpox in virgin race are something far
beyond what is ever known in a community
long accustomed to the disease. There are also
good reasons for believing that syphilis has be-
come during the last two centuries milder
disease than il was when it first invaded Eu-
rope"
Bumstead, noted author Of New York,
quotes from an ancient writer as follows: "that
this French disease characterized by enormous
prominent spots, by pus,ules giving the face
and body hideous aspect, sometimes painless,
at other times causing the most excruciating
suffering in the joints, and depriving the pa
tient Of rest and sleep at night, slowly con-
sumes the body; that it can be cured by no
remedy; that it was unknown to his ancestors;
that whatever others may name it, he desires
TO call it nsor6Hm ps'fytyHm di'iiwn1m;
May this disease more destructive
than any pestilence, depart and return TO the
gulf Of hell whence it came"
syphilis was introduced in these Islands by
the whites one hundred and four years ago.
When Captain Cook landed here 1t was I'M
known, but Immediately after it swept the ma
tives away as dust flies before the wind. AT
frs, they died too quickly to develop leprosy.
The next generation bore j, little longer,
and succeeding ones have lived long enough
to carry the disease out to its fullest develop
ment.
Now le, me give the history Of few cases
that lead me to believe that leprosy is only a
form or stage of syphilis.
A native, aged about sixty years, has been
under my care for some time. In January last
removed large section Of his lower jaw, de
stroyed by tertiary syphilis. lie says he con.
trac,ed the disease thirty years ago, and gives
me so clear history Of his symptoms that
there can be no doubt Of the correctness OF his
story. Shortly after taking the disease he mar
red. Ills wife shows unmistakable signs OF
the same trouble, bu, cannot find out where
or when she contracted it, As a result OF theiI
marriage six children were born. The hrs'
broke OH, with syphilis shortly after birth and
was under the care Of a physician for several
years, barely escaping with his life. The next
three died with syphilis, none OF them living
TO be over year old. The last two seemed 'c
be quite healthy TOT some time but when they
we're abouts seven OF eight years old lepros,