The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-03-07

Tx idrsuiser last week republished an
article which had appeared in the san
Frm,eisa0 Chronicle, in which quotations had
been made from the Saturday Pres and
GAZETTE relating to the condition of
leprosy in these islands. The Chronicle
had naturally treated the matter as the
C1roEiele always does, but the Government
Organ has tried to construct 4 charge
against ourselves and our contemporary
out Of the material.
The articles in question We're written
only after the present Board of Health
had had ample time to commence vigorous
action. about five months after the mem
bers had assumed office. The attention of
the President had been repeatedly called
to the matter of leprosy, letters had been
written by the district physicians, one of
the members Of the Board was indignant
at the inaction of the President. Nothing
was therefore left to do but to bring the
matter before the public: not till the OPP
position press began to stir in the matter.
did the President begin to attend to his
duties. Moreover not line censuring
the present Board Of Health for the man
ner IN which they had so grossly neglected
their duty, had appeared in our columns
or IN those OF our contemporary, before
the matter was stirred up in San Francisco
Both the EruaiHer and Neas Litter had
commented upon the condition OF leprosy
on these islands IN very severe terms,
the former in an article of considerable
length. 1t was indeed time for comment
and for Indignation, and we but voiced. as
we hope ever to voice, the strong public
sentiment on the subject.
To make out point for the Government
the usual direct misstatement is made. It
Is SAID that during six months of lSSl-'S2
there was not one line of discussion on
the subject Qeprosy) by the editor" of this
paper, but that ''the moment that the
editor and proprietor of n much older
established paper. (AIr. Gibson) became
President of the Board of Health. the
bowler Of the GAzETTE-began to howl
about leprosy.n The segregation of lepers
has always been one of the main points
advocated by this journal: during 1881
articles advocating segregation or com
menting on the Kakaako Hospital were
published on August oath, 31st, Septem-
her 18th, 2lst, October 18th. November 23d
and December 14th. In the early part of
1882 the subject was also frequently
handled: 1t Is simply an untruth and. as
far as We can SCI, wilful untruth to make
the statement which the AdrenissJ has
allowed to appear in its columns
The Adna7iser is pluming itself on what
the government is doing now. We would
ask what is really being done? how many
lepers are being brought from the other
islands, Those about Honolulu are at
last being removed, but it has taken very
long time to make start even here The
letters which We have published from cor
respondents on the other islands. shew
the condition Of things there How little
care had been taken by the Board of
Health. months after they had assumed
office, TO cope with the evil is shown by
the following letter of which the original
Is IN our possession
OFFICE or TIE board OF HEALTH.
Honolulu, September 9th.
D. ~ hglHlngHr, ". D.. District Physician, h
lGHcl, hIHdi.-DEAE Sm. Your favor of Eth inst
requesting instructions regarding YOUR duties in
reference TO lepers Is 10 hand, and am. requested
to say IN reply that at present the Branch Hospital
here Is full and there Accommodations for any
more. 1t Is therefore not at present desirable 10
remove iepers from their residences on the otker
Islands until increased Accommodations can be built
here which it is hoped will be done shortly
nave the honor to remain very respectfully
yours. FRED. H. HArsELDES.
Secf'g Board Of Health.
In September. 1882. the Board. though
knowing the condition of affairs, had no
means of relieving the islands of their
burden of leprosy
The Board have been neglectful. their
neglect has called forth the indignation of
the community, the community have used
the only available means in their power to
make the Board act 1t is they, and they
alone, who have troubled Israel 1t is
on their shoulders the odium must rest of
having called forth the criticisms which
have gone abroad. There was nothing
whatever of politics In the matter; fathers
and mothers, the health and happiness of
whose tender and dear offspring We're far
more to them than government or parties,
had to speak, and on those, whose indiffer-
ence or inactivity caused them TO speak.
the blame must rest Could the President
Of the Board understand how awful the
Possibi1dg even of child contracting
leprosy must be TO a parent, he would
drop the idea of politics in the matter at
once, be would brave unpopularity rather
than expose the innocent to contagion and
he would hang his head with shame that
he had allowed the mere desire of popu-
larlty and holding office to infict such
serious mental anxiety on every mother
and father IN the community.