The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-07-18


LErRosY! the burning question of Ha-
waii has been prominently brought before
the public during the last week. In our
other columns viii be found a mass of in
formation on the subject, given by the
most eminent medical men of this city,
some of whom have devoted years of study
to the disease. Such information in so
valuable form we have never had before.
The people at large can now better form a
judgment upon our position and the ac-
ton of our authorities. After the flood of
light which has been poured upon the
question, the present system of managing
or rather mismanaging leprosy matters,
must come to an abrupt conclusion. DR..
TrOusseau, DIR. Brodie, DR.. Stangenwald.
DR.. Emerson, DR.. Hagan, all regard lep-
rosy as contagious. DR.. Trousseau regards
Sumner, the discharged leper, as danger
Gus to those whom he comes in contact
with. Granting even that there is doubt
on this point, (but after the evidence Of
fered there seems to be no room for Doubt
allowing however the dou5t. what is the
manifest duty of the Government? Why,
to protect the community: until there was
perfect certainty the authorities should
have vigorously segregated every leper
What can we say of the case of the school
teacher? Most Of us know where her
school room Is situated: little low roomed
building on Fort street, she, poor woman,
has labored faithfully and well among her
little folks, and her success in teaching
brought a crowd OF children to her school
One year ago the physician of the Board
of Health, DR.. &. L. Fitch, knows she has
leprosy and treats her for the disease
Does he segregate herr Does he listen to
the opinions of other doctorsl Ncl he
allows that unfortunate woman to go on
teaching her children daily, sowing IN all
probability, the seeds Of unutterable mis-
cry among a number of those with whom
she came IN contact. Can we wonder that
Mr. Dole characterized this action as worse
than murder2
1t Is needless to dwell upon the many
points of evidence. er mo dises omaes.. The
present system has been proved IN the law
courts of this Kingdom to be q sha1s. Who
Is to blame for this. DR.. Fitch2 no. not
nearly so much as those who allowed him
the latitude they did Severe. deserved
blame falls on his shoulders. but it must
not rest only there, it must be laid on the
shoulders that ought to bear it.
Walter Murray Gibson is not fool: he
Is not man lacking either in education
OF intelligence; he told Us the other dav
from the witness box that he had informed
himself pretty thoroughly on the matter OF
leprosy, having read many books mon the
siibject; he knows therefore what w.sre the
received opinions, he knew that they were
completely at variance with the crude I'M
digested and bumpti5us theories Of DR..
Fitch, and yet what did he dos He rave
Dr. Fitch 5000 a year, a larger sum than
IS paid to the two physicians and purveyor.
Of the Queens Hospital with the cock
thrown in to the bargain, to carry out those
theories which he l5,sr were at variance
with the whole medical world Why did
pc do thisl was there a mdtixes There
was. DR.. Fitch was a hand worker. ms
manner with the natives was popular. this
WHY Premier catches al popularity as
drowning men catch At Etfaws, and he
rsed y fife.i's poruisrfit- rs l,,lesnr m
has Owl Lla ha care for fle gid of lIlis
adopted cop1tgyment N0i sne slit De
iioerstels and WITH iull noFlelgc Il she