The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-11-19

SOME one remarked lately that such was
the present condition of leprosy here that
IT might be out Of the power of the Gov
ernment here to put in force segregation
thoroughly. To this reply may be made
first by quoting the words of DR. Munro
writer quoted in the NiHdecah CAt,gy
upon the leprosy question in India. He
says:
II has been objected BY the Government of
India that the expense of segregating over 10000
lepers in asylums would be too great, but hardly
think this is proper view OF the case. No such
asylums need he built but segregation could still
be enforced by the compulsory confinement of
lepers to certain spaces of land on which proper
villages could be built fer them, while they would
when able be encouraged to work on the surround.
ing land. Properly managed, such communities
might be partly sef-suppOrting OF course, after
leper was once put into such village, severe
penalty should be enacted from anyone ai5ing ar
gbetting him in leaving IT. At the same time
taeTe e2aIl h 10 harm, believe, in allowing the
lepers under proper supervision, sometimes TO see
and converse with their friends at some place near
the village ns tORg contact aii1,0ed
Probably over two hundred such villages would
be required for the whole of India. OF course
medical officers would be required to live near
each Of them. but the work could be nearly, If
not quite, all done by lepers. Such segregation
would, believe, with the other means already
mentioned succeed in stamping ont the disease.
This of course is dealing with leprosy
OF a most extensive scale, but oven on
such an extensive scale we see promi-
nent man writing upon it, who seems san
guine Of success.
But closer analogy to our condition
can be found in smaller country. viz: the
Island Of Cyprus. This island came un
der British rule on July u, 1878. 1t has
in the neighborhood Of 135,0O0 inhabit-
ants, two thirds of whom arc Greek. and
the habits of the people are anything but
cleanly. This island, along with many
other places in the East was terribly afflict
ed with leprosy, and one or two graphic
accounts Of the leper settlement on that
island have been published. When the
British Government took control of the
island they at once faced the question of
leprosy, and they applied the only remedy
yet known, segregation. Within SIX years
of the occupation of the island comes the
report from the Chief Medical Officer of
Cyprus, DR. g. n Stephens He says, in
a report for 1854:
have come TO the conclusion that leprosy in
this island is markedly on the decrease, and / am
Of opinion that in time it will entirely disappear.
Tor this purpose however, two points have to be
observed: firstly, the general ameloration of the
condition and welfare of the inhabitants which
time only can bring about; secondly, the gradual
seclusion of all iepers as they are met with. To
this latter measure the Government has given its
full attention. II is greatly TO be desired for the
sure and radical determination of this disease that
some more absolute mode OF isolation should be
adopted. am considering the best manner in
which this could be done, and will shortly Law
my views on the subject before the Government
Here is distinct hope for us, but it is
only by being up and doing that we can
20 fl,uA ,-l, h.
nearly double the population of the whole |
Hawaiian group, and there is no symptom /
of doubt in the mind of an important med |
ical officer as to the possibility Of "radi |
cal determination of the disease II is |
well for all of us TO notice the two points |
which have been observed" in Cyprus: |
the scclusion Of all lepers, and the gen
eral amelioration Of the condition and |
welfare OF the inhabitants
II is well to take this lesson to heart. |
We have two goals to aim at One to get .
the unclean put away and treated as hu
namely and kindly as it is possible, the
other to so improve the clean that they
cannot become unclean. Here is work for
all 1t is the duty of the Government to
take up the matter of segregation with
strong hand and a determination to carry
it out it is the duty of our philanthropic
men and women to go personally into the
homes of the poor and do their utmost to
cleanliness and good habits
among the people, to war against debauch-
lry. intemperance and vice OH these
sles are so beautiful, life should be so
Easy, so happy here, it seems sacrilege
hat dread disease should crawl in in its
lideous loathsomeness and mar the beauty.
threaten the life. 1t is the more to be re
yretted because we believe that the cancer
which is eating into Hawaii is the result
IF carlessness. From statistics which we
lave had an opportunity of glancing at.
md which will one of these days become
public property, we are assured that the
nismanagement has had more evil effects
within the last few years, we fear it is hav-
ng its most evil effects now.
LeprOsy Is very old disease in the
world, 1t Is very old disease in Europe,
1 spread there to such terrible ex-
ent that almost every small town had
Is lazar house II has been stamped ont.
Howl By segregation. and the following
we're the terms in which the priest flor in
he middle ages segregation was duty
by the Church. and its mem
,ers framed terrible ceremony pro
iounced the ten commandments which the
eper had to keep.
l. forbid you Cslid the PRIEST ever again to
inter- church. 4 uiarket-place. a mill, bake
ouse, or any assembly Of the people.
:. forbid you ever TO wash your hands, or any
( yonr things. in the fountains or any running
truam anywhere soever. And II you wish to drink
ou must dip up water In your cop (bRsi1io) or
ONE other vessel.
j. forbid you to 60 out of doors without your !