The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-11-12

That the physicians should meet to-
gether and in some general conference
discuss the present aspects of leprosy, a
thing which was proposed in the GAZETTE
of last week, has met with the approval of
several of our most prominent physicians,
indeed we are informed that some such
scheme is already on foot, and that there
is an earnest desire among them to thor
oughly discuss the question and to unite
if possible, upon advising such plan as
will meet the present contingency.
There is however, strong feeling among
them, with regard to the difficulty of bring
ing any plan that they may form before
the present President of the Board of
Health. 1t is this President who advo-
Gated so persistently that there should be
a lay Roman of Health, it is the same man
who has heaped sights and ridicule upon
the profession. Prominent medical men,
men of ability, men in whom our citizens
have thorough confidence, have been either
compelled to resign, or have been dis
missed from their positions, not because
their duties were not efficiently performed,
but because they were not in accord" with
the present administration. Moreover,
they also have before them the memory of
the manner in which the Chamber of Com
merce, the Planters and the Merchants
have been treated: they think of the flip
pant answers which have been returned to
the respectful petitions addressed by those
bodies, upon questions that they were far
more competent to deal with than the Cab
met, either singly or collectively, and as
members of an important profession, which
has ever maintained its dignity, at all
times and in all places, they do not feel
disposed to lay themselves open to the
slightest snub from men such as now oc-
cupy the Cabinet posts.
1t is for the Government to make up its
mind to call these gentlemen together and
to show that it is willing to act by their
advice. We presume that it Will be fairly
impossible to get our medical men to give
their opinion as an united body unless
such a course is adopted. How necessary
it is that an authoritative opinion should
back any plan for the fighting of leprosy
under its present conditions, all who think
at all well know.
A scare on this matter we deprecate; but
an i'll cannot be met by merely shutting
the eyes: the ostrich does not escape its
pursuers, though it thrust its head into
the sand ever so far. It is only by meet
ing the question boldly and squarely that
we can hope to overcome it, and the only
way of doing that is to have an authorize
tive opinion from men well versed in the
disease, to advise as to the best way Of
meeting it to back executive action. The
tanner Cleon could not lead an army tc
victory, but brought disgrace upon the
Athenian arms, and we may be assured
that our lay Board Of Health is carrying
Hawaii to destruction in things medical
There is no use blinking the fact that
leprosy has been increasing greatly during
the past few years, there is no use in blink
ing the fact that a number of our citizens
especially mothers of families are greatly
alarmed: let something authoritative ther
be done; take advice; let us know officially
and not by mere exaggerated hearsay how
great the evil is; let us know what measure.
are being taken to meet the evil. Othel
countries have had the disease and have
stamped it out. Other countries now have
the disease, and where there is good gov
eminent are employed in stamping it out
witness the Act for segregation passed BY
the Parliament at the Cape of Good Hope
witness the successful war against the dis
ease by the Norwegians. It is time tina
sloth and yacillation should be laid aside
In matter like this there can be no polit
ical feeling, but all viii readily join to co
operate with the Cabinet, should the,