The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-02-21
LEPROSY.
REsENTATIVEs AND THE PREMIER S
REPLY.


The following is Il copy of the
letter sent to each of the Foreign
Representative in Honolulu:
The undersigned, subjects and cit
izens of Foreign States, resident in
Honolulu, beg leave to represent to
you the great alarm and anxiety
which we entertain at the great and
rapid increase of the disease of lep-
rosy in this Kingdom,
For many years the existence of
this disease has occasioned more or
less solicitude to all classes of for
cigners, and we have hoped that such
steps would be taken as would lead
to the suppression of the disease.
We regret to state that after long
and anxious suspense, we find the
scourge invading our schools, and
threatening our homes, and we arc
conscious of no sufficient efforts
being made to mitigate the evil, or
even to keep it within bounds. The
ostcnsible attempt to isolate, and so
limit the disease, appears to be en-
tirely inadequate and delusiye, and
we believe the course pursued and
the neglect of practical measures are
equally condemned by the medical
gentlemen, whose opinions are en-
titled to our most earnest cOnsidera-
ton.
The matter has become so serious
and alarming that we are compelled
to ask you if you can, in your high
official positions, initiate any steps
that will reassurc us and the inmates
of our homes.
We would protest against any at
tempt to raise party discussion or
political or personal questions on
such an occasion, and we are salts
fled that you, gentlemen, would re-
fuse to be addressed in such a spirit
We take the liberty of this step in
the earnest humble effort to protect
our homes against Il scourge, whose
approach we cannot ignore, and at
whose name every owner of home
must shudder.
AS the Diplomatic Representatives
of the nations from which most OF
the foreign residents have come, we
are assured that you will regard our
action in placing this subject before
you as proper on our part.
The interests of foreign as well as
native residents are gravcly at stake,
and we hope that by joint conference
and such joint action rs you may
deem it proper to take, those in.
terests may be defended from the
ravagcs of this terrible disease.
The petition was signed by sixty
gentlemen.
TIE PREMIER'S REPLY.
In reply to the enquiries made by
the four Foreign Representatives
Mr.. Gibson stated that at Moloka
and at Kaliaako there were altogether
: about $50 lepers-that four hundred
had been drafted from Kakaalo tc
Molokai during the last 1G months
that never had greater efforts beeI
made, than at the present time, t.
: deal with and control leprosy ;-tha
sixty more lcpers are expected to bt
sent this week to Molokai. That al
the large appropriation for leprosy
had been spent, and that an indcm
nifty for $4,000 will be demanded
from the Legislature for additional
expenses incurred on behalf O.
, lepers.
With reference to the reports O
the existence of leprosy in the publ,
= schools, and especially in Fort st
, School, which have caused so mucl
: alarm, Mr.. Gibson said that he die
not believe that there was singh
case of leprosy i'll those schools bu
that five children, had been SOM
| time ago removed from them on tina
S account. However, there would b.
I an examination of Fort St. Schoo
; probably at once provided the pa
rents did not make any objection
I and that the request of the teacher
I at that school for such examination