Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-02-23
TEpEfDS

brought forward as it has been by the
letters Of DIR. rousseau, Mr. Ashford
and Mr. Parker, remarks from every Jour
nal protesting 10 have the general vel
fare at heart becomes imperatively de.
mlndcd. The question at stake is de
finite and vital, and one that can by no
possibility give room for fence perching
journalism. Either leprosy is to be
considered disease that is not TO be
feared and not contagious; or it Is one
fraught with danger both on account Of
its revolving and incurable nature, and
bccauec it is here generally believed to
be communicable from the diseased to
the healthy II the former view be
generally entertained and is supported
by q prcpondcrance ofrcspectablc tcsti-
mOny, with some Justification can the
entertainers OF such a theory accuse
those who call attention to its existence
and spread, alarmists. The facts Of the
case however, as generally known. and
especially noted by medical men, who
by the nature of their employment
should be best acquainted herewith,
warrant no such conclusions In the
face of modern investigations in regard
to the origin and spread of lcprosy, no
amount Of sophistry can do away with
the theory of contagion; and in the
light OF modern miCrosc)pical develop
mcnts in regard to the germ origin of
the disease, when placed side by side
with its history, it would be simply in
sane To- deny such a conclusion. As
remarked by the Bulletin, the fact is
significant that from one single case
here, II has spread To- thousands. With
out one iota OF medical testimony, or
further evidence as to its history, this
alone is sufficient to- stamp 1t rs a dis
ease emiHeHtJ contagious in nature.
With regard to the present administra-
ton, we are free to admit that the
whole blame for the non-segregatlon of
lepers does not lie with them. The
disease from the beginning, when seq
regation laws were first enacted and
asyums built for their enforcement,
has been wrctchedly handled, and pre-
o.
are To be blamed for the fact that now
we have so many lepers that need to be
separated. But the wrong doing of
predecessors can neither screen nor
excuse present misdoing. The existing
board may, perhaps il truth say that
they have segregated more lepers in
given time than any of their predeCes-
sors; but this fact is better explained
upon the supposltiOn of increase than
on that OF vigilance. We shall not now
60 into a detail of facts in support of
this view. 1t is noisome, and unnec-
cessary, because any fair-minded person
with what has been already said by us
and others on the subject must have
been long since convinced of such fact,
and so long as there is evinced any
disposition on the part OF the authori
ties to be guided in their conduct by the
general sentiment and the advice of
competent physicians, this journal at
least shall not dlsparage their efforts.
We have no quarrel in this matter with
Mr.. Gibson, Mr.. Parker, or Mr.. Fitch,
so long as they cease to resist the dem
onstrlted fact of Contagion, and act in
accordance with the majority views of
resident medical men here and with
the spirit OF a definite law on the sub
Iect The recent scare about leproSy
in schools, though but a small part OF
the general subject, is none the less the
result OF an unwise neglect upon the
part OF government, and in no wise to
he explained by either personal ends
or political enmity. 'rhe contact OF
school children or teachers in schools
with an mcipient leper or two, is far
less To be feared as a source of danger
than the general freedom with which
diseased persons have been allowed To-
mlngle with the healthy community.
The adverse comment, however, which
has been called ont on this subject, is
natural, and serves better than any
other illustration to show how com
paratVely slight danger may create an
alarm under peculiar circumstances,
while greater one may be allowed to
stare one in the face without the crea-
ion OF much discomfort. The atti-
tude which the community has assum.
ed IN reference to the existence of the
| disease in schools, and that which II
has shown IN reference To the general
question, bear this relation one to the
other. In conclusion we would ex-
press our endorsement of the sudden
and notIceably improved tone OF the
Advertiser upon this subject, and
Especially commend one of the conclud-
ing sentences OF an editorial upon the
subject whicn appeared in yesterdays
issue OF that journal, where it is said:
"We have laws that enable the proper
authorities TO examine all suspected
persons, whether child or adult. Let
them be enforced TO the uttermost-
let the dread thing be stamped out
quietly but surely" More we cannot
ask; but we do believe that more com
petcnt medical advisers are needed to
supplement the efforts of the board
than such as have declared the disease
to be dependent entirely for its exist
ence upon the immoral proclivities of its
victims, and who scout the idea OF or
dinary means OF contagion,
We print herewith the petition OF
sixty foreign residents of Honolulu, Ii
Was written ON the Isth instant, and
was addressed Ia the -four resident
diplomatic representatives of foreign
nations, This petition the dignied,
reasonable, and earnest protest OF a
large body of citizens was received
by the foreign representatives. and by
them made known 10 the Hawaiian
Government The cabinet through
the foreign office has informed III,
foreign Tepresentatiycs that measure,