The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-08-12
German AEea.les Again

ED1ruR GAzETTE:-The Advertiser of Aug. 9th has
quite a labored article 10 say the least from the
pen of one of our physicians on German Measles.
II is not fully reliable statement of facts, and
fear that the author was cogniZant OF this TACT
when be penned the letter.
One of his statements is that Mrs. IDouye whom
he had honor" of waiting upon during her illness,
left ON the Tapdshiro Mdy, on the 3Oth July per
fectly WE'LL" Many who visited and paid their
compliments to her thought otherwise. There are
many who can testify to the contrary. The lady
was very weak and languid, and had we'll marked
symptoms On her face sufficient TO show that she
was very far from being well ut that date.
The Adrertiser says that attempt was made
by your contemporary, to prove that this disease
was introduced BY the YdmashirO MdrH, whereas
it has been or less Yrulent here for the past
two years. and snch of the Japanese as have shown
symptoms of appear to have contracted II ashore
this is also DR.. Trousseau's statement. Why
was il kept so secret? Why was it not reported to
the Board of Health-and if SO, why not made
public that the people could he guarded against it.
Certainly il Drs. 1rousseau and Aiming had this
disease prevailing to the extent stated by DIR.
Troussean himself-they were neglected. IN not
warning their patients and the public.
Did Mrs. inouye mix much with the class oil
patients spoken Of by the Doctor Did she asso-
ciate or mix with either black or white while here
outside of her own people the Japanese. Has not
the statement been made public again and again
by some of the parties who came hereby the yes
sci spoken Of that measles had been prevailing to
a dangerous extent before the vessels departure
from Japan. Why was 1t necessary for the Doc
tor 10 say, after making the very decided slate
ment that there had been no measles on board
that he had the honor also of treating the gentle
man referred to by the GAZETTE, meaning the
editor Of the Aduertiser, that "he had very slight
attack Of the disease, and that he could not trace
any possible contagion with the ship"
And further, why the necessity for the publica-
ton of the following item, which appeared IN the
Adrertiser OF July 18th, and which was evidently
intended as a warning to parties having Japanese
in their employ that had been brought here by the
Ju,Hdsliro MdTt:
'SThose who have any of the last lot of Japanese
working for them need not feel alarmed if they
notice that some of the people have an attack OF
fever with headache and other symptoms that re-
semble to a certain degree the premOnitOry symp-
toms of smallpox. II will turn out to be- without
doubt, sort of mild measles with which they
seem to be troubled, and the disease yields readily
to proper medical treatment, and is not considered
dangerous. The rash that makes its appearance
in this complaint might produce a scare in the
minds of those who are always dreading some dire
disease, but there is no need for alarm
The doctor thinks that it was " 4 pity that the
editor of the GAZETTE did not seek information
from men the Irresponsible party for the action Of
the board of Health" before making any remarks
on this medical subject. The doctor seems to con
slider himself the only authority on subjects OF
this nature.
This disease German Measles or RotLleH, has not
shown itself more or less rruleHt here, for the
past two years. about that time, two years ago, We
had few cases that could be classed under thai
head-but since, until about the time of the arri
val Of the Japanese ship, have heard nothing
of it from medical gentlemen, and nothing from
the Board Of Health in regard to it, although the
saviour of the county is the President of the
Board. LOCKER On.