The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-09
NATIONAL CHARITIES.

the IOuuQaIIO0 OF INSTITUTIONS LOT Tie
cure and maintenance of the sick,
INDECENT and helpless. There are
countries in which neither Govern
ment nor private individuals or assO-
Citations make any effort to minister
to the wants of suffering humanity.
But these are not Christian countries,
neither are they high in the scale of
nations. China, which is in some re-
spects unique as a national entity,
having systemized human industrial
energy in way that no other nation
has ever done, or probably will do, is
almost entirely wanting in provision
for the care of sick and destitute.
When men and women cease to be
useful they are no longer considered
of any account, and receive no special
attention or care from any one.
Hence it happens that China has be-
come the home of leprOsy, because no
attempt has been made to segregate
the diseased, or to improve their gen.
eral health by care, liberal regimen
and medical treatment. Were it
otherwise, that fell disease might
have been stamped out in China
centuries ago, just as it was stamped
out in Europe by the complete isola-
ton of lepers, vigorously enforced by
Church and State. But instead,
China is the great reservoir of human
rottenness, which is communicating
all the dark skinned races of tn
world with which Chinese come into
contact, whose vital energy is lower
than their own. And therefore we
conclude that although there may
have been a disease somewhat akin
to Ieprosy upon these Islands before
the advent of the Chinese, the later
development of the fierce and con-
suming leprssy which has smitten
the Hawaiian people is undoubtedly
traceable to them. Cinnamon carry
it with them wherever they go, and
doubtless communicate it, under
fsvoring conditions, to those with
whom they are brought in contact.
The outbreak of leprOsy on these
Ialands has been a serious drawback
upon national prosperity, as well as
q heavy charge upon public and pri-
vate charity. Indeed, owing to the
great natural affection Of the native
race, it has been an Onerous burden
upon them in a special degree. I'm
like the Chinese, when member of
q Hawaiian family falls sick all the
friends and relatives become person
ely interested. There is no turning
the helpless ones out of doors to
perish like dog. They are cared for
tenderly and nursed till death ends
their affliction. But when that aff1ic-
tion takes the form of leprOsy, and
the victim is isolated from his more
fortunate fellows, the individual
alone is not withdrawn from the
active duties of life. 1t may be the
husband If so, the wife accompanies
him. It may be the wife in that
case the husband accompanies her,
and with the heads of families go the
children. This is shown in a very
fOrcible manner by the state of things
at the Leper Settlement on Molekai,
recently described in the ADvER-
TIsER.
It follows, therefore, that the spread
of leprosy in these Islands has been a
very serious economic drawback to
the native people, thereby creating
public burdens which would not
otherwise exist. But the country has
done its duty well and nobly in the
heavy trial it has been called upon to
bear. Not only has it provided hos
pitfalls and medical attendants for the
treatment of ordinary disease, caring
also for the poor and destitute, but it
has made elaborate provision for the
isolation, care and scientific treat
ment of lepers. This has been done
20 ameliorate the condition of these
unfortunates, because medical science
has as yet failed to effect a cure in
any case at least in these Islands.
But now an attempt is being made
to strike at the root of the plague by
separating the female children of
leper parents, who are not diseased,
from those who are so afflicted, and
endeavoring, by means of liberal
regimen, proper exercise, cleanliness
and careful mental and moral train
ing, to give tone to body and mind
and prepare the individuals so treated
to resist or throw off the disease if it
has attacked them.
This is the object of the Kapiolani
Home for leper girls, the latest and
perhaps the noblest of all our national
charities, which is to be formally
opened by their Majesties the King
and Queen to-day, a description of
which appears elsewhere. The Ka-
kaakO Branch Hospital and Kapio-
Ianf Home occupy five acres of land,
leased from Princess Ruth in 1880,
through the medium OF Princess
LiliuokaIani, the Kings sister and
Heir Apparent. When leased it was
salt marsh, but 1t has been con-
verified into dry ornamental ground,
approached by good road from the
Immigration Depot. The Branch !
Hospital was opened December II,
COS xvbar1 forfv.aiOh T. Ia OarS were adj /