The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-11-04
THE CURSE OF HAWAII.
THE RAPID SPREAD OF LEPROSY
AMONG THE INHABITANTS.
The Valley of the Lepers - The Cause
Popularity Laid in Capt. Cooks Visit.
Symptoms and Progress of the Fright
full Disease.

A lady resident at Honolulu, whose educa-
ton and accomplishments rank far above the
average even in Boston, told me that she
was not certain She had ever seen more than
one or two lepers during her residence of
twenty years, and then only by visits TO the
fish markets IN the earliest morning hour
Consult the almanac or political pamphlet Of
the kalakaua government and you get no in
formation OF leproSy. The lepers now mum
Der between 900 and 1900, though any
estimate can only be an approximation, since
pronounced and plainly visible cases only are
confessed lepers. 1t might be fair to say
there are 200 lepers out of 10000 natives.
The victim of this disease is subjected to the
dreadful fate of memorable, irrevocable ban
ishment upon the discovery of the fact.
Hence the patient, aided by all his kindred,
evadeS detection TO the last, and oftentimes
this IS successfully done until the most re
pulsive stages Of the disease are reached
Taught by the alarming increase of this dis
order, the authorities rigidly seek TO separate
those infected from those not afflicted, and
have set apart what is known as "Lepers'
valley on the island Of Molokai, where, APP
preached by a narrow inlet a bay and small
territory Is found, surrounded by mountains
too lofty 70 admit OF escape, except through
the entrance that is carefully guarded TO pre-
vent ingress or egreSs. We dwell upon the
poetic picture of the Plutonian shores, and
recall the bodeful warning: "Who enters here
leaves hope behind;" but to my mind nothing
50 dire exists rs this dreadful journey to the
Lepers' valley
IIr of, 10 hot =
Everybody not idiotic would ask that queS-
ton. What causes it? And this is about the
only question that intelligent people agree
on in answering-syphilis! that's the word.
Capt Cook the missionaries are very severe
on him, and will be, Judge, to the latest
generatiOn) had some sad wrecks with him
in his voyages, and unfortunately for them
he landed among the Hawaiians. This, as |
say, is the conceded source and character
of leproSy. And you must not expect me
o nterlard what l write with terms scientific.
[ wish to be understood and not to be re-
garded wise.
Next. Is there any curel And | have
quizzed the best physicians that l could hear
of and find that none claim TO know
specific. a quack lived in the islands for
some years who pretended TO cure the disease,
but he was soon found TO be an empire and
was compelled to flee, after injuring his
patients by destructive drugs. 1t is needless
to say he left with well filled pockets from
the fruits of successful humbuggery One
person, apparently very intelligent, spoke of
japanese doctor now trying a new method
and many experiments, confidently predict
ing curative treatment.
But the most anxious inquiry of all re
mains: rs it contagiousN The increase of
this curse, that so rapidly decimateS a simple
people and other races in contact, naturally
intensifies this question Contagious it must
be- But how communicated
| was reliably informed that for long time
the theory was entertained that the virus was
carried from the miserable subjects by the
musquito. Let your imagination play upon
this conception for a moment Afterward it
was determined that this theory must be
wrong else all would be lepers for the mus
auitOes in all this region are a myriad.
Whittier and how far contact disseminates
the disease has been a matter of experiment
by incubation. And recently a man con
demned to death was turned over to the ex-
peiimenting doctor, but mirabile dictu, lit
cinat.on over and over and from different in
dividuals The explanation was that he was
a man Of great physical vigor, whose system
resisted the virus, thus fortifying the theory
of many that the disease makes Roadway only
among those with enervated constitutions,
and that the Hawaans are race degenerate
through laxity Of morals.
Not long since a medical practitioner, very
eminent in his profession, who had attained
wealth and was surrounded by dOting fam
ilv. announced that he must not be APP
preached that he feared he was infected with
leprosy. He had been experimenting III inocu-
lation and otherwise, 10 discover cause and
cure. and though using every known precau-
ton. as gloves in handling and disinfectants,
and as any but natives are seldom infected,
he was thought insane. But it soon trans
pired that beyond all question he was attacked
by The fatal malady. SO theories seem worth
les and this is apparently worse than the
biblical curse visited upon the third and fourth
generations. There is still another and plausi-
Die notion regarding as TO the spreading OF
lenrosv through the national dish called poi
This is made from kind of root (Kalb). IL is
baked. beaten with a pestle, and then, mixed
with water is l.neaded into dough. This proc
ess. if performed with polluted hands, might
well transmit the poison, and as poi is sold
and manufactured without inspection. there
NAV be something in this idea. The prudent
meyer partake of this dish without knowing
its puri,v At any rate, after this bare sug-
eestion. one would choose bologna rather
than poi
But think all speculation is vain. The
last and very natural inquiry is, how does it !
affect the person? Here might revel in the
OF the medical craft, If could.
/ am told that spots appear on the legs of a