Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-14
LEPRoSY IN HAWAII.
Tho Origin and Progress OF the
Dreadful Disease.

tUSebsr.
The Hawiian consul in London sends
an interesting sketch of the history OF
leprosy in Hawaii and the lcper's island
OF Molokai, The first known case OF
true leprosy Il cannot speak as to ele-
phantiasis) occurred, he writes, in the
islands, more than forty years ago.
1t has been supposed TO have been In
troduced by a Chinese, but this was
never established; and it may here be
remarked that the ratio OF leprosy
among the Chipese residents is
less than that among the natives. In
twenty years the disease has at
tackled large proportion of the Haw-
allan population In 1866 as many OF
the lepers as could be induced TO go
were taken to n beautiful valley in the
island OF Molokai, not to be called, as
was that OF Rasselas, n "happy valley"
but fertile and eminently adapted to its
purpose. Before it was the ocean, and
landward the plain was shut in COM
pletely by a mountain range, in which
were precipices 1900 feet high. Doubt
less at first some disorder aud a want OF
organization existed. But the Hawaiian
board Of health began its work aud inn
proved matters. Pure water was
brought into the settleme Mt from sources
mile distant in abundant quantities,
different situations.
In the year 1873 Mr.. Ragsdale, Jay
man, gave an example of self-sacrifice
by volunteering TO act as superin-
tendent to the Leper asylum. He did
efficient work there, but did not live
long. 1t Is to be admitted that the
housing of the sufferers was for some
time bad and insufficient. Yet, in 1874,
Mr.. Widemann, president OF the board,
asserted that, ''in material point Of
view, the people were better off in
Molokai than most natives OF the
islands. and also better, with few excep-
tons, thnn they ever were in their own
homes. Parcels OF land and wooden
houses had been bought for the increas-
ing population, and 5000 feet of
waterpipe had been laid" Next
the settlement was divided, and the two
establishments of Kalawao and Kalau-
papa were placed ut considerable dis
tance from each other. In 1879 and 1880
there were in the former of these places
S02 lepers, of which 45S were men and
344 were women. There has always
been an excess of cases among the males.
The largest number at any one time
appears to have been 900. In the year
1874 the young Belgian priest Damien
cast his lot in with that sad society, and
was appointed assistant superintendent.
The lepers cultivated plots of grounu
and occupied themselves in such manual
labor as they were capable Of.
The biennial grant of the govern
ment is 500 900 for Mololtai and $35 900
for the establishment on the Island OF
Oahu. There is resident surgeon at
Molokai.
The present king and queen have
shown great interest in and sympathy
with the lepers. Three years ago they
paid a memorable visit to them, and
hymn written for the occasion by the
king was sung enthusiastically by the
patients. l have understood that the
resident medical officer, DR.. Hoff-
mann, is himself affected by the dis
order. [ will add that the ratio OF
deaths in year IS 5S per 1000, and the
disease runs its course after first incu-
baton in about eleven years. 1 need
hardly say that all kinds of remedies
are being 1ricd on the sufferers, and |
must express my thanks to the English
government, who procured at my re-
quest from the government of India, a
large quantity of Gariin oil, which
forSarded TO Hawaii. 1t has been
thought that this oil is the most potent
agent, if not for the cure, for the re-
straint and alleviation of leprosy.