The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-06-06
REPORT OF TIE BOARD OF HEALTH.

REPORT OF TIE BOARD OF HEALTH.
In view of the ever present
scourge of leprosy and the con-
slant decrease of the Hawaiian
population, in spite of our salubri-
Gus climate and favorable sur
roundings, the report OF the Board
OF Health always has and must
continue to have an absorbing in
terest. Although DIR. Kimball has
been President but a few months,
the report lacks nothing of its
usual interest. 1t becomes more
valuable from year to year as the
control of the health authorities
becomes better and the grasp OF
the various matters committed to
their charge more complete. The
report covers 143 pages, including
tho various subordinate reports and
appendices. The signature of the
President appears on the sixty-frst
page, the remainder being occupied
with the other matters. 1t is not
stretching the truth to say that the
entire volume is of intense interest.
After few remarks regarding
the composition of the Board, the
only change being the resignation
of DR.. Emerson and tie appoint
ment of DR.. KimbalJ ia his place,
the report proceeds to discuss the
subject of leprosy. Attention is
first drawn to the incontestable
fact of the contagious nature of
the disease and the necessity OF
"complete, thorough and absolute
segregation" The doctor then
proceeds; Dealing with the ques-
ton on any other hypothesis is a
delusion and snare, and will cost
In the future, as it has in the past,
thousands of precious lives and un-
told treasure" Truer words were
never spoken, and if Hawaii is ever
to be freed from this curse, the
course now being followed must. be
rigidly and consistently adhered to.
"A description is given of the new
Receiving Station in Kalihi. which
shows that it is better located and
sstter appointed than the old Ka-
ospital. Mr.. Kahalehili,
II, is spoken of as a man
ecutive ability and
Under the present sys-
: aid complaint, of INSULT
1f6ns e. Aminations with its possible
result Of condemnation to Molokai
without q certainty that the I'M
fortunate victim was a leper, is
we'll nigh impossible, and in fact
one rarely hears that complaint to-
day. We do not say that the old
time complaints were often or ever
correct, for there is no doubt that
the examining physicians were
faithful. At present a suspect
is examined by the Government
doctor IN the country, then is sent
to Honolulu where there is
another careful examination by
the surgeon in charge OF
the Receiving Station. After
this the Board of Examiners, three
well-known physicians of long ex
perience and high repute, again
take the suspect in charge, and
settle beyond a doubt, the question
before the poor fellow is condemned
ITO Molokai. 1t does not appear as
LII there could be any further OF
better safeguard. Indeed the Ha'
waiian is believed to be more nearly
reconciled to the present system
than ever before. The fact is that
the native is possessed of good
sense and sense of justice which
recognizes and appreciates what il
being done. The past two years
have witnessed an increasing anC
determined effort to meet the ques
ton of leprosy and segregation, ano
az a result it IS believed for gooc
reasons that nearly all of the cases
which are leprosy, without doubt
have been gathered in and are now
at Molokai or under treatment al
suspects. Those who are still q,
large may be said to be segregated
for they are in hiding to keep away
from the officers of the law. 1t il
yet too soon to- have obtained any
clear and satisfactory results from
the work of DR.. Lutz, but it ii
shown that some very encouraging
signs begin to appear from hi
labors. His own report, which ap
nears as Appendix B., describes hi ii
- ethods of treatment, which, while
,I,sry interesting, can hardly be de
Z lied intelligently in Limited
Y. otice like this. While he does no
,im any positive cure, yet there
l7le cases reported which have
!. aded to treatment, and to tn,
ward appearance are cured. II
desor.,w of the terror and disgust ex
an' ed by the disease, it is rather
...ssmforting to read: "It has provee
tn most of my private patients
me The jaicr benignant disease. l be