The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-06-10
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

6cOur16 Oh leprOSN anu CnO SOH-
slant decrease of the Hawaiian
population, i'll spite of our salubri-
Gus climate and favorable sur
roundings, the report CT the Board
Of Health always has and must
continue TO have an absorbing in
terest. Although Dr. Kimball has
been President but 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
the 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 a few remarks regarding
the composition of the Board, the
only change being the resignation
Of DR.. Emerson and tie appoint
ment of DIR. KimbalI in 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 I'M
told treasure" Truer words were
never spoken, and if Hawaii is ever
70 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
better appointed than the old Ka-
kaako Hospital. Mr.. Kahalehili,
the manager, is spoken of as man
Of superior executive ability and
faithful. Under the present sys-
TEN. the old complaint, of INSULT
Gent examinations with its possible
result of condemnation to Molokai
without a certainty that the un-
fortunate Wet m was a leper, is
well nigh impossible, and in fact
one rarely hears that complaint to-
Gav. 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
10 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 u doubt, the question,
before the poor fellow is condemned
10 Molokai. 1t does not appear as
# there could be any further or
better safeguard. Indeed the Ha-
waiian is believed to be more nearly
reeonciled to the present system
than ever before. The fact is that
the native is possessed of good
sense and q sense of justice which
recognizes and appreciates what is
being done. The past two years
have witnessed an increasing and
determined effort to meet the ques-
ton Of Ieprosy and segregation, land
as 8 result it is believed for good
reasons that nearly all of the cases
which are Ieprosy. without doubt
have been gathered in and are now
at Molokai or under treatment as
suspects. Those who are still at
large may be said to be segregated,
for they are in hiding to keep away
from the officers Of the law. 1t is
vet too soon to have obtained any
clear and satisfactory results from
the work of DIR. Lutz, but it is
shown that some very encouraging
signs begin to appear from his
Iabors. His own report, which ap-
pears as Appendix B., describes his
methods of treatment, which, while
very interesting, can hardly be de-
tailed intelligently in a limited
notice like this. While he does not
claim any positive cure. yet there
are cases reported which have
Welded to treatment, and to the
outward appearance are cured. In
view of the terror and disgust ex-
cited by the disease, it is rather
comforting to read: at has proved
with most of my private patients
rather benignant disease. L be-
Iieve we shall then also see cures,
which NAV be attributed, not to eX-