The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-01-06
THE PROPOSED MEDICAL
SCHOOL.

There are some advantages for
both individuals and states in being
obscure. If inherent merits which
belong to the unknown are not
blazoned forth, credit is frequently
given where credit does not be-
long.
We are led to these reflections
from reading extracts from letter
written to the Board of Health of
this Kingdom, emanating from a
Chicago medical school. 1t would
seem that q sum OF one hundred
thousand dollars has been, or is to
be, subscribed for the very laudable
purpose of establishing here a Stree
dispensary," and alsosfor the estab-
lishment of medical school.
Inquiry is made as to the condi-
lions of our medical schools. -
This last inquiry might be taken
by many of US as mild sarcasm ;
but such is evidently not the inten-
ton of the learned body making
the interrogatory. We evidently
get credit for more advancement
than we are entitled to--for insti-
buttons which we do not possess.
No doubt the Board of Health
will answer the inquiry in beft-
ting manner, and give due thanks
for the substantial offer thus made,
and also information as to the con-
dition of our medical schools"
1t appears to US, however, that
the conditions here do not warrant,
at present, any attempt at an effort
so ambitious as the establishment
of a medical school. Medical schools
and colleges are nearly always for
the purpose Of instructing those
who wish to become physicians.
They demand a large money out
lay for equipment and still larger
current expenses. They are for
the purpose of distributing known
things-those facts and laws in re-
gard to the human organization in
health and disease about which
there is little dispute. For these
purposes older and weather. coun-
tries have every facility; and for
the few who intend to become ply
sicians it is far better for Mahomet
to go to the mountain, than to at
tempt to fetch the mountain to
Mahomet.
If it is not practicable to estab-
lish a medical school, however, it
might be feasible to organize an in
stitute of biology--.an institution
for original research into the subtle
growth and workings of living
things. A well-equipped and en-
dowed laboratory for this purpose,
together with arrangements for
specialists to study Ieprosy and the
various forms of skin diseases,
brought thither by our hetero-
geneous population, would be sure
to attract trained specialists from
every part of Europe and America.
Not only would it attract distin-
guished scientists, but it would
open the purses of wealthy indi-
viduals and organized agencies for
the advancement of science.
In some peculiar respects, Homo
lulu occupies a unique position for
purposes of scientific research. She
is situated in an isolated position.
two thousand miles from the near.
est continent, in tropical ocean
swarming with every variety Of
sea life. The aborigines of the
Kingdom are more than any Other
people afflicted with, perhaps, one
of the oldest recorded and the most
loathsome of diseases. The capita
is of easy access from all parts O.
the world. The climate is sucE
that mere existence In it is :
pleasure. The scenery is I'm
equaled.
With all these incidental advant
ages, if we could have an institute
with spendidly equipped labora
tory, like that of DR.. Dohrn a
Naples, much benefit might come
of it. Hawaii is small, but she il
not unimportant; and if we wish tt
be known as q civilized and en-