The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-11-25

Mr.. EDITOR: Your correspondent
"Truth" charges me with making
false statements in an interview
with a Pail Mall Gazette reporter.
If he only aimed at that which he
chooses to designate himself, he
might have given thought to the
authenticity of the reported state
ments. It is easy to see Gas many
of my friends have sadly that in
this report the writer has trusted
to a memory which betrayed her,
and that she not only "read be-
tween the lines" (as she herself
states), but also drew on her i'm
agination. AS one instance among
others, l may mention the alleged
statement of the Government for
bidding my stay at Molokai.
l will add that as soon as this
article reached me, J. took the
necessary steps to have it contra
dicted in the English papers.
AS to the question of cures, l
think "Truth' is not very we'll in
formed, when he states that the
medical fraternity of the world
denies a single authenticated cure.
The physicians of the Leper Hospi-
tails in Norway, who have the long
est experience on the subject, have
always reported a small proportion
of cured cases. And if we read of
a patient staying sixty-five years
in the Leper Asylum of Rio de
Janeiro, and showing at the end of
that time only few mutilations of
ancient date, no one will suppose
that man to be a case of leprosy of
sixty-fve years standing. Many
other instances might be cited, had
I more time and space at my dis
posal.
Moreover, we speak of cases of
tuberculosis, lupus, cancer and
other chronic diseases as cured,
when we do not find any more ac-
tive symptoms for considerable
time. If it were not so, how could
there be any cure of chronic DIS
eases, nay, even Of acute ones, as
they are all liable to recur in the
same subjects?
The reiterated petitions to the
Legislature and the Throne by
thousands of Hawaiians, afflicted
themselves or friends of lepers to
have DR.. Lutz reinstated at Ka-
lihi, amply corroborate my state
ment regarding the benefit derived
by lepers from his treatment. l
may further state that during my
stay at Kalihi Receiving Station,
three patients, formerly pronounced
lepers by the board of examiners,
were first removed to the suspect
hospital on account of their inn
proved condition, and ultimately
allowed to return to their homes
in or near Honolulu, after treat
ment by DIR. Lutz.
When the hospital was broken
up, others were allowed to return
home, q have met them frequently
in the town.. Of those, two at
least had certainly been in the
leper hospital, and others were sus-
pected lepers. All had been under
nr T,uf1'c fpnofmont
Now, l ask, if the Agents of the
Board of Health, who are so con-
scientious in enforcing the law of
segregation Gas is required of
them), and the independent exam
iners did not judge those persons
free from leprosy, would they have
suffered them to go amongst the
healthy people of Honolulu?
Though not feeling justified, in
publishing the names of these per-
sons in a newspaper, I consider it
right to furnish details to anyone
who has an interest in the matter
and comes to we in a frank and
straightforward manner.
l will not further trespass on
your valuable space, Mr.. Editor,
but will merely ask, en- PEASANT,
why need ''Truth" hide his face be-
hind a veil? Yours respectfully,
SISTER ROSE GERTRUDE.