The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-06-09

cal WOrlu as DelnR an exceptionally
brilliant Investigator. His interest
in the study of infectious diseases
while he was a student of medicine
in the Imperial University at Toxic
drew the attention of the authori-
ties of the Sanitary Department of
the Home Office to him. In 1886 he
was sent at the expense of the Gov
ernment to Germany to be student
under Professor Koch, with whom
he became specialist in bacteri-
ology. Just before his return to
Japan he was offered professorship
in the University at Berlin. He pre-
ferred, however, to continue his
work at home. A letter in his
praise from the German Emperor to
the Emperor of Japan recently caus-
ed him to receive Japanese i'm
perial decoration. His services are
now entirely under the employ Of
| the Government. His hospitals are
Government hospitals. He has no
personal financial interest in the dis
covorles he is making or is to niake.
The most noticeable effect of DIR.
Kitasato's method is from the first
the non-appearance of the disas-
trous Eeactionary fevers which have
followed the injection Of the tuber-
culine used in Germany. In but one
case did such fever appear under DR..
Kitasato's care and in that case but
once. On this account the patients
strength is not drawn upon-there
is no enforced depression to rally
from.
OF course, Professor MacCauley
says, it can not yet be declared that
the cure for consumption has at last
been discovered. Time only will
show whether the persons seemingly
cured are, in fact, we'll. But it cer-
tainly is clear that several men who
seemed hopelessly in the clutch of
the disease are now apparently well
and that many others are week by
week apparently progressing toward
recovery.
In an editorial article on the sub
iect of the interview the Chronicle
says:
Why should not other govern
ments, especially our own, initiate
the example set by Japan and en-
ploy physicians of acknowledged
ability, especially in such diseases as
consumption, to save human life
where it can be saved? Is it an ex-
cess of paternalism for a govern
ment to put at the command of the
sick aud suffering the highest re-
sources of the healing art? Con-
sumption in the United States has
killed more people than would have
died with half dozen epidemics
of cholera, and yet the Govern
ment, deeming consumption a mat
ter of course, has not concerned it
self with it.
If DR.. kitasato's treatment justi-
ties itself completely the United
States should send over some bright,
ambitious medical students to study
under him and should establish
them on their return in a national
hospital for consumptives.
What greater tribute to the re-
markable spirit of progress display
ed by Japan in the present genera
tion could be desired than this re-
commendation of an American news
paper, that the brightest medical
students of the highly progressive
United States should be sent to
learn the most advanced science at
the feet of a Japanese Investigator?
Japan has given ocular demonstra-
ton in our Hawaiian waters of her
progress in modern naval armament,
but the Land of the Rising Sun"
bids fair to be more glorious in the
science of saving than in that of
destroying human life. In this con-
nection Hawaii has now a closer
bond of sympathy with Japan than
will ever be established by japanese
exhibitions of naval prowess in our
waters. We have here one of her
new school medical specialists, train
ed in foreign parts as well as at
home, working under the patronage
of our Government to alleviate the
scourge of leprosy. AS in the work
of DR.. Kitasato to destroy the des-
troyer consumption, DR.. Goto's sys-
TEN of treating leprosy is not claim
ed to be original with him, nor to
cure cases advanced beyond certain
stages. There is no doubt, however,
that he has attained high degree
of efficiency in the system he prac,
, tices. After some years of practice
: in these islands, wherein he relieved
many patients-at the very least
mitigating the horrors of their con
, ditions-Dr. Goto spent several years
in India and Japan, his father being
renowned specialist at home, to
perfect his knowledge of the system
in the medical schools and lazarettos
f, of those countries.