The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-26
LETTER FROM DIR. TROUssEAU.

EDITOR STAR: Why you should
try to make political capital out of
purely scientific question, l can hardly
understand Please allow a man to
have his honest opinions without tax
ing him with personal or political
motives.
About my evidence in the Thrum
libel case, it was given over ten years
ago, before any experiments had been
made either by myself or Aiming and
Lutz on the subject-before the bacci
us theory was even dreamed Of l
went just now to the Courthouse to get
communication of my evidence, but
was answered that the clerks had no
record Of it. | do not intend to dis
cuss the accuracy of the notes taken
by the Chief Justice, but distinctly re-
member what said in substance. The
theory of DR.. Fitch was that leprosy is
an aggravated form of syphilis; this |
tried to refute.
insisted several times on this i'm
portant fact, that l did consider leprosy
as communicable in the same way as
syphilis may be, but no more At that
time l did belleve in the inoculability
of leprosy as in syphilis, until strong
evidence shaked that belief and for
that reason did believe in segregation.
have since modified my views. l
emphatically repeat that they agree now
with those of the report. Before
abusing me, please read the report, and
consider after reading it if stand
alone in my opinion or not. No, sir,
neither | nor the authors and endorsers
of the report mean to turn the lepers
loose. Please read Practical Sug
gestions."
One more point. My letter to Hon.
| o. Smith was not intended for pub
LEGATION. 1t was marked private.
met Mr.. Smith; he asked my permis-
sion to read my letter to the board
answered that he could do so, mean
time pointing out to him that it might
not be wise to raise the question Of
segregation and contagion. Mr.. Smith
answered.; Il myself have had my
misgivings about the contagiousness of
Ieprosy, but | think that it is inocula-
bic, and, therefore, considering the
habits Of the natives, l think segrega-
ton necessary" / answered: "In
that case, read my letter to the board"
1t happened that Mr.. tombstone of the
advertiser was present at the boards
meeting and heard my letter read. He
asked permission to publish it and Mr.
Smith said that he would grant his
permission, provided l consented. Mr.
tombstone asked me about it and
l consented, not supposing that politi-
cal capital could possibly be made out
of it, my letter stating positively that it
was not intended for publication. Now,
you must admit that science and the
science of medicine principally has been
modified by Fermentation, study and
time. What of it if l do not entertain on
medicine, and principally on the ques-
ton of leprosy, absolutely the same
views that | entertained ten years ago
Why, in science, medicine, religion
and other topics my ideas have been
completely modified of last years.
| In the meantime respect thoroughly
the opinion Of others on the subject
| Dr. McGrew is, and always has been
contagionist SO has DR.. McKibbin
DR.. Emerson, as resident physician o.
the Leper Settlement must have found
out that leprosy is not quite SO con
tagions he now believes however, he
and also DIR. Wood, have got a perfec
right to their opinions. | said in my
letter (private) l have no intention to
interfere with local legislation first,
cannot, next, could |, would hesitate
as my opinions, although Conscientious
may be wrong.
| This, Mr.. Editor will close the dis
cussion between you and !, ] stanc
behind the report, mean nelthe
more nor less than the report means
and am satisfied that in scientific
way | am not in very bad company
| Now attack the report aG much a
lyou please, but do not bring my per
sonallty any more into the discussion
as ! would decline to follow you up
N did not make the report bette
: men did. Respectfully yours,
Il G. TRoUssEAu.