The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-25

make them pubic, hence my resolution
to be no more party to a measure
that | think useless and unscientlic.
In letter received from one of the
eminent dermatologists of the world by
the Australia, / translate thus;
"Read the report carefully, compare
with your own observation all scientific
data at your disposal, and think if you,
the bearer Of one Of the celebrated
names this applies to my father and
not to myself; his works and lectures
are published in English, German and
Spanish besides French) of the century,
can continue to support a measure
which is only relic Of the ignorance
and barbarsm of the middle ages.
This to me has been the last blow;
hence my resignation.
Yours respectfully
G. TRoussEAU.
The following physicians have been
asked for their views on the subject of
leprosy and have given them as follows;
DR.. John S. McGrew--I have prac.
tced medicine here for twenty-six
years and have had some experience
with leprosy | consider it to be con-
tagious, inoculable and difflsible by
hereditary transmission, and have always
considered it so. | do not treat any
more cases Of leprosy now, but when |
come across one / notify the Board of
Health and have the patient sent TO the
receiving station.
DIR. c. b. Wood believe that
leprosy is contagious and that it can
be contracted by incubation. l be-
lieve it to be 50 contagious that if
leper should grasp my doorhandle to
open the door ard if | should imme-
diately afterwards take hold of the
same handle, could contract the
disease, providing, of course, that l
hid sore or abrasion on the skin on
the part of the hand touching the door.
knob. There can be no question as to
its communicabiity The history of
the Sandwich Islands furnishes the
most abundant and conclusive proof of
the Contagiousness of the disease. The
last case had was that of German
who has only been here a short time
Where did he contract the disease
Certainly not in Germany
| firmly believe that prompt segrega-
ton is the only means of stamping out
the disease, but the segregation must
be thorough and complete, much more
50 than it is here.
DIR. n. B. Emerson-History shows
the eontagIousness Of the disease. Its
failure TO develop in every case of ex-
posure may be explained by the diff
ference of susceptibility in the recipient
and partly from the care taken by the
exposed person. Where leprosy is
once found there you may expect to
see more of it, especially in centers of
population, | entirely dissent from
the views arrived at by the India
Commission, that the disease origi-
mates de noVo. That view is utterly
opposed to our knowledge of germ
production 1t is true that not every
germ sprouts and not every soil is fer
tile; that is to say, not every man or
woman is susceptible to the disease.
Segregation is the only true remedy,
the Indian c mmission and all other
learned bodies to the contrary, but it
has never been carried out here in a
complete form. There have been
periods since segregation was com
menced here when it has lain dor
mant. owing to political changes, etc,
and in those dormant periods enough
harm has been accomplished to offset
the previous good results of segrega-
ton. firmly believe that each and
every leper is possible cause of con-
tagion to us all.