The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-08-04
Visit 10 Honolulu in Search of
information.
KNOWS ALL ABOUT LEPRoSY.
A Colonial PIN sicians Views of Health
situation on HawaIi-Speahs Highly
of His Treatment = Was Pleased
With Nolokai and the Islands.

fishes the following interview with DR.. |
Ashburton Thompson, who visited the
Islands the first of the year to make in
vestigations on the subject of leprosy: |
DR.. Ashburton Thompson, chief med
ical officer to the Board of Health, has
for years occupied himself largely with |
the question of leprosy, not merely in
the clinical, hospital fashion, but on the
scientific side, as a question Of causa-
ton, spread, etc, and has just returned
from q visit to Honolulu, where he
made exhaustive inquiries into the sub
ject as it is dealt with in those Islands.
His trip was undertaken purely for
private reasons. He had been working
hard for some time without spell, and
was very much knocked up with the
strain. He chose Honolulu for the ia
cilities it afforded for short sea trip
and its opportunities for making fur
Their studies on the subject upon which
he is q recognized authority. Indeed he
has lust now in the press ''Contribu-
ton to the History of Leprosy in Aus
tralia." which deals more completely
with this disease than any previous
work. II is the first time that the lep
rosy question at Honolulu has been
done" by a medical man of note, and
considerable interest attaches TO the
results of his observations. Last night
a representative Of the Daily Telegraph
waited upon the doctor at his residence
and had a chat with him on the subject.
He was met with the greatest kind
ness by those in authority on the ISL
ands He was allowed to go where he
liked. photograph what he fancied-for
the doctor took his camera and big
batch of plates with him-and speak to
the natives to his hearts content. He
called upon the British Commissioner
when he arrived, and the next day was
presented TO His EXcellency the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, Judge Cooper.
who introduced him to the Attorney
General-ex-ofhcio president of the
Board of Health. He received very
their officers, and picked up a great
deal of information which will no doubt
prove of value To himself and the gen
eral public. He looked up their rec
ords, spoke with the oldest inhabitants,
and judged for himself what was GER
tain and what mere speculation among
all the items Of information we have re
ceived from time to time with regard to
the leprosy epidemic in Hawaii.
The leper settlement OF the group
which is situated on Molokai Island
was established 81 years ago and now
contains about 400 patients. The place
is eminently suited for leper settle
ment- 1t contains two villages, Kalau-
papa and Kalawao, where the lepers
live just as in their own little hamlets.
There are two homes" or hospitals.
In one of them the female lepers who
are either very far advanced in the dis
ease or who have no relatives TO look
after them are housed. They have about
los inmates now, chiefly young women,
who are under the care of the Francis
can Sisters, who have been working
there since 1885. In the boys home for
patients similarly situated there are
rather more than 100 inmates. This is
also under the care of the Franciscan
Sisters and lay brother. The girls
home is called Bishops Home II was
started by the munificence of Mr..
Bishop, leading banker of the group
The boys home was started by Father
Damien
DR.. Thompson, who is accustomed to
making inspections, says these two
homes are run in way that leaves
nothing to be desired The patients
seem quite happy and contented. They
have their own band of nine perform
ers and play remarkably weIl-better
in fact, than the town band, which is
composed of whites and Hawaiians.
Near Honolulu they have what they
call receiving station for the recep
ton of suspects. That is at Kalihi
There are divisions for men and WON
en-, under observation, and correspond
ing divisions for those who are read!
for deportation. Thirdly. on the same
estate is 2 home for girls who are no
lepers but are the children of lepers
II is called the Kapiolani Home. Thii
is also under the care of the Franciscan
Sisters. DR.. Thompson visited it anC
saw all the girls, who did not seem II
find their lot very hard. Altogether
they must have spent, he says, abou
$500, 600 on the settlement, of Govern
ment money, during the past So years
He is too courteous TO make any dis
paraging remarks about the medica
men and their treatment or diagnosin,
of leprosy in the Islands, but il is quit
evident that he has nothing TO Learn
from them on this point. Indeed, tn,
contrary would appear TO be nearer tn,
mark. Their Contagious Diseases Act
however. is run on quite modern line
by Dr. Myers, and with this DR.. Thomp
son was more than pleased.
The Board of Health there used tt
consist of the Minister of the Interior
who was president ex-offcio, and tire
members The law did not require tina
these members should be medical men
but, as a matter of fact, the board hai