The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-10-23

OF trustees had not carefully rea
10 the appropriation bill The amour
OF $50. 000 was appropriated 10 the hos
pital. provided government patient
would be treated free II seems tina
objections have been made by the trus
l. tees 10 treat members OF the militar
free. This being the case il was har
10 say what the trustees considere,
government patients"
The report of DR.. Wayson on affair
at Insane Asylum as the physician re
ported the asylMn in crowded con
E dition. the asylum committee wa
asked 10 visit the place and report a
the next meeting.
Application of c. T. Al for position
, under the Board was read and filed
communication was read from Mons
Voisson. Commissioner from France, re
garding the ACCESSIBILITY of having TWO
scientists from the Pasteur Institute
come here 10 study leprosy, The Com
missioner asked if the Hawaiian Gov
eminent would furnish help and con-
tribute toward the expense attached 70
their coming here. Matter referred 10
Z leproSy committee.
! Dr.. divers report from the settle
ment was read and placed on file.
The following from DR.. y. Russell
was read:
! The prevention of contagious and in
! fictitious diseases increase in import
ance with our growing commercial re-
lations with Asfatie ports. While the
efficiency OF our quarantine service has
been greatly improved. other prevent
i've measures have been somewhat
neglected This is particularly true of
vaccination. The children who attend
the Government schools are, as rule.
TacCinated, but those under 6 years of
age. and the great majority OF the
adult population of the Republic, pos
sess little or no immunity against
smallpox
II the real advantages of vaccination
were better known, very few people
would fail 10 profit by the great dis
covery which the immortal Jenner gave
10 the world at the end of the last cen
fury.
Vaccination has been practiced all
over the world for a hundred years.
and has amply proved that when prop
erly performed it eonfers a high degree
OF immunity against smallpox
In the early days OF vaccination it
was believed that this immunity lasted
lifetime, but further experience
shows that. while the protection of
single vaccination never disappears en-
irely. after q variable number OF years
the individual may contract q mild
form OF smallpox tvarioloid) ii he is
exposed 10 the infection. II is unrea-
sonabIe TO expect protection for the
remainder OF life from q single Yacci-
nation, when an attack of smallpox
does not always confer such absolute
and lasting immunity Many well au-
JhenticaJed cases have been reported
Of smallpox attacking the same indi-
yidual twice, or even three times.
Vaccination has Invested smallpox
of much of the importance il had in the
TWO previous centuries, when IL rank
ed first among the acute affections de-
sJrUcIive OF human life. II is always
very fatal TO new races. and il would
carry away q good portion OF our ma
i've population because they lack the
immunity which other races have in
herited from previous generations OF
people successfully vaccinated.
Smallpox Is very seldom fatal in
those protected by vaccination. while
in those totally unprotected the NOR
-aliJy ranges from 80 10 40 per cent in
he mild forms. The continent, hemor-
rhagic and other malignant forms are
most always fatal. When smallpox at
JaCks the eyes or the ears il often pro-
duces blindness or deafness.
Although vaccination is one of the
greatest blessings which the medical
profession has given 10 the world. 1t
does not lack a few opponents. Their
arguments may be reduced 10 this:
That in the operation of vaccination
re may convey other diseases besides
cow-pox. Such accidents must be rare,
and can happen only in countries
where arm TO arm vaccination is prac-
ticed.
No danger whatever need be appre-
hended in these Islands, since the law
forbids the use of human virus for
vaccination. The bovine race is exempt
from two of the three diseases which
might possibly be transmitted by vac
cination, namely, syphilis and leprosy.
While the third disease (tuberculosis)
- EAlEEAA4zAe rare IL NEAs
calves. which are the ones used for
the production Of vaccine virus. OF
2. 800 calves killed in Augsburg, not
one was found with tuberculosis, while
of 10SSS full grown animals 321 were
tubereuIous. With ordinary care in the
selection Of healthy, well nouTished
calves. there IS very little danger Of
transmitting tuberculosis with vacein-
alton. and this danger may be entirely
eliminated by resorting 10 injections
Of tubercUlin, or by killing the calves
and examining their condition before
using the limph taken from them.
Smallpox Is one Of the most difficult
diseases TO keep out Of any country
where the people are not protected by
vaccination Il is exceedingly infec-
tious and may be taken by a very
transient and slight exposure. Thus,
ii may be contracted by passing in the
streets or meeting in public convey
anees, persons who either are or have
recently been affected with ii. The
dead body may retain the virus in
condition TO communicate the disease
for an indefinite period, even several
years II may be sent TO US by mer-
aEondi=a or mail rnarfc- from Tauau