Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-11-30
LeprOSy in Hawaii.

Lepr0Sy in Hawaii.
On the northern side of Molokai, one Of
The Hawaiian group, is settlement unique
and pathetic. 1t is the government place
of segre cation where lepers are placed to
spend the rest of their lives.
Leprosy was first noticed in these islands
in 1858 and was undoubtedly introduced
by the Chinese. 1t speedily spread in the
already decadent Hawaiian race, weakened
and reduced in number by dissipation and
the horrible inroads of cholera and measles.
In 1864 the number of lepers had reached |
such alarming proportions that the need OF
segreg cation was clearly seen. The neces-
sary laws were passed early in 1865 and in
the fall of that year leper hospital was
opened at Kalihi and at about the same
time land was purchased for the settlement
at Molokai. Early in the following year
140 patients were sent there.
The area of the settlement is about 5000
acres. 1t is bounded on three sides by the
ocean and on the fourth by precipice be-
yond which no leper is permitted to go.
The situation is an ideal one, the climate
together with the sanitary conditions and
water supply beng almost perfect. The soil
is exceedingly fertile and many raise vege-
tables and the poi of which they are so
fond.
| The government cares for the lepers.
Cottages comfortable and well furnished
have been erected. Ample supplies Of
beef and fish, head and poi and the other
necessities of life are furnished. Likewise
clothing and household articles are pro-
vided. Lepers too feeble to care fol
themselves are kept in hospitals and giver
every possible comfort. A government
physician is constantly in attendance anG
i does all that science can to alleviate theil
condition.
i There are gymuasiums, reading rooms
and halls provided and furnished by Chart
able organizations of Honolulu. Many
musical entertainments are given at which
leper band furnishes instrumental music
When the United States commissioners in
, spected the island this summer they were
greeted by the ''Star Spapgled Banner"
There is in the settlement, Catholic
church AMI priest beside brothers and sis
, tiers who have charge of hospital. The
: Evan gelical Ass ociation of Hawaii has sew
eral missions and workers. The .elf-sacri
, fee these missionaries show in giving thei
, lives to their work entities them to be mum
} bered among the worlds heroes.
. The annual expense of conducting tn
s settlement is over 100000. Upward o
| $2,0O0,000 has been expended since it
establishment. Nowhere else in the worl'
: are lepers cared for as there.
I'll The government does all in its power t.
0 stamp out the disease. A hospital is main
s tanned at Kalihi, where suspected case
j are taken and where experts are Away
b studying the disease. The native childre
e in the public schools are subjected to clos
r examination by government physicians
g Strange to say the first symptom noticeabl
!. is an unnatural elongation of the ears.
1t is hoped and urged by some that tn
s disease will ultimately be stamped out
IS Still the general decadence of race as
l. evidenced by its shrinkage in 100 year
: from 100000 to seventh of that numbe
e and decrease of eight per cent in the la.
e years together with the hereditary char
e acter Of leprosy and its present firm hol
g on the people makes its extinction exceed
IS ingly doughttul.
stl The disease seldom is contracted by
l. foreigner. Among the HOO lepers {
,r Molokai are but six or seven Chinese an
and half whites. In fact there is scarcel
Iy any danger of contagion. Even children
If leper parentage now in Molokai are ofte
,r without single faint of the disease. Sue
ut children are removed from the island an
re and after residence at Kalihi long enoue
ID to ensure safety are educated by the GO
re eminent and allowed to 60 where the
ne please. But invariably some in the ne.
IN generation will be fated to end their da,
of in Molokai.
b. The natives, or Kanakai as they sly
70 themselves, naturally have never agree
m with the policy of segregation and conce
well-developed cases. 1t is this evasion
40 the law that works the most harm. MAJ
% leper has resisted officers OF the law al
VI fled to the mountains where from deep al
It, impenetrable recesses he has deied ca
n. ture. Such men are outlawed and hunt
ne like wild beasts.
Sometimes at the time of the Cover
, ment semi annual inspection relatives
Z. the unfortunates are allowed to 60 to t
is settlement and are greeted with great 10
A leper does not suffer much from pal
q The disease appears in two forms, be
,extremely loathsome. In one the pate
70 is covered with horrible sores and
N, features are swollen and distorted. In t
O., other form the flesh gradually dries a
T. then scaling falls away. Fingers and linn
lose joint by joint until nothing save
Sc stump remains. Lepers often live ma
ay years and frequently die from other d
eases. A. ID. WHITTEMoRE.
is
70 Card.
nd We, the undersigned, do hereby agree
rafund ha bD-eant bottle
81 Greene's Syrup of Tar if it fails to cure yc
1 Il cold or cnuph. We also Warrant q 2l-cs