The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-11-17

the SICK should be segregated from the
Weii, and after various experiments,
TINS spot on the Island of Molokai was
selected for the permanent settlement,
and for thirty-five years, with great
pains and at great cost, the lepers have
peen gathered up from the various
parts or the Islands and taken to this
settlement. Here cottages have been
provided Tor them; the home life has
been maintained as far as possible,
,neir wants supplied by the Govern
ihent at public expense and a COM
munity of over a thousand persons is
living there in peace and harmony.
Inc separation of families-parents
from children, wives from husbands,
Drothers from sisters-has been a ter
rlble experience. and the result of
disease brought to this people from
abroad. First, a large portion of the
native people were tainted by disease
brought by sailors and others. produc-
ing conditions favorable to the produc-
tion of other diseases
In this soil the germs of leprosy
seemed to run riot, and a great curse
came upon the people. Over six thou
sand persons have been taken TO this
settlement at Molokai since it's estab-
llshment. There are now 1.010 persons
there afflicted with the disease, of the
following nationalities:
L
oninese '............... ........ "a
Whites 80. 49,. -. ............... {
other nationalities ................. IL
With the exception of the Bishop
Home for Girls and the Baldwin Home
for Boys. there is no hospital at the
settlement The premises cover ar
area of land from three to four miles
In length and two miles in width al
the widest point, and the peop.e live
LIN COttaRaQ and ms taf ~ ha Iffe
TO which they are accustomed. aud
form remarkably harmonious and
peaceful community.
/ In certain cases as the patient be-
comes helpless from the loss of finger.
and hands, or paralysis, friends are
allowed to go there to care for them
These are called kokuas (helpers), anc
In very many cases the misery anC
woe of the final and long drawn ou
end has been much relieved and miti
gated by the ministration of suci
friends
Furthermore. there is weekly com
munication with Honolulu, and tn
mails and supplies are brought; neces
sary articles and comforts are sent b,
friends, and all is done that reasona
bly, can be done to mitigate the suf
ferings
But what could a person from New
England, or Louisiana or the North
west. be he man or woman, young gir
or boy. do IL brought so far from
home and friends and associations, an,
forced into these strange environments
and so hopelessly and so completed,
buried? 80
IL is hard to believe that the PROPOSE
ton can be seriously considered by in
telligent and responsible people. TIL
responsibility is upon each State an
Territory and city to care for its owl
Imt.. ~ -. q
even the Federal Government to fore
upon one community those Athlete
with a loathsome disease.
! Each State can provide a place 70
. Its lepers and care for them in tn
country, and under the surrounding
with which they are familiar wher
| they can communicate and receive tn
, sympathy of their friends and thos
dear to them. The only possible reaso
, that can be given why the lepers fror
! the other parts of the country shoul
! be sent to Hawaii is that this lttl
/ country has worked out it's own prof
, lem so well and provided so intell
{ gently. and solved the difficulty S
= wisely that others desire the benefit
: the provision that has been made fc
I lepers here.
Now. why cannot each State mab
: provisions for its own; taking lessor
: from and profting by. IL necessary, II
I experience OF Hawaii, but facing Il
own responsibilities and duties.
= Under the wise and humane cour.
e pursued in these Islands leprosy Is di
: appearing. and there is cause to hoJ
that in time II will be wholly eradica
e ed. The task has been surrounde
with the greatest difficulties. and h;
II taxed the powers of the Governmel
: and the skill of the physicians. Z
> have new and additional complication
?. and burdens added at this stage
e the manner indicated would be
e grievous wrong.
L WILLIAM O. SMITH
~0aV~ -uR