The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-25
NLDER FORM Of LEPROSY
PRESENT AND PAST CONDITIONS
At KALAUPAPA.
Number of Cases Not Only Much Less,
But Those That Exist Are Not so Bad
as Former Ones.

There is no comparison between the
scenes at Kalaupapa now and those of
a few years ago. when, it might be said,
leprosy was at it's height in the Ha-
waiian Islands"
This is the statement of a kamaaina,
who has been to Molokai many times,
and has seen the worst of the ravages
of the terrible disease in this part of
the world. Others who are well inform
ed on the subject agree with him in
the statement that the disease has taxi
en- a much milder form than 1t mani
tested ten, fifteen or twenty years ago.
Actual statistics show the great de-
crease in the number of cases found,
the number of people sent to Molokai
as lepers during the two years ending
with January 1, 1899, being only one
sixth of the number sent during the two
years ending with January l, 1890 The
lessening in the severity of the existing
cases is equally marked. There are bad
cases at Kalaupapa and Kalawao, but
but every old resident of the Islands
has either seen or has heard described
cases worse by far than the very worst
in the hopeless" hospital at the set
Element The latter are not dying of
leprOsy, but of consumption and dysen-
terry, which ends most cases.
The fact, if it is a fact, that the dis
ease has so decreased in severity is at
tributed by some of those who are look
ing after the lepers at Molokai to the
use of the Goto treatment, which is
generally regarded as the best treat
ment yet invented for leprosy. II con-
sists of very hot baths in water in
which a certain herb has been boiled.
This greatly reduces the violence of the
disease. in fact, so nearly curing it that
no traces of it remain after treatment
in some cases, though the dreaded
GU, .t.NY,, oil
ment is named after DIR. Goto of Japan,
whose son was in Honolulu some time
ago. 1t was used at Molokai until re-
Gently.
The Goto treatment at Molokai is said
to have produced very good results.
The Sisters at the Bishop Home have
cases under their care which they state
were much improved under the Japan
csc method of treating them and they
are hoping that it will be introduced
again. I'VE have no more of the ingre-
dents needed to use the japanese baths
now" said one Sister to a visitor last
Saturday, but we are hoping that more
will come soon. 1t has the best effect
of anything l know in healing the sores
and making the disease less violent.
We expect to use it again soon. There
are lepers here now who want to take
the baths again, and we cannot give
h
the GotO treatment are in large tanks,
in which several may battle at once,
lying for as long as they can stand 1t in
very hot water.
Among the local authorities on old
conditions at Molokai Judge Wilcox is
one who is about as we'll informed as
any. The Judge states that the disease
is very much milder now than it was In
the old days. Judge Wilcox has made
score of trips to Kalaupapa. He has
old friends who have been sent there as
lepers and he is about as familiar with
the colony as anyone in Honolulu, with
the exception of those who have the set
Element in charge. There are no cases
there now like the old ones" said the
Judge yesterday. THE disease does not
make such raVages here now as it used
to. The visitor to AIOlOkai at the pres
ent time does not see the horrible sights
that used to be there years ago. There
are lepers whose features have been
distorted till they are terrible sights
to the newcomer and there are certain
ly some very bad cases but everyone
who has been to the settlement many
times knows that few years ago the
disease was far worse. 1t is COMPARE
lively mild now"