The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-28

| TABU.
Board of Health
Protects the
Public.
FORCED TO ADOPT
STERN MEASURES
Will Prevent the Landing of Those
Afflicted With Consump.
ton or Leprosy.


diseases which the Board of
| Health believes the Legislature
of the Territory should look upon as
the most dangerous to the future of the
Islands, and that persons from
the Mainland afflicted with the
dread diseases should be absolutely
prevented from coming to Hawaii
Attorney General Dole struck the key
note of the situation when he said
that Their esidents of these Islands were
very clear in their minds that all lep-
ers from the Mainland should be eX-
cluded, and that If Hawaii became
haven for the tuberculosis patients OF
the Mainland it would cease to be at
tractive TO tourists.
He said that beach resort frequent
ed by disreputable people'wa Stunned
by the reputable, and those frequented
by reputable persons were equally
summed by the disreputable. The
same situation would be apparent here
if consumptives were allowed free ac-
cess to the Islands, for tourists would
just as certainly give Hawaii wide
berth.
The session of the Board OF Health
yesterday was an important one, and
the proceedings were watched with IN
terest by the committee on Public
Health from the legislative house con-
sisting of Chairman Fred w. Beckley,
Archie Gilfillan. S. II. Haaheo (FirSt
Districtl, Ewaliko and Mahoe, of Wal
alua. These gentlemen We're present to
get acquainted with the board and
hear matters pertaining to the Leper
Settlement. President Raymond stated
at the opening of the meeting that at
the suggestion of member r. p. Dole;
a bill had been prepared for introduce
ton in the Legislature providing for
the prevention of contagious diseases,
| with particular reference to tupercu-
| losis. and to prevent any one having
this disease or 1eproSy from landing
at any port in the Hawaiian Islands.
| The suggested bill, which eventually
| was adopted by the board, and will be
| referred TO the Legislature, is as fol-
| lows:
THE Board of Health, or any agent
| thereof duly authorized thereto, may
detain and Segregate any person COM
ing into this Territory who is suspect
ed of having leprosy or pulmonary tu-
berculosis, until a proper medical eX-
animation can be made under direction
of the Board of HEALTH and if it APP
pears upon such examination that such
person has leproSy or pulmonary tu-
berculosiS, and that his coming to or
remaining in the Territory Will endan-
ger the public health, the Board OF
Health if such person is not a resi-
dent of the Territory, may order him
to depart from the Territory as SOON
as humanity to him and the circum-
stances of the case, and the facilities
for travel will admit, meanwhile re-
tanning him in custody.
IF he refuses or neglects to obey
said order, being able to obey the same,
and not being resident of the Ter
ritory he is guilty of m1sdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment at hard
labor not exceeding - months, or by
fine not exceeding dollars. The
Board of Health shall also have power
to deport such person to the place
from whence he came.
IF any person aids, abets. counsels
or procures another not resident or
this Territory. who is afflicted with
leprosy or pulmonary tuberculosis, en-
dangering the public health. to come
into this Territory, knowing or believ-
ing that such person is so afflicted,
such person 50 aiding. abetting, coun-
selling OF procuring, as aforesaid, is
guilty of . nisdemeanor and shall be
punished by imprisonment at hard Ia
Dor not exceeding months, or by
fine not exceeding, = dollars.
IF any person having leprosy or pull
monary tuberculosis, endangering the
public heal,h shall come into this Ter
ritory, not being resident thereof. the
captain or commanding officer of the
vessel bringing such person to this
!, Territory, if guilty of negligence in the
premises (of which negligence the
bringing of such person shall be prima
facie evidence) shall be liable to the
Territory for all expenses properly in
Cured by the Territory or ANY &C.
!, partment thereof on account of the
! bringing of such person into the Ter
ritory; and the. vessel in WHICH such
person comes, and the owners thereof,
shall also be liable for said expenses,
said liability of said captain or COM
handing officer, and said liability OF
the vessel and the owners thereof, be-
ing both joint and several
Mr.. Lowrey asked why those two
diseases had been singled cut, and was
told that other acute diseases, such
as smallpox and diphthera were looked
after by the Federal authorities, and
furthermore, leprosy and pulmonary
troubles were regarded as permanent,
and not epidemic. Mr.. Dole had a
! strong conviction that Hawaii should
look upon the two diseases particular
ly as dangerous to the community.
The Islands in the future would be re-
4 garded as fayorite resort for tourists,
4 but if the Islands were turned into u
! health resort for consumptives, the
probabilities were that they would keep
Z healthy persons from coming here
If such persons were prevented from
\ | coming here to reside he unougnt the
Islands would in time become a great
i resort for well people. He did not
4 think both classes would come here
I and the safety of we'll people should
! be considered primarily. He cited the
4 case of Pratt, the leper, who was foist-
1 ed upon the local Board of Health by
that of San Francisco, and later de-
4 ported.
DR.. Raymond said the board had the
right to apprehend any one with an IN
| fectlous disease, but 1t would be unjust
4 10 deport people with smallpox. as by
4 quarantining them for short time
they would be as well as any healthy
persons, Smallpox often broke out on
persons while en- route between places
but it was not lasting disease. Pul-
I monary troubles were on an alarm
ing increase in Hawaii. especially
among the natives. Havoc had already
been made in their ranks