The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-08-06

IS RAPID
Lung Diseases Are
Killing the
Natives.

berculosis is increasing at a rapid rate
| among the people in the Hawaiian ISL
ands. The greatest spread Of the dread
disease is among the natives, and the
, ma jority Of physicians who were seen
by an Advertiser reporter yesterday at
| tributed 1t to the mode and manner Of
living of the natives, together with their
| changed conditions as brought about by
advancing civilization. The records of
the Board of Health show an ever in
creasing percentage of deaths due to con-
sumption, almost wholly among the ma
| tives. OF the first few days Of the pres
ent month, two out of the five deaths
We're attributed by the attending physi-
Clans to tuberculosis
Another startling statement brought
out by inquiry among the physicians. was
to the effect that Honolulu Is being used
as dumping ground for consumptives
| by the Western States, some of which
are already agtating legislation to pro-
hibit the inflow of afflicted persons who
seek the higher attitudes within them
in their endeavor to stay the progress Of
the disease.
Below are given some Of the interviews
had with such physicians as could be
! seen yesterday:
| DR.. w. II. Mays-"I have been here but
a year, and am hardly competent to an
swer the question as to whether tuber-
culoss is increasing in Honolulu. From
my observation during my residence
here l should certainly say that 1t is in
creasing to great extent among the
native races. The change In their habits Of
living, moving from the open into houses
in town, when used to the open air,
their mode of dress. all make them very
liable to the disease They are very sus-
ceptible to colds, which in many cases
settle on their lungs. Like any half-cv
ilized race, or one just emerging into civ
them. like in the case Of the American
| Indians, who were carried off by the
ilization, disease spreads rapidly among
thousands during the smallpox epidemic.
do not agree with the physicians of the
Board of Health that the disease is not
hereditary, and think it can be handed
down from father to son.
DR. W. II. Howard-"The disease Is
clowly increasing. l have been here
eight or nine years, but only in the past
few years have i noticed the increase.
This is due more to the mode of living
of the natives than to anything else
They are not SO clearly as are the
whites, by this / mean the lower classes
They eat out of the same dish, and they
have a reckless habit of expectorating
everywhere and without regard to any
thing. 1t Is only among this class that
tuberculosis Is increasing
| Dr. Bowman, of Victoria Hospital
From my experience at the hospital be-
l!eve the disease to be increasing in the
Islands at an alarming rate. This Is not
only among the natives but among the
whites. They are dumping consumptives
here now from the Coast on nearly every
steamer l know of several cases where
consumptves were sent to Honolulu from
hospitals, with the hope that the climate
might do them good. Tuberculosis Is
spreading at such rate that the Queens
Hospital has refused to take patients
with this disease, and we are being
pressed for room to care for them. OF
the eighteen incurables now at the Vic
toria Hospital ten of them are consump-
tives. The whole trouble II seems to me
is in expectoration. 1t dries and gets in
the air, and is liable to be communicated
TO any one. At the hospital all expector-
alton IS burned. The plan of sending con-
sumptives to Honolulu is not a good one
What they need is high, dry place;
here 1t is low and humid"
DR.. Pratt-Tuberculosis is increasing
very fast. Extreme precautions are nee
essary to prevent further spread OF
the disease, especially among the ma
tlVes Their habits and mode of living
are responsible for this. 1t seem to me
that the circular just issued is very much
needed, and should be stringently OBJ
served by all people, for only by strict
measures can the disease be eradicated or
confined within narrow limits I would
again call attention to the need of a
strict observance of every part of the
circular issued by the Board of Health"
| DIR. Petersun-'I haven't the least idea
whether it is increasing or diminishing.
The records Of the BOARD Of Health -ua,d
best show that I haven't had a case If
tuberculosis for years."
DR.. G. w. Burgess-Yes, I believe II is
increasing among the natives and half
whites to great extent. They are very
lax, and rarely give the attention they
should to pleurisy, pneumonia and other
diseases. Their diseases in nearly every
case settle on the lungs I do not know
of many cases among the whites. A good
many people are coming here to be cured
hut | do not believe this to be a good
place for consumptives. The climate is
equahie enough, but they need dry air."
coon NEnTCJNE NON