The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-05

IS RAPID
Lung Diseases Are
Killing the
Natives.
ISLANDS ARE A
DUMPlNG GROUND
For Consumptives From States
Changed Conditions Cause
of Disease.

Honolulu physicians agree that tu-
bercuiosis 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
majority of physicians who were seen
by an Advertiser reporter yesterday at
tributed ii 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 ever in
creasing percentage of deaths due to con-
sumption, almost wholly among the ma
tives OF the first few days of the pres
were attributed by the attending phys-
clans to tuberculosis.
Another startling statement brought
out by inquiry among the physicians, was
TO the effect that Honolulu is being used
as a dumping ground for consumptives
by the Western States, some of which
are already agitating legislation to pro-
hfbit 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 h Mays-"I have been here but
year, and am hardly competent to an
| swer the question as to whether tuber-
culosis is increasing in Honolulu. From
my observation during my residence
here L should certainly say that it is in
creasing to a 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-
| ceptihle TO colds which in many cases
settle on their lungs. Like any half-civ
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.
l do not agree with the physicians of the
Board of Health that the disease is not
hereditary, and think it be handed
down from father to SON."
DR. w. H. Howard-"The disease Is
clowly increasing. L have been here
eight or nine years. but only in the past
few years have / noticed the increase.
This is due more to the mode of living
of the natives than to anything else.
They are not so cleanly as are the
whites by this l 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 l be-
lieve 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. | know OF several cases where
consumptives We're sent TO Honolulu from
hospitals. with the hope that the climate
might do them good. tuberculosis is
spreading at such rate that the Queen :
! 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-
| tiyes The whole trouble 1t seems to me
is in eXpectoration. 1t dries and gets in
the air and is liable to be communicated
to any one. Al the hospital all eSpector-
alton IS burned. The plan of sending con-
sumptives to Honolulu is not good one
What they need is high. dry place
here it is low and humid"
DR.. Pratt-Tuberculosis is increasing
very fast. Extreme precautions are nee
essary to prevent a further spread of
the disease, especially among the ma
tves. Their habits and mode of living
are responsible for this. II 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 l would
again call attention to the need of a
strict Observance of every part of the
circular issued by the Board of Health"
DR.. Peterson-'I haven't the least idea
whether it is increasing or diminishing
The records of the Board of Health @oaid
best show that | haven't had a case Of
tuberculosis for years"
DR.. G.. w. Burgess-Yes, 7 believe it 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. 1 do not know
OF many cases among the whites A good
many people are coming here to be cured
but do not believe this to be good
place for consumptives. The climate is
equabie enough but they need dry air."