The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-03-20

they were trying to remedy, and that
it would be remedied in time, but that
too much could not be expected at
once, and that to the casual observer
many provisions that might seem fla
GRAVITY wrong and inexcusable in the
system, when looked into, presented
quite another phase, and were very
difficult to change.
/ Several of the members of the Sen
ate and House expressed the opinion
that the system was much improved,
and that suspects had a much better
chance than previously. Under the
! present system the votes of four doc
| tors are necessary for the condemna-
! ton of leper and his commitment
to Molokai. The board of examiners
also explained that. as each examina-
ton costs about $50, it would be i'm
practicable to have them more than
once month, or in case of crowding,
every three weeks. Whenever the
number of suspects. justifies the expen-
| diture, an examination is made. The
doctors said that while an immediate
eXamina ton of the suspect seemed an
easy thing to recommend, such an
arrangement would be very costly and
would require a total reconstruction of
the whole system.
After the examinations had been
made, and the record of each suspect
consulted, certificates were issued, to
certificates emitting each suspect to
! freedom, under the provision that he
is to return for examination each
month until dismissed. This arrange
f, ment was severely criticized by some
of the investigators, who commented
upon the wide loophole left for the
escape of any who might be possessed
of the disease. A leper might easily
leave the Islands and take the con-
Itagion wherever he went.
/ Others suggested that there could not
be menacing danger from this. be-
cause of the fact that nearly all the
! lepers are native Hawaiians. and could
not be induced to leave the Islands
under any circumstances.
The presence of the old man so bad
ly afflicted with leprosy, was explained
by the doctors as being due to the
ers were to be deported to Molokai I'M
! til investigation could be made, but
this does not explain away the posi-
bility of other such cases, as lepers
are often hidden away, and not de-
tected until far advanced IN the dis
ease; these leperS when detected and
imprisoned in the receiving station are
| allowed to associate and ningle freely
with the other inmates of the place,
regardless of the condition of the lat
1 ter. 1t was also observed that the sus-
! poets, and for that matter, of such an
unmistakable leper as the old man,
might converse with friends through
the gates of the grounds. One little
girl, of perhaps ten years, whose skin
was plainly darkened in spots with the
first stages of leprosy, stood at one or
the gates and talked to children and
adults on the other side, clasping
/ hands with a little girl through the
apertures between the pickets.
DR.. Russell, president of the Senate.
when asked If he was prepared to say
anything, said, at is a subject that
will require much thought before ac-
ton is taken, but of one thing 1 am
absolutely certain-the whole business
wants reconstruction"
The investigating members COM
pleted their observations about 4
lo'cleck and returned to the city. The
matter will be taken up in the House
this morning