The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-29

births i'm the right way. For years
past The star has pointed out that the
only means by which satisfactory re-
suit might be obtained, was by enforc-
ing the law There was ample law on
the statute book, and it has been quot
ed in full over and over again, and has
been referred to times without number,
but the Board would not move. 1t is
absolutely no good having a law on the
statute book unless you enforce it.
There has never been any reason why
the law should not be enforced, except
that the officials of the Board did not
deem it necessary to enforce it.
We must not expect that one fine
win bring about the result, but let
few fines be inflicted, in various classes
of society, and people will no longer
disdain to announce to the authorities
that a birth has taken place. People
are not going to put themselves in
jeopardy Of being fined up TO fifty dol
lars, simply because they are too lazy
to attend to the requirements of the
law.
our health statistics, outside of the
death statistics collected in Honolulu,
may be regarded as absolutely worth
less. AS far as Honolulu is concerned
there has been gradual and great i'm
provement. We have no longer the
disgrace which used to give from ten
TO a dozen deaths a month cause I'M
known" Yet that went on for years.
and it was only unremitting criticism
known" from the mortuary report To
reach this result more inquests have
had to be held but inquests were very
badly needed, for many an unknown"
death of the past was strangely suspi-
cious, and undoubtedly some criminals
escaped.
The Star may claim to itself a con-
siderable share in these improvements.
for it has kept the subject constantly
before the public If the Board of
Health will only follow up it's cam
paign, it will be of the utmost value to
the statistician, but of still more value
to the hygienic reformer. At the pres
ent time, as has been already stated
everything outside of the Honolulu
mortuary report, is mere guess work.
From the Honolulu records we know
that tuberculosis has increased very
rapidly during the last three or four
years. From this we may argue that
it has increased upon the other islands,
but this is only reasoning from amalo-
gy, we have no certain statistics, and
We cannot say that one district is
more prone to this disease or any dis
ease than another. Yet if we are to
deal intelligenty with such matters,
we ought to have statistics for our
basis.
The law with regard to the registra-
fiOn of deaths reads as follows:
''Section 964 1t shall be the duty of
every owner of any building or prem
Uses in or upon which the death of any
person shall take place in the Territory
of Hawaii, to Immediately report said
death to the Registrar of the District
in which it took place, giving so far as
he is able to do so the name, sex, age,
cause of death, nationality, last place
of residence of the deceased and the
locality in which the death took place;
Or if the building or premises in or up
on which said death takes place is
leased or occupied by some one other
than the owner thereof, then it shall be
the duty of the lessor or Occupier of
said building or premises to immediate
1y report to the Registrar all of the
facts in this section hereinbefore set
forth"
Moreover the next section enjoins
that all connected with the burial,
every hospital officer, health agent and
every relative of the deceased must
give all information within their know
ledge concerning the deceased "if and
whenever said Registrar shall request
the same"
The law with regard to births is
couched in the following language.
Section 963. 1t shall be the duty of
the father of each and every child born
in the Territory of Hawaii; or if the |
father be absent from the country at |
the time of the birth, or not living, or |
If the child be illegitimate, then it shall |
be the duty of the mother of such child, |
within thirty days after the birth of |
such child, to notify the Registrar of |
Births, Deaths and Marriages of the |
District in Which such birth takes
place, of the date of birth, sex and |
name of such child, if named; the |
names of the parents of such child, |
whether it is Legitimate or illegitimate, |
and the locality of the birth.
ut shall also be the duty of every |
physician who shall attend, or be called |
upon in connection with the birth of |
any child in the Territory of Hawaii, |
within thirty days after such birth, to
report such birth and the other facts
relating to such child in this section
above set forth"
This section of the law has never
been carried out, and it is this which
an attempt is being made to enforce in
Honolulu. The registration of mar
riages has, within the last ten years,
it is believed, been accurate, though of
the Secretary of the Board has been
lax in not calling in reports from the
various pastors and priests, these may
also have fallen into some confusion.
But there is evidently one section of
the law which the Board itself or its
secretary has violated. This reads as