The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-06
WILL TRY
TUA-TU ia
Board Of Health
to Make Tests
on Lepers.
DR.. OLIVER SENDS
FOR THE PLANT
Judge KaIua Will Not be Paid
for Spoiled Paiai-JaP
Doctors Again.

The Board of Health at yesterday S
regular meeting endorsed the Advertis-
er's crusade for trial of the tua tua
plant as a leprosy cure and DR.. Oliver
was instructed to make test of the
remedy upon five or six patients at
Molokai and continue the experiments
for a year if necessary to learn wheth-
er or not there is merit in it.
The suggestion upon which this ac-
ton was taken was made by DR.. c.. B.
Cooper and was unanimously endorsed
by the members of the board present
President Sloggett, E. P. Dole, Dr.
/ Moore, DR.. Cooper f. A. Mott Smith,
F. c. Smith and DR.. Moore.
When the regular business of the
I meeting had been concluded, DR.. Coop
er asked if anything was being done in
regard to the use of tua tua as a rem
edy for leprosy. President Sloggett
stated that no action had yet been ia
! ken in view of the report made by DR..
Hoffman and DR.. Camp two years ago
| in which only negative results had
stated that DR.. Oliver, who is in charge
of the leper settlement, had written for
a quantity of the tua tua plant and he
had intended to forward it.
DR.. Cooper stated that in view Of the
statements made in the Advertiser and
the reports of successful treatments in
several cases, that a full trial OF the
remedy should be made. He said he
was aware of the negative report made
by DR.. Hoffman and DR.. Camp, but
that the trial had been too limited, and
a complete test had not been made. He
said the board owed it to the people
to show that they were willing to do
all in their power to help the unfor
Inmates at Molokai and if tua tua had
any of the merits claimed for it, it was
the duty OF the board to try and put |
them to some practical use, and show |
that they were doing all that could be |
done for the lepers. He moved, there
fore that Dr. Oliver be instructed to
pick half dozen patients at the set
Element and make experiments with the
tua tua plant, and report monthly to
the Board of Health. DR.. Cooper did
not believe it was necessary to bring
the lepers to the Kalihi station, but the
tests could be made on Mofokai just as
well, and could be continued there for
ficacy of the remedy could be fully
tested. DR.. Pratt was instructed to
send a large quantity of the tua tua
plant to DR.. Oliver and will forward it
on the next steamer, which goes to-
morrow.
DR.. Oliver has written asking for
some of the plant and is anxious to
make the tests. If the Hawaiians are
willing to bear the heroic treatment
necessary the tests will be successful
in so far as they will prove the mer-
its of the remedy. The experiments ac-
coruing to the resolution of the board
are to be continued for years if neces-
sary and the treatment will be given 20
any number of lepers if they are will
ing to take the medicine.
OTHER MATTERS.
letter was read from John w. Kali
ua, who has the paiai contract making
a demand for payment for paiai deliv-
cred aboard the steamer and spoiled,
and which was done without the order
of the board. A bill of over $500 was
rendered though Judge Kalua offered
to pay the freight. The Secretary was
instructed to notify Mr.. Kalua that the
board was not in any manner respon-
sible for the paiai delivered without
their order and would pay neither for
the paiai nor the freight. Considerable
forcible language was INDUCED in by
members of the board over the matter.
The application of ]. l.. Benoit for
appointment as sanitary inspector at
Hilo at a salary of $50 per month, was
referred to DR.. Pratt.
The application of Makiona for per-
mission to open a coffee shop on Molo-
kai was denied, Superintendent Key
nolds reporting that there already are
three in operation there.
The Board of Medical Examiners re-
potred favorably the issuance of certlf-
icates to T. Katsinumi and S. Hobay-
ashi, Japanese doctors. DR.. Cooper
made protest, and thought the IL
censes were granted in too big a hurry :
to the Japanese, and the matter was
referred to Dr. Moore for investigation
and report. :
The bill sent in by DR.. ]. Holland of
Puma district for holding a post-mor-
tenn examination was referred to the
Attorney General. as being chargeaple
to his department.
The request of Sister NJ. Bonaventura :
that she be allowed to build an addl-
ton to Malulani Hospital was grant
ed.
letter from the officers of the Free
asking for permission TO
appoint DR.. Mary Barry, examining
physician for the kindergarten was
laid on the table to await further ex- :
PLANTATION of what the duties of the :
medical examiner were to be. The kim
1ergarten offered 10 pay the salary OF =
DR.. Barry.
DR.. Golfer reported one case and one
death from bubonic plague a Hong :
kong for the week ending January 9th
DR.. Sloggett stated that complaint
had been made of parties fishing in
Nuuanu stream near Kukui, claiming
that the stream was being polluted.
No action will be taken until proof is 4