The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-01-10
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Since the question vas raised ~ the
oceanic steam hip q .r1ny as ID 90
course which was 90 be- followed ln t'.
treatment ~ CpnsUmpti..s VINO wef
travelling there has been uu n dis US
sion Of tae matter on an sides. Wall
the prevalence OF this disease. atl tan
infect i1us character Of 80 as Wei. Ia
aroused great discussion all over the
country. there Is a belief IN snrIe quar-
'ers that too strict Interpretation OF
The law, so as u make Il aneCt t..
tourist, wealthy but stricken, y III h.
inhuman and outside the intent If tn
trainers of the legislation. In this con-
nection the following from the New
York Tribune indicates the breadth Of
opinion on the matter:
THE American people and their Of
ficials animated with zeal not accord
ing to knowledge, are IN some danger
of going to senscless and cruel ex-
tremes in hunting down consumptive5.
There Is a tendency on the part of peo-
pie who have Erasped the idea Of the
infectious nature OF tNis .sease to be-
! come raniC-stricten and act as badly
rs we from time to time see C1mmun-
tiles doing when they burn down con-
tapious disease hospitals. Undoubted-
ly great precautions should be taken %
prevent the spread of tuberculosis.
Buildings which have become breeding
places Of the disease should be de-
stroyed. The law against the habit
which spreads the germs broadcast in
street cars and on sidewalks should be
riLiGly enforced. Greater efforts should
be made to secure the proper treat
ment of afflicted persons. But there IS
no reason why consumptives, whether
our own citizens or foreigners. should
be prosecuted owing to unreasonable
fears or to slavishly literal interpreta-
ton Of our laws.
Reports from San Francisco say
| that the Commissioner of immigration
at that port has just made decision
| in answer to n hypothetical question
| from steamship company that an al
| len traveller afflicted with consump-
ton who has ample means to care for
himself and be no possible charge on
| the community cannot be permitted to
| land in this country. He says that the
| conditions surrounding a tourist In his
| travels are OF personal and social
nature. and in no way affect his posi-
tion as an alien from a statutory point
Of view. II Is true, the law can be no
respccter Of persons; but when the law
as interpreted reaches such a result it
may be questioned If there has not
been a lack of discretion in interpret
ing it. Persons with disease are ex-
Guided for two reasons-frst, lest they
become public charge. and, second
lest they should menace the public
safety. poor consumptive, like any
.,f 4,
sonable promise of self-support. should
be excluded Likewise a man Should
be excluded, no matter what his means
who is bringing in a new disease or is
likely to add to the danger to the pub.
lie from an old one. l2ut a consumptivC
from abroad seeking recovery In suit
able climate, surrounded by proper
I, care. does not add to that danger il
any serious degree. II Is not as if g
person had smallpox or yellow fevei
or some other disease the germ o
, which can by quarantine be Kept from
getting about among people. Tubercu
losis is as much at home here as any
. where. Persons suffering from it wall
our streets and are quite as dangerou
. as any tourist from abroad.
I'VE have in this country certain dis
1 trlcts whose climate particularly suit
= those afflicted with the disease. IL
l European in search of health want
to visit the Adirondacks Colorado o
l California, when his physicians thinI
/ one Of these places better than any a
5 home. 1t Is senseless and cruel thin!
e to turn him back. Americans by tn
; hundred seek the Riviera, Egypt, tn
I Sahara and other parts OF the O.t
. World as best adapted to give then
The change they need when threatenet
5 by the same disease. Would they thnl
; t fair to be shut out from the proms
> IF cure by prejudice or panic? Be
} tween shutting out the foreign healtl
, seeker and combining natives TO tn
spot when they are discovered to hav,
the disease, no matter how unhealthy
Is only step. In California and Col
orado talk of barring invalids from 9th
er states has been heard, and there l.
| danger that the common ana natura
( anxiety to guard against consumption
? may be INDUCED with n heartlessnesi
more characteristic OF the Middle Age
than of this humanitarian time whic!
prldes itself on its superiority to su
perstition. The fear of consumption
may become as much of a superstition
as the fear Of witches and lead to a
, unreasonable prosecutions"
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