The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-05-13
'HAWA||'S INDECENT SICK
HAVE DISMAL PROSPECT
Planters Will Be Asked to Assist in Maintaining
Sanitation in Countrywide. Weddck Makes
Hard Luck Statements.
(From Thursdays Advertiser.)

Business Of the Board of Health
meeting yesterday was largely based
on a memorandum submitted by Presi-
dent l.. E. Pinkham. One of the most
important matters related to serious
situation caused by the slashing Of the
pay of Government physicians under
the policy of economy established by
the Legislature. With the president
there were present DR.. c. B. Cooper,
j. C. Lane. NJ. p. Robinson and DIR.
w. II. Mays. members; DR.. j. We'd
dick, Government physician for Wal
luku C. Charlock, secretary, and Miss
Mae Weir, stenographer. The presi-
dents memorandum is given in sec
tions below, with report of the dis
cussion and action upon the different
subjects.
GOVERNMENT PHYSICIANS.
A number of Government physi-
clans have peremptorily resigned 9TH
ers have requested information as to
what will be required of them at the
compensation of $40 per month. / have
tried to induce a number to maintain
their work until the whole subject can
be more thoroughly canvassed.
Your president has investigated the
work done by the twenty-five Govern
ment physicians, for the entire islands,
exclusive of Honolulu and the Leper
Settlement, during the year ending
| December 81, 1908. and finds their SER
vices classified. comprised the follow
| ing: House visits, 6,733; Office visits,
12,197; Medical cases, 1886; Surgical
cases, 1,722; Prescriptions filled, H.
| sos; Vaccinations, 1927: Schools in
spected 1884; Health certificates grant
| ed, 10,742 Post mortem examinations,
| 70; Unattended deaths investigated,
2S5; Lepers apprehended, SO; Births re-
ported, 1,945; Marriages reported, 621;
| Deaths reported, 1854.
This mass of professional service
indicates large number of INDECENT
poor, whose suffering and ills cannot
expense or by private charity. Most
districts are too poor to secure pro-
vision for the INDECENT by charity.
ut is evident that work on vital
statistics is purely governmental
| function. 1t is also evident the in
vestigation of unattended deaths is
primarily a matter of prevention of
| crime as we'll as of contagious disease,
both strictly governmental duties"
ONE DOCTOR PROTESTS.
On this subject DR.. Weddick had
some interesting remarks to make. He
protested vigorously against having
Government physicians to perform SER
vices free for the Attorney Generals
50 for a visit to a prisoner. They were
asked to make it 81, which they did.
Then they used to be paid $25 for cut
| ting up a corpse at the request of the
police. Eventually they We're induced,
for economys sake. to do this dis
agreeable service for nothing. He
pleaded with the Board that it should
not require them to do work for the
Attorney Generals department for
nothing.
DIR. Cooper said that DIR. Weddicks
! views had always been his own con-
| tention. When the police department
wanted work done it should be pre-
pared to pay for it. DR.. Cooper, after
some further discussion, moved that
| the matter be referred to the commit
tee on rules and regulations. Carried.
OUTSIDE HELP NEEDED.
"There was no provision made by the
Legislature for medicines and sup
plies" the presidents memorandum
| stated.
THE president of the Board of
Health knows of no available means
that can be applied to meet these
necessities
THE pertinent solution is for the
president, under the instruction of
your Board, 10 correspond with the
leading citizens of each district and
ascertain what, II any relief can be
secured locally, and In the meantime
urge the physicians, 20 maintain the
work until al least your Hoard can
ranvnss the situation
Or Cooper remarked that majority
uf the physicians engaged in sanllar
tluu work. An apppul ought 20 be mAae
tn tbs Planters Association, showing II
the nrpessliy uf kffpinK az The NoFh
n ought 30 hn par up Ga lhal Indy "a
ia apmlthnH toward maintaining me
sanitary HfNilH
Tha president nlHuHnk M las lhg
WHusf h#lHfs lhu flanira Aaaa.Iar
tl0H
Fnn AAlhIIAhl noarl4Aia
Il NHmsm nWrlHl n NHlH
III. AHm III leHIifHf NIfH ~
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