The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-11-22
| OCAL ROSTER
Of PLAGUE
CASES.
Continued from page ID

A
for destroying the germs of contagiou
disease.
The employees of the Board o
Health are as keenIy alive when
case of suspected plague or conta giou
disease is reported as the Fire De
partment at an alarm of fire, and tn
machinery of the Board is Instant!
in motion and the utmost precaution
are taken
Destruction of property, is no fndi
cation of thoroughness or effectiveness
in preserving and protecting public
health, or eradicating the germs o
disease.
Modern science and appliances have
rendered such destruction unneces
| sary. At best the results of destruc-
ton are questionable. Distinction
| and fumigation penetrate where fire
| will not.
] The public has other guardians thar
| the Board of Health. When a case OF
| plague occurs each and every daily
newspaper in Honolulu, certain Terri
| torial officials Federal authorities. and
Consular officials are Immediately no.
| titled, SO our actions are under close
inspection all the time.
The United States Marine Hospital
Service watches US with keenest
scrutiny and with unceasing vigilance.
By common consent the press of Ho-
nolulu has agreed that it is injudi-
cious to mention cases of plague in
their columns and that there is no more
occasion, in fact less, to notice it than
to write UP each case of number of
infectious diseases with which we are
familiar. We are under great obliga-
tons to the newspapers for their at
titude
The recent reports and misapprehen-
sions reaching US from all sides have
led to the belief this plain statement
made before such a Medical Assem-
blage is both proper and judicious, and
will tend to reassure the public and
demonstrate the folly of unfounded
apprehension.
Having recently made a circuit of
all the Islands have been gratif1ed
beyond words to express, in finding
the hospitals, both public and private,
of such a high character in plant and
equipment. and to note the liberality
with which they are conducted. I
doubt if any community can be found
that parallels Hawaii in this respect.
One cloud has hung over us in re-
cent months in the matter of Govern
ment physicians Their place will soon
be better understood and the right
course will unquestionably be adopted.
The President of the Board of
Health has already paid his compli- |
ments to- the politicians by trying to |
keep them from the Settlement at Mo- |
lokai.
Politicians when elected become our |
lawmakers and in their hands rests
much of the welfare of the commun-
lty. The politician has a right to en- |
gage in political discussion and party |
and should have our
but there is a fitness
in all things.
We have a community of public |
charges unfortunates. but with equal |
public rights as to the franchise
Necessarily the experience of these
charges becomes limited to their mar |
'ow environment, and their breadth of /
view of public p6licy contracted.
They are susceptible to the arts of |
he disturber. The temptation to the |
politician is to make such representa- |
ions and promises as he thinks will |
win votes.
The result of the last campaign is an
unrest IN the Settlement which it will |
axe months to calm down.
Should political visits continue to be |
made it is hoped all parties will mu-
:ually agree to conf1ne themselves to |
>arty issues and omit practicing on the |
usceptibilities of the unfortunate.
Nowhere on the face of this earth is |
here an institution that so kindly cares
or it's people, as the Territory of Ha-
vail cares for it's wards on Molokai.
The Board of Health has asked as the |
tenn of first Importance from the Unit
ID States Government aid In the /
cientific study and treatment of Lep-
'osy, now beyond our means" The
Governor has exerted his influence. All
eel that, among the great medical dis
overies, we may hope science will dis
over the means of curing that disease.
such movements require the support
nd persistence of a great Government.
We have appealed to the most pow
rfuI influences at Washington, and it
would appear our appeal is beginning
o be heard.
I beg to read a letter received a few
avs since from Walter Wyman, M. D.,
urgeon-General of the United States:
Treasury Department,
Washington, November ), 1904.
IT. L. E. Pinkham, President Terri
torial Board of Health. Honolulu,
Hawaii.
My Dear Sir: I have deferred an
wering your kind invitation TO visit
laval, extended through you from the
GARD of Health of the Territory of Ha-
all and beg leave to state that have {
lie matter which prompted the invita-
on very sincerely at heart and am en-
aavoring to arrange for some measure
HIGH may result in the management
nd cure of leprosy.
While it would be an advantage for c
le to visit the Islands, have felt t
lat the short time remaining before g
lie short session of Congress must be
tilted in furthering this and other Il
nportant measures. expect certainly Z
some time, and as soon as possible, ! n
pay the visit, and wish TO express C