The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-08
DEALING WITH
TUBERCULOSIS

l.. T.. Plnkham, president of the
Board of Health. in view OF the extreme
Importance OF the public gaining an
adequate knowledge OF the danger of
tuberculosis being communicated from
animals to men. on his attention being
drawn to an editorial in the Sunday
Advertiser OF February on this sub
ject. made the following statement:
The Board of Health Is In no wise
lacking in either interest or vigilance,
so far as Its facilities and means will
allow, In combating tuberculosis. both
In mankind and in animals.
A most earnest request was made OF
the Legislature of 1905 for an inspector
OF diaries not alone for the control of
sanitary conditions and hygienic pro-
duction OF milk, but for an oversight
OF animals. that any Indications in
animals of tuberculosis or other disease
affecting human beings might be noted
and properly-qualified scientific inves-
tigation be made. This request was
refused, but has been renewed this
year. In the meantime we have done
all in our power.
In controlling tuberculosis in human
beings it is quite easy to write public
letters or make addresses. but those
most active in this respect usually
cease their efforts after publicity
stamps them as leaders of public
opinion.
When 1t comes to practical measures
we must rely on physicians, nurses,
settlement nurses and on such efforts
as the Board of Health can make.
There is so much that is pitiful and
sympathetic In the gradual decline in
cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, the
step from day to day being scarcely
noticeable, that 1t Is difficult to impress
upon either patient or friends the seri-
BUSINESS Of the condition. 1t Is a hard
task to secure proper restriction on
either patient or friends or establish
and maintain the strict measures the
gravity of the case demands.
The better opportunity for recovery
Is In an institution like the Leahi
Home. but persons hesitate to avail
themselves of this opportunity.
In every case known to us where we
have felt at liberty to give advice and
direction as to measures for the safety
Of others we give and try to enforce
1t. 1t is not always very kindly re-
as it seems an interference.
The board meets many puzzling in
cidents. For instance, about p. m. on
Thursday last. "A Chinaman brought in
a hack to the door of the Board of
Health a Hawaiian young woman in
The last stages of consumption. On
1t seemed as If she We're
about dying, and the object of the China
nan was believed to be to avoid burial
expense, though We would not so at
.ribute the motive. We advised him to
take her home, to the place where
hey had been living together, as she
could survive but few hours. In
stead. the hack went to the Leahi
Home, and upon notification by tele-
phone the president of the board di-
ected her admission. She died within
-hree hours thereafter. 1t seems the
goman had been an inma te of the home
I've years ago, but chose to leave, and
lot improbably lived under conditions
o again aggravate the disease. Such
experience Is not uncommon. Improve
nent arouses over-confidence and
attempts to reenter active
lie. "
1t is useless to theorize on paper
What is needed are the means. Not
lew institutions with expensive or
,tunt 1,,t he ,lnr of
present facilities at minimum of ex-
,ense.
What the Board of Health may do
5 not question of It's disposition or
Intelligence SO much as the support the
Governor and Legislature may con-
Jude to give the Board of Health.
Nothing could be more foolish or ex-
ravagant than attempting to multiply
cards OF health and institutions. What
wanted is abundant common sense,
ersistence, a moderate increase In
leans, and the complete utilization of
he facilities We have, enlarged some
hat II the pressure requires.
Like everything else, the care of the
ealth and poor of a community Is
ally grind. and those who stick to
lie grind do the good. Tuberculosis is
lie one notable disease Affecting CIV
ized society, the deaths from 1t In the
erritory for the past eighteen months
502, while the next fatal
sease was pneumonia. with 377
eaths; diseases of the brain, 200; ty-
nold fever, 155, and diseases. of the
gestive organs, 534.
--s<.s-
A GOoDLY INHERITANCE.