Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-05-01
BOARD OF HEALTH
IN TREATMENT OF LEPROSY
is ABREAST OF TIMES

app eCldllllS CHe SOOu Will VI OH-
LOCKER" silence would have been pre-
ferred by the President of the Board
CT HEALTH as he does not hold his
position for the money there is in it,
and, as is known to the Governor,
was opposed to the recommendation
for raise in his salary, although
urging just compensation for subor-
dinates.
He took the position that he might
assist in raising the Molokai Settle
ment to the level of first-class viii
lage and secure uneXceled medical
skill and facilities for treatment of
the disease, leprosy, that content
ment, hope and corresponding happi-
ness might prevail therein.
That any party, person, member of
the Legislature or publication should
play politics with the lepers, or lep-
rosy, is an unparalleled disgrace, and
no right-minded man can go into his
closet and commune with his own
conscience and Creator and excuse
any such conduct on his part.
No physician, scientist or individ-
ual, professional or n-professional,
who withholds any knowledge or dis
covery that can benefit the sick, has
the slightest conception of the medi-
cal ethics of the profession through
out the world.
The Board of Health is constantly
in receipt of claims and propositions
as to the cure of leprosy by means of
secret and patent remedies, not
one of which has produced the slight
est evidence or proof to substantiate
their claims.
The man, who claims to have cur
ed 165, more or less, lepers on the
Island of Oahu during a period in
which the Board has received but 26
from the same Island is evidently
unable to recognize leprosy and con-
POUNDS discoloration of the skin in
spots, quite common among the Ha-
waiians, and various sores with lep-
rosy.
This man was given long ago an
opportunity, as are others, to prove
his claims by producing persons he
claims to have cured of leprosy. This
he absolutely and insultingly refused
to do. He will be given another op-
portunity to produce proof, and the
Board of Health will act, if positive
proof is forthcoming, as Section 1927
Revised Laws of Hawaii permits.
Had the Legislature retained jul
dicial frame of mind, it would have
employed eminently qualified persons
to examine the claims of this man
and report to the Legislature, upon
receipt of which intelligent and suit
able action could have been taken
either by the Legislature or the
Board.
After listening to mere assertions,
unsupported by one iota of evidence,
the House of Representatives stam-
reded itself in an effort to do poll
tics, and the Senate followed.
| do not write this with disrespect
or blame them, for they lost control,
which fact nearly every member rec
Ognizes.
The Board of Health, in the treat
ment of leprosy and results, is
abreast the best practice employed
anywhere and endeavors to be in al
vance.
Lack of means for more extensive
facilities and lack of inclination for
and perseverance in treatment on the
part of patients are our greatest OBJ
stacles.
However, within the past two
years, patients have shown greater
inclination for treatment.
Instead of protecting the rights,
social reputation and sensibilities of
suspects, every proposed or enacted
Dill has been one to drag them into
the publicity of courts, or expose
them to the former dangers of con-
founding with the symptoms of lep-
rosy the similar clinical symptoms of
other diseases, particularly those of
Syphilitic faint. The microscope is
The only reliable test and it's errors
are so few it may be considered in
fallible.
Those who care most for the lepers
and their friends will never trifle
with human sorrow or suffering.
The sooner leprosy is taken out of
politics the greater the progress pos
'ible, and the more self-respect we
shall enjoy among ourselves as we'll
Us respect abroad.
The President of the Board of
Health deserves no commentator for
he rather extensive interest he takes
n various public matters, as they
ire pursued as possibly useful recrea-
ion and tax neither mind nor time
DUAL to that of devotees tq games or
literature.
| think | may be pardoned for
What is personal in the above.
Respectfully,
l.. e. PINKHAM.
Honolulu, T. H., May LIST, 1907.
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