Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-03-12
THE SOCIAL EVIL AGAIN.

There Is "a section in President
Pinkham's recent report that may
cause some alleged moralists to peek
through their fingers while they read
II and then run and hide, or cry out
against discussion of the Social
EVIL on common sense grounds. The
subject dealt with IL nevertheless one
that, like the brook. goes on forever
and all the purists and fools in Chris
tendon can't stop It.
At the risk of shocking the moral
degenerates and for the purpose of
bringing facts to the attention of the
healthy-minded, we give an extract
from the Pinkham report which rep
resents common sense reasoning
though there may be difference of
opinion on the details of solution.
1T Is unfortunate, writes Mr..
Pinkham, that the physical effects
OF the social evil cannot be discuss
ed on strictly scientific medical lines
and measures taken to protect socie-
~ and posterity from physical degen-
GRAFTON without those, who esteem
| themselves moral leaders, denying
the experience of the world for all
recorded time, denying the facts as
| to the impulses nature has so far in
delibly planted for the perpetuation
/ of mankind, making no allowance for
those whom fortune and circum-
I stances have denied home and mar
riage, expecting from them an ascot
icism few of these leaders themselves
practice, and purity that does not
always exist though the laws made
by man are complied with.
NO well-balanced mind fails to
deeply regret organized society has
not and will not so distribute her ia
yors that ideal social and moral con-
ditions could not fail to exist.
THE subject of venereal diseases
and their disastrous progress has
been strikingly brought to my atten-
ton by medical practitioners and 9TH
or informed persons. The authority
of the Board of Health over infec-
tious and contagious diseases has
been sought by and exercised at the
request of prominent physicians in
instances where an alarming spread
of venereal disease could not be 9TH
erwisc prevented.
| Those who believe moral or relig-
ious persuasion or legal restraint will
settle this never settled problem may
be assured that every prostitute not
In Jail or under restraint is pursuing
her avocation and, II diseased, Is
spreading contamination in an ever
widening circle.
Were the proper influences used |
believe most of these public women
would each select competent physi-
elan and placing herself under his
charge direct him to file Cat the Of
flee of the Board Of Healthy as often
as might be suggested a certificate of
her physical condition. Such ccrtifi-
Gates should be duly recorded, filed,
and watched and the information
held inviolate and used solely for the
preservation of public health.
II doubt II information voluntarily
furnished by physicians generally
could be reached by the Edmunds Act
and construed to mean official recog-
milton of unlawful avocation. 1t can
be construed as Legitimate effort to
protect public health, to the extent II
will work, on the same basis as other
contagious disease information is re-
quired. With the medical profession
in sympathy with this object the
Board would probably be able to keep
close watch on the spread of disease
from this particular source.
These remarks are intended TO
sound public opinion and for them
the President OF the Board of Health
I If personally solely responsible
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