The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-02-17

believed by some of the most COM
petent authorities that there are as
many lepers in Hawaii today as there
were when segregation began, and it
seems beyond question that the per-
centage of lepers among the Hawaiians
is very much larger now than it was
then. About seven-eighths of the le-
pers are Hawaiians and there are prob
ably as many lepers in the aggregate
now as there were then when the DO
pulation of Hawaiians and part-Ha-
waiians was nearly 60 per cent greater.
1t is apparent that if the disease is to
be substantially eradicated, "a matter
of peculiar Importance to the Hawai-
ians and of growing Importance to 9TH
ers, some change must be made in the
method of dealing with this subject. Sc
gregation has doubtless been of great
benefit, particularly in preventing a
more rapid spread of the disease, but 1t
has failed in large measure, owing
partly to the lack of fear of the disease
on the part of the Hawaiians and the
dread of removal to the settlement,
with the result that there has been
great variation in the effectiveness
with which segregation has been en-
forced, and the patients as a rule have
not been segregated until well advanc-
ed in the disease. The number Sc
gregated in different years within a
nf ha ~ al
to sos, and the patient when segre-
gated has been afflicted, on the aver
age, perhaps four years. The present
law for enforcing segregation should
be repealed and a new law enacted,
simplifying and rendering less harsh
the methods of obtaining control OF
lepers and securing them ample pro-
lection against an incorrect decision
or diagnosis, greater privileges and
more effective treatment after obtain
ing control of them, and every oppor-
tunity for possible cure. The prime
need is to obtain cases at as early a
stage as possible, when there is most
hope for cure and when perhaps there
is greatest danger of transmission of
the disease to others. This should be
accomplished by such changes in the
law and it's administration as will as
far as possible convince those who are
afflicted, or who have friends who
are afflicted, that the earlier the case
is reported the better for both them
selves and others 1t will be necessary
also, as in cases of other infectious
or contagious diseases, to provide for
the examination of contacts or persons
who have been particularly exposed to
the disease. What has been accom-
plished in Norway in recent years, it
ought to be possible to accomplish here
by similar methods. Humanity and
safety are, of course, the controlling
considerations, but economy alone is
sufficient. Not to mention indirect
losses through the community's depri-
walton of the services of the afflicted
and dead, the annual expense of, say,
$15O,OO0, is burden which the public
should not submit to permanently when
by little extra expense at the outset
it can probably be practically expung-
ed in a comparatively short time. In
order to carry out this policy, hospitals
will be required, perhaps on each OF
the larger islands, and funds will have
to be appropriated for their erection
and maintenance.
The leprosarium for which Congress
made an appropriation several years
ago for the scientific investigation OF
leprosy at the settlement, has been be-
gun during the present period and is
approaching completion. Arrangements
have been made by which a consider
able portion of the appropriation for
it's maintenance may be used by it's
officers at Honolulu and elsewhere IN
the Territory in cooperation with the
Territorial health department, which
will need to provide the necessary
quarters for the work.
Tuberculosis.-Cons or the
Great White Plague until compare
lively recently was supposed to be in
received little special attention, so &C
customed had people become to it. Now
while still the most devastating OF
diseases, it is known to be one of the
most preventable and one of the most
durable of diseases, and throughout the
civilized work rapidly growing move
ment is on FOOT to stamp it out. In
Hawaii the number of deaths from
this disease has increased from about
$50 to $50 a year during the last de-
cade, most of the cases being of the pull
monary character. 1t is particularly
dangerous to a people like the Hawai-
ians, who, by reason of having acquired
it only lately with the coming of civil
lization, have not acquired much i'm
munity from it. Although it occasions
more deaths than any other disease
people have become so accustomed to il