The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-06-04
DISCHARGED FROM
kAL|H| STATION
Ten Persons Secure Liberty
as the Result of an
Examination.

from the Mann receiving StIa1on yes
terday, an exhaustive examination, both
clinical and psychological, having
convinced the physicians acting for the
Board of Health that the ten persons
were not afflicted with the disease.
The persons that were discharged
yesterday were brought from Molokai
as result of a resolution passed in
the Legislature, directing that certain
individuals confined at Molokai be re-
turned to the Kalihi receiving station
for discrimination. Nineteen others
will also be examined in accordance
with resolution passed by the Legis
lature.
Much of the credit in connection with
the successful outcome of the examina-
tion is due to DR.. J. C. O'Day, who ac-
companied the Legislature ON its trip
to the Settlement, upon the request of
Senator Frank Harvey and several
persons discharged yesterday were
brought before DIR. O'Day and he gave
as his opinion from clinical exami-
nation that they were not afflicted with
the disease, stating at that time that
it could not be finally determined in
the absence of meteorological test.
Opposed Examination.
DR.. O'Day was also largely instru-
mental in overcoming the objections of
the people to submitting to the exami-
nation required to decide their cases
finally.
"1he most important lesson to be
learned from the outcome of this ex-
animation said DIR. O'Day yesterday,
sis the fact that some of these people
have been confined at the Settlement
simply because they refused to submit
| to the archaeological examination nee
essary. 1 felt that this could be over
come and, having the confidence of
them in large degree, / succeeded in
/ convincing them that there was moth
ing to fear as far as the physicians
were concerned, and that we were as
anxious as they to discover whether or
not they were afflicted with the dis
ease, and, if not, give them their lib
/ erty.1
/ The examining physicians were Drs
Brinckerhoff, Mcdonald and o Day, anC
they conducted thorough and eXhaus
tive test before reaching the conclusion
that the ten persons did not have the
disease at the present time.
May Mean Cure.
The assumption that the ten persons
released yesterday were the "victim
of terrible mistake is not borne gu
by the results of the physicians exami
nation. The most vital and far-reach
ing conclusion that is attached t,
the action of the Board of Health is il
the practical certainty that leprosy i
either a durable disease or can be out
grown, some of those that were release,
yesterday having been subjected to
consistent course of treatment at tn
Settlement
Those released yesterday were Jane
Harvey, seven years old and John ku
six years old, both of whom are i
the Boys Home; Charles Walnut, thin
ty-four; o. Kaimu, thirty-six; j. "
Puiehaka, thirtytwo; j. K. Alapai, fol
ty-eight; John Kaapuni, twenty seven
Kahele Kama, fortyeight; Kealiiahonu
twenty five, and Naval, seventy nine
President Mott-Smith yesterday is
sued certificates to the ten named, stat
ing that they had been examined b
physicians authorized by the Board o
Health and had been found free O
the disease of leprosy. They were the
allowed to go their way.
Mott Smiths Views.
In discussing the real significance 0
|
Health yesterday President Mott-Smit
said that it was mistake to assum
in general terms that those found to
free of the disease were all victims o
an incorrect diagnosis
'The results of this examinatio
show said President Mott-Smitl
''that much is being learned in COZ
nection with the disease. It woul
also tend to indicate that it can b
Outgrown or the symptoms so far remo1
ed as to amount to a practical cur,
The meteorological and clinical e,
aminations go hand in hand and, take
! | conjunctively, are conclusive evidene
either that the person is not a lept
4 or is afflicted with the disease and ca
] able of transmitting to others. -
! The President of the Board of Heali
went on to say that the new law wou
+ give an opportunity of being enforce
D along the lines of intelligence, instes
. of the idea of fear and suspicion b
= ing uppermost in connection with Il
z work of segregation.
4 Asked whether he thought the OF
. come of the examination would tel
q to a loss of confidence in the gener
D reliability of diagnosis, the Preside
4 of the Board of Health replied that
thought it would have an exactly Q
= posite effect in showing the public tn
4 the new law was going to be enforc
d with justice and liberality. and til
y every opportunity would be given
. suspects to prove that they were T
4 afflicted with the disease.
z President Mott-Smith stated that I
q provisions of the new law are pls
= and specific IN making it imperati
that when any person segregated
:. found not to have the disease and
y be free of symptoms, both clinical a
Z meteorological, he shall be immediat,
4 discharged.
. He says that the law as it star