The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-08-27
F Rec HA v All
FROM ALL
DISEASE

feels confident of attaining. cit isl
he says in his report to the Governor,
"worth while to redouble individual
effort to accomplish that which is well
within the realm of possibility, to make
these islands one Of the healthiest
places in the world. Eminent medical
authority here have said that this can
be accomplished"
"Individual effort" says President
Mott Smith elsewhere in his report to
the Governor, cleanliness and isola-
ton, should not only succeed in pre-.
venting contamination from outside, but
in expelling all contagious disease from
Hawaii. -
Mr.. Mott Smith also feels that the
treatment of the insane in Hawaii is
not all that it should be, and he ex-
presses the hope that in time changes
can be made so that not only those
who are dangerous to the community,
but also those who are merely harmless,
can be subjected to humane restraint,
care and treatment. "It is to be hoped
that the time may come when the af-
hicted, including those not dangerous
to the community, may seek, or at least
become entitled to asylum. By asylum
is meant not prison but refuge.
The entire report of the President of
the Board of Health to the Governor is
very lengthy and will make mora than
$50 pages when printed. Most of it,
however, is taken up with statistical
tables, the reports of the various health
officers, and a special paper on the
quarantine question, written by DIR.
Hobby. Mr.. Mott-Smitb s Introductory
onmnricas nn1xr faty fCnavyrit.
ten pages, and is published herewith.
1t was originally twenty-five pages
long, and has been boiled down to its
present compact form. The president
of the Board Of Health has been work
ing hard on his report for several
weeks past, and he heaved great sigh
of relief when he finally got 1t off his
hands and signed it yesterday morning.
He says that he will begin work at
once on his report for next year-that
is, he will make up his next report
from things as they happen instead of
leaving the work all to be done at one
time and in one grand rush.
The following is the introduction to
the Board of Health report:
Honorable Walter F. Frear, Governor of
Hawaii, Honolulu.
Sir: L respectfully submit herewith,
the report of this department for the
year ending June 80, 1909.
Quarantine of contagious diseases,
sanitation, detention of the insane, and
segregation, among other duties of the
board, are operations which interfere
with persons. From the standpoint of
the community the justification therefor
is ample but not always so considered
when met with personally. At times
this has rendered the work of the board
difficult. Nevertheless, the records for
many years past demonstrate that the
board has as a rule pursued its work
with energy and sincerity, any diminu.
tion of such work being accountable, in
part, at least, to varying contem-
poraneOus conditions
Personally | can speak from actual
experience only of the period begin.
ming May z, 1901, and ending April 81
1903, as member of the Board of
Health, and of the last two months OF
the year ending June 80, 1909, as its
president.
Periods have occurred since 1866
when political, commercial and other in
huences have appeared to sway the
work of the board. AS a rule, how
ever, such influences have been good
a great deal of good has been done
In short, the wisdom of the board 1
course has been directed not by it
own knowledge only, but by the man,
influences, good and bad, brought upol
and agaist it, and the exercise of goo,
Judgment upon such influences. I'm
doubtedly in this fashion, though slow
the best laws have been made and thu
best and most enduring policies laid
much as the method may be regarde,
eontemporaneously, or even subsequent
~, as temporizing or weak.
Within its limited principality Ha
wall early created a means not onl
of Kidding itself of contagious diseases
sickness of all kinds, and insanitar
conditions, but of protecting itsel
against tside-contamination. Sine
annexation and the establishment o
the q. s. Public Health and Marin
Hospital Services in the islands, Hawai-
has been relieved of the latter respor
sibility and even greater security ha
been afforded thereby. In addition I
this, and as a matter of further a,
snrance, the Federal government ha
been making gratifying progress i
the investigation and treatment O
leprosy in Hawaii.
The close of this period marks al
olhel epoch IN tine administration O
health matters in Hawaii, in that
dual responsibility with regard to III
care of the INDECENT sick, the preveI
ton of contagious diseases and of nu
sances, and the maintenance Of san
tarY conditions has been created b
the Legislature Of 1909 between HI
Territorial government and the nun
clpnl subdivisions thereof, This anon
other changes has been accomplishe
partly by direct legislative action, an
partly hy definition Of legislati,
policies which Ii Is expected win /
carried out hy the administrative nm
county officers before the next sessio
Of the Legislature, la the meantlm
and without direct legislation d
zach suhipol IA 10 expected that n
municipal subdivisions viii assuu
lhrir share nf ihr health burden, pa
lItunry in regard "a matters NJ pun