The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-12-14
WANTS MUNICIPAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

might be greatly reduced. | am en-
| phatically of the opinion that this
problem alone warrants the establish
, ment of a municipal health depart
ment. 1t is of more immediate i'm.
portance that the mosquito problem
though not so serious as mosquitoes
might suddenly become if yellow fe-
yer or malaria were brought here.
A City and County Hospital is one
of the vital needs of the community,
and should be part of the proposed
Municipal Health Department. It
! should be centrally located and thor
oughly equipped for emergency cas-
es. While the initial cost of estab-
/ fishing it would, of course, be a new
/ expense such an institution, in the
long run, would save money to the CT
ty. Perhaps it is not generally known
that Honolulu at present pays priv
ate hospitals for an average of thirty
seven cases per day, and that if the
community did its whole duty the
number of cases would be a good deal
larger. The new public hospital should
have capacity of sixty five cases a
day. In saying that the community
does not now do it's whole duty in this
connection, I refer to the fact that
there are numerous cases constantly
coming to my attention as a health
officer which are really hospital cas-
es, but cannot be sent to a hospital
because we have not enough fundsS
Perhaps the most difficult task I have
had officially has been that of decid-
ing which cases should have the ad-
vantage of the limited amount of hos
pital treatment at our disposal. l 10
not think that our community wants
to be stingy with sufferers in this
way. The needs or the community
have grown beyond the facilities for
treatment, and it behooves our law
makers to provide the increased ia
cilities.
The Territorial Dispensary should
properly be a part OF the municipal
system. In most places such an in
stitution is connected with the hospi-
tai, and it might be we'll to combine
the two here, However, in view Of
the large population which finds if
necessary to visit the Dispensary. per
haps the present building should be
maintained separately.
/ would include in the Municipal
system the garbage department and
all sanitary and inspection work. as
well as the work of police surgeon
jail physicians etc. Let the Territor
ial Board of Health be, as its name
implies, a Territorial institution, ha-
wing jurisdiction, like State Boards Of
Health on the mainland, as contrasted
with local boards, of quarantine mat
tiers, and all other matters of more
than merely local application.
The plans herein briefly touched up.
Of would result in greater efficiency
and economy. At present We have
some needless Implications of author
ity end, ia some matters, a confusion
OF erti GRITTY which does real harm.
Such a problem as the Russian Cam
In lwlle;. which has been an undoubt
cd menace, seems to be definitely mel
Their in one jurisdiction or the other.
It is in reality a Honolulu matter and
local health authorities should have
complete power to enforce all neces
sarV regulations.
These reforms will REQUIRE con-
siderable legislative appropriation, bur
they viii reduce considerable re
amounts needed by the Territorial
Board Of Health, In the improvement
Of cur facilities to handle emergency
hospital cases, in the cleansing of the
city and general aid 70 our campaign
for a more beautiful Honolulu. they
will be worth far more than the cost.