The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-03-11
WILL CARE FOR
TUBERCUL0SIANS
BUT APPROPRIATION FOR FIRST
AID AND PREVENTION is
ELIMINATED.

Entirely in opposition to the modern
methods of fighting tuberculosis, which
hold tnat a vigorous campaign of pre-
vention. is far better than to spend
wears in caring for those who, with
nroper safeguards, would not have be-
come sufferers from the dread disease,
the pr, sent administration appropria'
tion bill cuts out the Palama nursing
system IN its entirety.
Under this bill, the current appro-
priation for the Tuberculosis cam
paipn is $4,000 less than was asked
Tor. 1t provides $4,000 for the bien-
NAL period as against $52,400 for the
nrevious period. 1t is itemized in
such a way that it adds $4,000 to the
Leah Home appropriation; but cuts oil
the Palama nurse system, winch III
that district. the worst white plague
spot ON the Islands, has reduced the
number of cases of tuberculosis sixteen
per cent, so that not quite half the
cases in the city are found there, in
stead of over sixty per cent as Two
years ago.
The Palama nurses, it is asserted,
have performed valiant service in fer
reting out cases of the disease, par
ticularly in its first stages, where cure
is moss Bile and by teaching the value
of fresh air and sanitation have pre-
vented scores of children and their
elders from becoming infected. Yet, it
appears, that spending thousands in
earng for hopeless cases, rather than
hundreds in prevention, is considered
safe. sound and humane financial
policy.
Tuberculosis Versus Leprosy.
CYLINDER this arrangement, providing
only for the care of sufferers and not
for the prevention of the disease, the
appropriation for the Leah Home viii
have to be tripled every ten years,
declared George r. Carter yesterday
at savors of appropriating money tt
purchase locks for the barn door afte,
the horse is stolen.
'The Territory is planning to spend
$780, 900 in the same period for the care
/ and treatment of cases of leprosy, dis
ease which is not one hundredth part al
contagious or deadly or common a:
tuberculosis If there is any cutting tt
be done, it should be from the appro
priation of leprosy.
"The anti-tuberculosis appropriation
should be 100000 for the period
twice the amount given two years ago
That the money was not wasted /
shown by the record of q reduction o
sixteen percent in the number of cases
due to the splendid work done in Pa
lama
''The Territorial Board of Health i
doing great work all over the Islands
l have just returned from Kauai
where I found the people installing
ventilators in their houses, abandonin
8 the use of blankets as bed clothing an
adopting proper sanitary precantion
against disease.
at would be the height of folly t
reduce the appropriation at this time
when the work of the board of health
and other organizations engaged i
combating the disease, is just begir
ming to show results.
"Honolulu ranks twelfth in the lis
of cities of the United States, whic
have the highest percentage of tubel
culosis cases to the one hundred tho
sand of population. A city that is &C
vertised as health resort and a para
disc for tourists cannot afford to hav
this rating and the reputation of dode
ing responsibility to save dollars an
cents. -