The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-10-26

In their prayers OF those days IN
other Islands visited by Cook they
asked the following of their God
eve have built a fire. This is a
light for you, Oh King and Gods
superior. If any of you are forgot
ten, do not be angry, this light
is for you all. Drive away from us
sailing Gods, lest you come and
cause disease and death. Protect
this family by your presence,
great God and may health and
long life be given us ALL"
The next in power in olden days
although he apparently had no
rank, was the witch doctor. He
maintained his power through vir-
tue of his lamentations and witch
craft practice. Everything the
witch doctor did was right. How
ever, the patient generally died
not from the treatment, because
the witch doctor could not chase
the devils out of his body. AS an
example in case of appendicitis
he laid the patient on his back and
jumped on his stomach to relieve
the pain. The pain was relieved
alright, but the patient was fin
ished. So when the first Ameri'
can Governor, Commander B. F
Tilley, u. S. Navy, took charge he
faced a discouraging problem, es'
pecially from a medical stand
point. The following orders were
given this Governor by the Presi.
dent of the United States. I quote
from Navy records. 'While you,
position as Commandant will in
vest you with authority over the
Islands in the. group embraced
within the limits of the station
you will cultivate friendly rela'
lions with the natives" This
clause occurs in all orders ISSUED
to every Commandant and Gov.
ernor to the present day. 1 am Of
the opinion that in the persona
talk between the Secretary of the
Navy and all Governors and Com.
mandants assigned to duty in Am.
erican Samoa, the following yer.
bal instructions were issued: yor
will as far as possible maintain
the Samoan customs of self gov.
eminent; you will improve the
health of the Samoan people; yor
will give them freedom of religious
belief; and you will teach them tt
become self supporting and viii
educate them. / have never beer
told by any Governor or Command
ant that these instructions have
been issued verbally, but base my
statements on the fact that every
Governor has rigidly adhered tt
this policy in the governing of the
Samoan people. .-".-.
When the first Governor tool
command he knew that he had thu
support of the high chiefs. How
ever, the greatest problem was tx
overcome the power of the witch
doctor. This required tact and di
plomacy. 1t is not easy to convince
any people that their old system!
are wrong and that the white doc
tor could do great deal more fol-
the sick than the witch doctor
could do. It took time but the
navy has won. now take pleasure
in quoting to you report from
Commander C. S. Stephenson, Med
ical Corps, United States Navy
the present Public Health Officer
| of American Samoa.
"In 1927 the death rate per 1000
live births was 1872. Since thai
time the mortality in this respect
has dropped to 81 per 1000 as Of
September 1, 1888. The birth rate
has shown a very small decline; il
| is now 38 per thousand. The death
rate from all causes is IL per 1000
This rate will be materially affect.
ed by saving infant mortality this
| year. Yaws is universally preve.
liant in American Samoa and il