The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-07-19
Queens Hospital.

The proceedings of the meeting of the
Trustees of the Queens Hospital, held at
the Court House last Friday, published in
another column, shows that DIR. Robert
McKibben, jun, has been elected to the
post of physician From the commence
ment of the Hospital some twelve years
ago, DIR. Hillebrand has been its physician,
and has discharged his duties ably and to
the satisfaction of the Trustees, as they
testify in the very complimentary resolu-
tons which have been ordered to be trans
mitted to him through the Secretary.
But DIR. McKibben has on several occa-
sions had charge of the institution, and
for year or two past has been assistant
physician, so that he is not new to its work
and requirements; and from the unanimity
of his election, it is evident that the
Trustees believe that under his care, its
career of usefulness will continue to pro-
gress and expand.
That it may become popular with the
native race, and may, to the extent of Its
capacity and means, be conducive to the
restoration to health and active life of
their INDECENT sick is, we believe, one of
the grand aims of the institution. 1t is a
qualification therefore to observe from the
reports that the natives appear to resort
there in increased numbers from year to
year, and that they are overcoming their
repugnance to the restraint of hospital
treatment, and their prejudice against the
use Of foreign medicines. Success in this
direction comes, in great measure, from
the adaptation of the rules and internal
economy of the Hospital to the habits and
peculiarities of the natives; the allowing
them TO follow, in as far as may be ad-
visable while inmates, their own ideas of
comfort and recreation.
Under the rules and the careful super
vision of those in charge, good order and
morality have always been efficiently
maintained. The last report of the Visit
ing Committee was especially commenda-
tory of the management of the patients,
aud of the appointments of the building.
But were the Trustees to rigidly enforce,
in its discipline and practice and internal
arrangements, that of model hospitals in
other countries, even were such a course
practicable with our limited building and
more limited means, it is possible that,
while we might have a thoroughly we'll
ordered and perfect institution, we would
soon have a tenantless building.
We believe the Trustees have thus far
been judicious in the management of the
Hospital in their efforts to extend to all
classes of the sick and diseased, the oppor-
tunity of its treatment and care. Persons
with chronic and incurable complaints are
not admitted, it is true, for if they were,
the Hospital would soon cease to be one.
but would become an almshouse. A point
of more difficult adjustment is, the admit
lance OF classes OF the sick who do not owe
their ailments to the visitation of God.
No severe rule of exclusion, nor, on the
other hand, one of indiscriminate admit
lance, can be laid down here nor have the |
Trustees adopted one that we are aware OF, !
but have left, judging from the result ofthe
discussion at their last meeting, the mat
ter to the discrimination of their Execu-
tive Committee. The Hospital is intended |
for benevolent rather than an executive
institution.