The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-01-22
HoNoLULu. Jan. Is, 1889.

! During the quarter there has been no
| serious illness among the patients eX-
| Cept In the case of one Chinaman who
! died OF general paralysis. All are now
in good physical health and, with three
exceptions, appear to be cOntented.
With the exception of these three, no
attempts are made at escape, although
there is nothing to hinder them from
| leaving the grounds except the watchful
eyes OF the Assistant superintendent and
keepers. The discontinued ones are a
German, suffering from chronic melan-
chOlia Hawaiian who seems we'll and
otherwise sane, but is unhappy about his
wife, who has proved unfaithful since he
became sick and insane. In his anxiety
to see her he occasionally attempts to get
away. The third is demented China
man who is inclined to wander off, ap-
parently without knowing where he is
going.
The Immediately necessary improve
ments, such as rebuilding the lower
ward, moving and demonstrating the
cook house and lanai for dining, build
ing new poi factory, etc, are nearly
completed. We have expended a large
portion of the appropriation for repairs
and furnishing, but the improvements
were needed Immediately and were
the institution and the comfort of the
inmates. More buildings are necessary, but
we can wait for them till the next bien
NAL appropriation. The Immediately
essential repairs and alterations are
nearly completed.
The grading, improving and cultivat-
ing of the grounds can be done by our
keepers, assisted by such Of the inmates
as are able and willing to work About
one-third of the whole number are good
workers. The others are either unable
or unwilling to work. While We en-
deavor to induce as many as possible to
perform some kind and degree of labor,
We do not fee justified in using any de-
gree OF cOmpulsiOn. | am satisfied that
We shall be able to complete all the
work now begun and all that may be
necessary during the remainder of the
biennial period for which the appropria-
ton was made, without any necessity
for overdrawing.
Permit me to add in closing this re-
port, that on October /, 1887, when |
took charge of the asylum the number
OF patients amounted to seventy-eight
(78). During the fifteen months since
that date, there have been admitted
thirty-eight (38) new patients. Total
1l6. There have been forty-three dis
charges, eight deaths, and one who is
living outside of the asylum with her
friends under furlough. Total 81, which
deducted from 116 leaves sixty-four pa
tients now in the asylum, as above /;
which is the lowest number yet re-
ported. The deaths have all been from
incurable diseases, with the exception OF
one suicide and one accidental drown
ing. l mean, Of course, that all who
died of disease were inCurables.
This is a much better showing, for the
period named, than [ thought it possible
to make, as SO large proportion OF the
inmates were incurables. OF the whole
number discharged, only three have
been recommitted. Two OF these had
relapsed. The other feigned insanity,
so he says, in order to be sent back. lie
says he was not treated kindly at home,
and took this course to get b.-ck TO the
asylum. He is feeble old man, but
appears to be perfectly sane.
Respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
s. q. TUCKER, VI. D.,
Supt. Oahu Insane Asylum.