The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-08-25
MORCUE WANTED
Matter Discussed by the
Board Of Health.
Or. N. o Emsvsor's r. port to Mar.
shai Brown on tho SuoJect Meets
with Approval.
)From Thursdays Daily,


The establishment Of an institution
of vital need was brought up at yes
terday's meeting of the Health Board.
This innovation IL a morgue. There
was not a single member who did not
express an opinion In favor of suit
able repository for the dead. The need
of 1t is repeatedly emphasized. there
being a case in point no later than last
week. The question has been brought
up before but has each time been de-
ferred.
DIR. N. b. Emerson, police surgeon.
has again instituted the crusade. He
is eminently fitted to talk on the sub
ject on account of his official capacity.
The following report which was sent
to Marshal Brown some time ago was
read yesterday and met with the hear
ty concurrence of the Health Board:
Permit me to call attention to a mat
ter which concerns a department UNI
der your control, and which also af-
fects the public health.
/ allude to the lack of proper
morgue In this growing town of Homo
lulu. 1t is daily becoming more evil
dent that there Is a growing necessity
for suitably equipped morgue, to
which all dead bodies needing identifi-
cation, examination and investigation
by the Coroner, as well as by a medical
man, may and should be brought for
such examination.
The grounds on which this need is
based may be summed up as coming
under these heads:
First. Public health.
Second. For the better securing OF
justice.
Third. For the due protection of the
medical men who may make the neces-
sary examination, and in the interests
Of medical science, which demands that
all such examinations should be con-
Quoted under such circumstances as
shall be favorable to scientific accuracy
and precision, without putting the doc
tor to unnecessary labor or exposing
him to needless risk.
Fourth. In the interest Of common
decency, which demands that no unbe.
coming exposure should be made OF the
dead body OF any person.
Other reasons no doubt exist; but II
seems to me that the above suffice. II
would be easy to enlarge on the rea
sons above stated. As TO the interest,
of public health, It hardly needs more
than mention that security In this re
gard cannot be perfect Or satisfactor!
under the present haphazard lack o
system. As to the securing OF justice
IL Is easy to see that any cause which
makes an impediment to scientific ac
curacy must act unfavOrably to the OBJ
tanning df justice, and that such Is thu
liability under the present methods II
sufficiently evident. In the case of 1
body that has come to its death undel
suspicious of pestilence or some disease
against the spread OF which 1t is i'm
pOrtant and necessary to take thu
strictest precautions, that II may no
gain a foothold in the community. On'
might well dread the possibilities tina
now exist.
The occurrence of death under un
usual circumstances only this week, II
which II was necessary to perform al
autopsy in the open court OF the Sta
ltion House, Is an illustration in point
,and emphasizes several of the reason
/ have given for the need OF mOrgue
II established, mOrgue should be 10
,cated at point within easy reach
1.-THE Station House, but not SO as to i'm
peril the heath of the officers or pris
Oners there doing duty or confined.
. oh a
the following conditions:
First. Provide accommodation ia
the exposure of at least two bodies a
the same time.
Second. Be furnished with ample IA
cilities for lighting and ventilation. a
we'll as for the due record OF all opel
atoms that may be there performed.
Third. 1t Is essential that 1t shoul
be provided with the means for cleans
ling and disinfecting both OF the livin
operator and OF the bodies OF the dea
that may be there operated upon.
Fourth. Provision should also b
/, made to allow the public. or such pei
sons as are deemed worthy. or as 1t
thought best to be admitted, to vie
the bodies there placed for purposes {
Identification.
The effect of establishing a well-aI
pointed morgue In this town cannot bt
react favorably upon the ends OF Jul
! tice, health and morals, and are We
worthy the consideration of the Coy
eminent OF this Republic; and such
: establishment would certainly place
! In a more favorable light In the eye
not only OF the greater Republic,
: which we have become, or are soon
become. an integral part, but also I
the world, with which our relation
are rapidly becoming more intimate.
As a result OF conversations wit
|, Representative medical men In III
! town. I find that the Views, In gener
: as above stated. are held by them al
n THE REST REMEDY FOR FLU