The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-07

IL IS supported by the Board or
Health in his government of that
institution. His management of the af-
fairs of the asylum has caused the
Board no uneasiness as to whether or
not it is in good hands. DR.. Herbert
submitted yesterday a lengthy report
upon the history, inmates, treatment
and general affairs of the asylum
which was accepted and the thanks of
the Board extended to him for his
faithful work, upon the motion of
Member Cooper.
President Raymond, commenting up
On the report, said: Il believe, as has
been suggested, that it would be better
to have a resident physician at the asy-
llum. Under the circumstances, how
ever, l would say that a short time ago
IL made a thorough examination of the
ayslum and the only criticism 1 had to
offer was to congratulate DIR. Herbert
for the conditions l found existing
there. I believe it is the duty of the
Board to endorse the report as present
ed. It is impracticable at present to
have a resident physician and have the
fright sort of physician, for the reason
that it would be a very expensive prop
Gosition. I doubt that the patients
would receive better attention under
such an arrangement. than they do
now.
II believe the institution is perfectly
| satisfactory to the Board and to any
reasonable minded man. The Board of
| Health takes no cognizance of people
| who criticize such matters, knowing
/ full well they are perfectly incompetent
| to pass any criticism. Many prominent
physicians have visited the asylum and
have complimented the state of affairs
! found there. When we know a man
has done well and is doing right, the
Board should come forth and protect
him.
The following is Dr. Herbert's report
in part:
! FOUNDATION OF THE ASYLUM ANE
| HISTORY
! Previous to the year 1862 the mentally
afflicted were sent to Jail to mngle with
the felons and prisoners of all kinds;
they were treated simply as dangerous
characters to be kept away from the pub
lie; and it was not until this date QS62)
the question was raised of setting aside
a place for their care. Of course at this
time the ratio of insane to the population
was small. In 1862, after some agitation
an Act was passed by the Legislature
authorizing the Minister of the Interior
to provide lands and buildings suitable
for the care and management of the in
sane and to call for appropriations nee
essary for their construction and main
tenance. However, time passed. and i,
was not till September, 1866, that the
matter was accomplished and the few
(six) insane were removed from the pris-
on to the asylum and placed under the
care of DR.. Ford, superintendent and
Mr.. Dawson, assistant superintendent
FL ON now on it was dark era, char
acterized by its want of systematic rec
ords-only a few notes being obtainable
and these making but very distastefu
reading-and it was not until DR.. Tucker
took charge, in 1887, that with the as
sistance of Mr.. L. A. Thurston, things
shaped themselves into better course
! Then followed the progressive steps o.
all similar institutions and advanced
with the advancement in the treatment
of these unfortunate sufferers-who
from being treated like animals driver
into pen where they could just take
limited amount of exercise and fresf
air. and then being locked up in cells
again for the rest of the twenty-foul
Z hours-have now as near Paradise a.
most of us will reach. Bathing to abso
lutte cleanliness and comfort; three goot
meals a day, and basking in the shad,
of the trees on the green lawns.
Supplied with comforts and cared fo
with gentleness; their general health
tended to and each individual case treat
ed according to it's form of mental dis
ease, in the effort to re-establish tn,
balance of the mind and restore then
to their homes, relatives and friends
Many of those now at the asylum hay,
been there for many years and it is rare
ly, after three years, that recovery cal
take place, but until that time, in man.
cases, hope may be embraced and clun,
to. The spirit of evolution has enteres
here, as elsewhere in nature, and maj
has ascertain that "lunatic is siel
man." to be cared for as SUCH not abus
ed and battered about but met will
kindness, placed under the most improv
ed hygienic and sanitary conditions; re
strained with caution and gentleness
only when it becomes absolutely a ne
cessity to prevent them from injurins
themselves and others. Clothed and fet
with the best that can be afforded-ant
what has been the result? From deatl
and destruction of mind which was re
garded as inevitable and invariably wa
so, the percentage of improvements ant
cures have increased so that lunacy, In
stead of being regarded as an offense O
crime, is rightly added to our list of all
ments that human flesh is heir to, JUS