The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-09-03
SITUATION
At ASYLUM
Visit to the Insane
Hospital and
Crusher.
NOISES THE
CHIEF OBJECTION
Supt. Boyd Will Reply Tomorrow
to the UItimatum Of the
Board of Health.

SuPeiillehueht boyd OIL the department
of Public Works viii probably reply to
the ultimatum of the Board of Health
today The situation in regard to the
Oahu Insane Hospital remains practical
| iy the same. An Advertiser reporter
was shown about the grounds and build
fngs of the hospital yesterday by Super
intendent Nalster, who pointed out the
damage resulting from the blasts at the
quarries
Truth to tell. the most serious injury
to the patients is caused by the noises,
and if these could be eliminated in some
manner, the differences between the two
departments of government might easily
be adjusted
| It is true that rocks still fly in dan
| gerous proximity to the one hundred and
thirty-five inmates of the asylum but a
warning is always given by the whistle,
in ample time before the explosion oc-
ours. The patients then take refuge on
| the opposite side of the buildings and
are safe from flying stones. There can
be no doubt of the fact that stones are
sent flying in every direction at every
blast, some of them of considerable size.
which, however do not reach the asylum
buildings. The smaller ones are sent all
over the grounds in a veritable shower,
which would be exceedingly dangerous
if the patients Were not under shelter
Another nuisance caused by this rocky
rain is the practice of some of the in
mates in using these stones for throw
| ing at each other, causing the remaining
patients to run and hide until the mis-
siles can be recovered by the nurses and
| attendants.
In Ward No. 3, is a large hole which
was made by heavy stone. This oc-
| Cured several months back, and extra
precautions have been taken by Super
intendent Boyd. The buildings are all
covered with heavy sheet iron roofs,
which successfully resist the force of the
smaller stones thrown by the blast. Some
of the roofs are badly dented, but the
only hole is the one noted in the roof
of Ward No. 8.
1t was also SHOWN where the blasts had
broken windows and shaken the doors of
the various wards out of plumb, and ,nis
had also damaged the fire alarm system
so as to render it useless. This is plan
by which, in case of fire, all the doors
in the various wards are thrown open
automatically.
The crusher and quarrieS were also Wis
tied. The crusher is solidly located, with
a concrete and stone foundation. Its re-
moval would undoubtedly be very ex-
pensive. AS it now is, the rock is car
ried to the stone-crushing plant on
miniature stramway line, especially con
structed for the purpose. The blasting
is being carried on now at distance Of
probably fifty yards from the nearest
asylum building. There can be little
doubt but what the conclusion is some
thing fearful, for tremendous blasts OF
powder are used. The blasting is being
; carried on further and further from the
hospital as the rock becomes exhausted
; and will soon be quite a distance from
; the nearest building. One objection Ii
in the height of the quarries, which arr
on a considerably higher level than thu
hospital buildings.
THE principal objection said DR.
; Master yesterday, sis to the noise of th'
, blasts. There is on an average from
. eight to ten a day, and there can be M
. doubt but that it is injuring the pa
, TENTS To the incurable, perhaps, /
; makes little difference: but to those sen
| here for treatment there is no hope TO
recovery as long as the present noise
; continue. On people of weak and sensi
: tive minds, the injurious effect is partic
ularly noticeable. One woman who wa
Z brought here few days ago is a goo
I. example of it. She is not used to tn
; noise yet, and every time a blast is fired
jumps as if shot Whenever an explo
Z sion occurs all the patients become nerV
{ Gus and excited, begin talking and Jab
; bering among themselves, and in othe
ways show the effect of the startling
Z noises Even a man who Is not sic
Z would sart when a blast is fired. an
of course on a weak-minded person tn
= effect is much worse. 1t must be con
ceded that the expense or removing tn
crusher would be quite heavy, but thi
is a matter where more than money
concerned; the health of these people
of much more concern to their relative
and friends"
e An adjustment of the pending differ
o ences between the two department
8 seems almost impossible at presen
: though no doubt a reasonable view c
! the situation will be taken by all partie
II concerned. 1t seems that some metho
l, could be devised by which the noise
e from both the blasts and rock crushe
u could be deadened and danger from tn
q fying rocks might be minimized, by til
n construction of high board fence. I
: the present condition of affairs eithe
the removal of the cruSher or the asy
Is lum seems almost an impossibility. b
L. cause of the lack of funds necessary #
. the work. The property Of the hospiti
~ is very valuable, and the grounds al
&c quite extensive The buildings are a
of frame, and it is suggested by Supe
IL intendent Boyd that the easiest way OF
of the difficulty would be the sale Of IL
n lands of the insane hospital and the pu
chase of others further removed from Il
heart of the city. The money derive
from the sale OF the extensive properi
used in the asylum would more tha
suffice for the purchase of new land al
the erection of new buildings. In h
i opinion. >&ssi
A CERTAIN CURE FOR DYSEl