The Independent., 1901-02-13

There were those who smiled at
"Your Majesty's loyal opposition" !"
but we hope Mr.. Dole will remem-
Der the incident when he sends his
measure to the Home Rule Legis.
lature aud urges retrenchment, be-
ginning with his own salary. Then
Emmeluth will get out his torches,
aud oily" Bill will address the
Governor on bshalf of Your Excel
lency's loyal opposition"
While we wish to see the unfort-
uuates who are sent to the Insane
Asylum treated with all the consid-
Grafton and care which can be Of
fered to thsm, we cannot see any
reason why resident physician
should be appointed by the Govern
ment to take charge OF the Asylum.
To secure the services of an able
physician for the Asylum aICne
would involve very great expense,
but even that confederation would
fall to the ground, if any material
benefits could be gained by having
a medical man devoting his whole
time to the comparatively few peo-,
pie who are suffering here from
mental diseases. DR.. Herbert has
presented to the Board OF Health
very able report on the conditions
at the Asylum; a report which
shows that the inmates are receiving
the very best of care, and that many
are beiog cured while others will re-
main insane until their death. It
should be remembered that the
physician in charge of the Asylum
is working under most peculiar and
difficult circumstances. He receives
the patients but rarely any record
as to the heredity, and other causes
which may have an effect on the
condition OF the person committed
to his care, No one knows anything
about the past life OF the South Sea
Islander, or the Chinaman, or of
many other foreigners committed to
the Asylum as insane. They "act
strangely" says the doctor, who ap-
pears before District Magistrate,
and to the Asylum they go. There
are few illnesses which demand a
more careful inquiry into past con-
ditions, hereditary influences, etc,
than that of insanity, and yet the
physician stands helpless before his
patient who can give no information
as to himself or bis family, and of
whom nothing is known in the
Territory except that he "acted
strangely" The Hawaiians have no
records as to the mental conditions
of their ancestors, and if they had,
they would, in most instances, deny
that there is 'insanity in the family"
Even il there was resident physi.
clan, what good could he do in most
instances without being able to
make clear diagnosis? Under the
present system, and especially un-
der the management OF Or. Herbert,
the Asylum has been changed from
a semi-penltentiary to pleasant,
healthful sanitarium for people suf-
iering from mental diseases. The
Government takes care OF over one
thousand lepers, and yet it sends no
physician to the Settlement to tackle
the leprosy question or to reside
there in an endeavor to cure that
disease. And yet no charge has
been made TO grand jury as to the
conditions on the Settlement, and
even the Representatives of the peo.
pie there are not allowed to visit
their constituents, while the man
agement OF the Asylum invites grand
jurors, judges and Legislators to
come within tho precincts OF the in
stitution and inspect the patients
and to witness the excellent care Of
'ered to them Why we ara to hear
2 semi ANNA! attack on the Asvlrm