The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-02-08
Detailed Report of
the Asylum
Here.
SUPERINTENDENT
HERBERT'S FACTS
He Gives a Plain and Scientific
Statement Of Institutions
Affairs.
r. GEORGE HERBERT, superin-

Ia intendent of the Insane Asylum,
IL is supported by the Board of
Health in his government of that
institution. His management of the al
fairs of the asylum has caused the
Board no uneasiness as to whether or
not it is in good hands. DIR. 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 IL would be better
to have a resident physician at the asy-
lum. Under the circumstances, how
ever, l would say that short time ago
/ made a thorough examination of the
aysum and the only criticism ! had to
offer was to congratulate Dr. Herbert
for the conditions l found existing
there. l believe it is the duty of the
Board to endorse the report as present.
ed. 1t is impracticable at present to
have resident physician and have the
right sort of physician, for the reason
that it would be very expensive prop
osition. / doubt that the patients
would receive better attention under
such an arrangement than they do
now
Il 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 we'll they are perfectly incompetent
to pass any criticism. Many prominent
physicians have visited the asylum and
have complmented the state of affairs
found there. When we know a man
has done we'll 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 AND
HISTORY.
Previous to the year 1862, the mentally
afflicted Were sent to Jail to mingle with
J.-isn.arsa af all kinds:
they were treated simply dangerous
characters to be kept away from the pub
lie; and ii was not until this date CS62)
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
essaIy for their construction and main
tenance. However, time passed, and it
was not till September, 1866 that the
matter was accomplished and the few
tstX) insane were removed from the pris-
on to the asylum and placed under the
care of DIR. Ford, superintendent, and
Mr.. Dawson, assistant superintendent.
From now on IL was dark era, char
acterized by its want of systematic rec
ords-only a few notes being obtainable
and these making but very distasteful
reading-and 1t was not until DR. Tucker
took charge, in 1887 that, with the as
sistance of Mr. l.. A. Thurston, things
shaped themselves into Il better course
Then followed the progressive steps of
all similar institutions and advanced
with the advancement in the treatment .
of these unfortunate sufferers-who, /
from being treated like animals driven .
into a pen where they could just take .
a limited amount of exercise and fresh .
air and then being locked up in cells .
again for the rest of the twenty-four
hours-have now as near a Paradise as
most of us will reach. Bathing to abso-
lutte cleanliness and comfort; three good
meals a day, and basking in the shade
of the trees on the green lawns.
Supplied with comforts and cared for I,
with gentleness; their general health
tended to and each individual case treat
ed according to its form of mental dis
ease in the effort to re-establsh the I
balance of the mind and restore them
to their homes, relatives and friends.
Many of those now at the asylum have ]
been there for many years and 1t is rare I
ly, after three years, that recovery can /
take place, but until that time, in many .
cases, hope may be embraced and clung .
to. The spirit of evolution has entered .
here, as elsewhere In nature, and man .
has ascertain that a "lunatic - a sick .
man." 10 be cared for as such, not abus- .
ed and battered about, but met with .
kindness, placed under the most improN-
ed hygienic and sanitary conditions; re- .
strained with caution and gentleness,
only when II becomes absolutely ne .
cessity 10 prevent them from injurng
themselves and others. Clothed and fed ,
with the best that can be afforded and .
what has been the result? From death !
and destruction Of mind which was re-
garded as Inevitable and invariably was
SO, the percentage OF improvements ana
cures have increased 80 that lunacy, In
stead Of being regarded as an offense or
crime, is rightly added 10 our list OF all
ments that human nesh is heir 90, Just
a. much as scarlet fever BrighVs dis
ease, OF others
ETloLoGY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL 4
ASPECT
The ratio OF Insanity 10 the population
should be Ons OF much satltfactiOn 10
ihe community, even though u la on the |
Increase, as IL 10 the world oyer Look
az uH, a cosmopolitan crowd gathered 10, IA
kethnT from efrTy where pn thn face of I,
the earth the intrTmngllnE " an races, 4
in AL stations Va NE, " all iTadss ana !
occupations, from tbs HT0haly isnOTant /,
10 ghe mosi Intelligent Taks these fac
fofs Eiih TIE vseeTslsnalnE alag VI tbs