The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-11
C. B. WOOD

Of opinion is as TO which should move.
c. B. WOOD.
Henry c. sIogeett. President Of Board Of
Dear Sir: At your request. we ven
ture to make the following remarks in re-
gard 70 the presence of the stone crush
ing plant on the asylum property.
The hrSt principle IN the treatment of
the insane IS 10 place them in quiet
location, where they can rest, undisturbed
and unmOlested.
The exciting effect of the rock blast
ing IS distinctly noticeable in the more
aggravated eases of acute mania. though
we believe it would be hard to prove It's
deieterious influence on individual cases
of other forms of insanity
/, The fact remains plaintly' evident to
anyone OF ordinary intelligence that any
recent case Of insanity. taken to the
asylum and placed alongside of the rock
cFusher. there subjected to the disturbing
noises, would suffer serious detriment
in its progress to recovery; and. on the
other hand. might have its little remain
ing reason hopelessly dispelled
We believe the presence of the rock
crusher alongside the asylum wards TO
be an injustice as well as a menace. to
the inmates of that institution.
fSignedl GEORGE HERBERT
s. d. G. WALTERS.
Or. II. c. Sloogett, President Board of
Health:
Dear Sir: / would call the boards
attention to serious condition which
exists here as a result of blasting and
of the stone-ehusher. which is located on
the mauka side of the asylum grounds
Patients whose exhausted and diseased
condition of their nervous system requir-
ing that they be kept quiet and peaceful
are daily exposed 10 the shock of blast
ing. and the noise of the stone crusher
that they are very much excited, get
nervous and unmanageable when thev
would not be molested.
Not only that. but the danger from
TO all parts of the grounds. and some
weighing several hundred pounds are
hurled on the roofs of the nearest build
ings. crashing through and would kill
anyone if they should be underneath.
injrring the buildings, breaking windows.
and fences destroyed. and not properly
repaired. causing escape of the patients
easy, and only prevented by vigilant
watching.
Hoping some action viii be taken to
suppress the evil | am. yours truly,
DIR. r. NJ MALSTER.
Superintendent Oahu Insane Asylum.
Or. II. c. Sloggett. President Board Of
Health:
Dear Sir: Speaking from large ex-
perience with the insane, / am con-
WINGED that nothing has more injurious
effect upon acute cases of insanity than
repeated or continuous noise. In the
State Asylum at Stockton this fact was
so universally recognized that no repair
work or carpenters hammering was al
lowed in or about the wards until all the
excitable cases had been removed to
distant building where the sound would
not reach them.
The Earring noise of a roek-crusher and
the explosion of blasts of dynamite out
side the walls of an asylum cannot but
have a baneful influence upon a large
proportion of the inmates. Nothing
could be devised that would more GER
tainly tend to counteract the whole aim
of a modern asylum. and defeat the chief
purpose of its existence.
For the asylum of today is a place for
the cure as well as the care of persons
afflicted with brain disorders. Whatever
it may have been in years gone by. it IS
not now simply place for the herding
together of lunatics to keep them out
of harms way.
1t is, first and foremost, a curat'
institution
1t is a hospital where patients with
mental diseases can be studied and treated
in accordance with the latest advance in
medical science The neglects and Illus
age which characterized the old-time
bedlam" have long since given way to
enlightened and humane methods of treat
meut
No factor is of more Importance in
the modern treatment of the insane than
quiet and stiffness True. there are in
all asylums many whom no noise can
disturb. Disease has done its work in
tfs,-r he-o frsc nd Inff fa <har1 q
vegetative existence But the acutely in
sane, together with the large class that
come under the head Of durable cases re-
Quire. above all things peaceful and
soothing surroundings All distTacting
noises. all exciting influences must be
seiulously shut out. If their welfare Is TO
be considered To inflict upon patients
already in state Of intense brain ex-
station. the tireless rattle OF rock
crUsher interSpersed with the bursting OF
bombs. seems the verv refinement Of
cruelty It's effect must be 70 add 20
their suffering and aggravate every symp
tom of the disease. The care of the sick
poor IS one Of the chief civic duties Of
every enlightened community In a still
deeper sense the care and custody % the
insane should touch the public conscience
StateT appealing 20 our higher sympath
les. An inspection OF our lnsSEe AsTium
shows that the governments Of these ISL
ans3s have dealt with this subject in A
liberal msnner. The grounds are cfseer-
ful. bright with flowers and adapted 10
the conditions here. and at anT rate are
not suggestive Of prison as many are-
Both the equipment and the management
are brought thorouebfy up 70 date and
the pstients srs skilfuay ard hs1ntanely
treAsed II IS 70 BE- hoped thar 50
seriouS q drawback as The rock quarry
Close 70 the fnstitutioa VIII receive The
consideration its Importance 6ensanslS.
y. H MAYS
To-morrnw there viii be 4 confer