The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-11
ANOTHER
ULT|MATUM
Sent Public Works
Department by
Board.
OPINIONS OF
PHYSICIANS
Unanimously Favor Stand Taken
By Board of Health Relative
to insane.

The Board of Health sent another
ultimatum to the Department of Public
Works yesterday afternoon, demanding
a cessation of work at the stone crush
er The action was taken after a well
attended meeting, where the members
stand, by the opinion of prominent
physicians of Honolulu. A joint confer
ence will be held Saturday or Monday,
depending upon the return of Supt.
Boyd at which Governor Dole will be
present. In the meatime the operation
of the crusher will continue despite the
objections of the Health department.
The special meeting of the board held
yesterday afternoon, solely to consider
this question, was attended by Presi-
dent SIoggett, Drs. Moore and Cooper,
E. A. Mott-Smith, Executive officer
Pratt Supt Master of the Insane Asy-
Ilum and Doctors Myers and Mays.
Other physicians who had anticipated
attending the meeting We're unavoid-
ably detained.
In opening the meeting President
S1oggett said:
Gentlemen:-The papers reported this
morning pretty fully the Boards pro-
ceedings at yesterdays session, at which
session a committee was appointed, who
l shall ask to report presently on the
subject under discussion. 1 have invited
YOU gentlemen to meet us at this special
session that you may give us your coun-
tenance and support in our action and
attempt to put an end to what is an in
tolerable nuisance, acting harmfully on
the health and welfare of those helpless
wards of the Board, the patients in the
insane asylum. ] allud.e of course, to
the running of the rock crusher and
blasting of rock close to the asylum, and
thank you in the name of the Board
4 for your attendance and presence here
today.
Following this expression the opinions
of various physicians upon the nuisance
We're read by DR.. Pratt. They are giver
below in full:
. DIR. MAYS OPINION.
Speaking from a large experience with
the insane, / am convinced that nothing
has more injurious effect upon acute
cases of insanity than repeated or con
tinued noise. In the State Asylum a
Stockton this fact was so universally
recognized that no repair work or car
penter's hammeTing was allowed in OF
about the wards until all the eXcitabl'
cases had been removed to a distan
building where the sound would no
reach them.
The jarring noise of a rock crushe
and the explosion of blasts of dynamic
outside the walls of an asylum canno
but have a most hancful influence upol
a large proportion of the inmates. Moth
ing could be devised that would NOR
certainly tend to counterfeit the Who'll
. aim of a modern asylum, and defeat tn
" chief purpose of its existence.
For the asylum of today IS place 70
the cure as wen the care OF person
afflicted with brain disorders WhateVe
it may have been in years gone by, 1t
not now simply place for the hefdlh
together of lunatics to keep them out q
& harms way.
d 1t is, first and foremost, curative III
stitution.
1t is hospital. where patients wit
mental diseases can he studied and treat
ed in accordance with the latest advanc
in medical science The neglect and Ill
usage which characterized the old-tim
, ..bedlam'' have long since given way
enlightened and humane methods {
treatment.
No factor Is OF more Importance III IL
modern treatment of the insane tina
quiet and stiffness. True, there are
all asylums many whom no noise ca
, disturb Disease has done its work
IL their brains and left to them Il mel
- vegetative existence. But the acutely il
- sane together with the large class tn;
come under the head of durable cases r.
quire. above all things, peaceful al
soothing surroundings All distractir
noises, all exciting influences. must
sedulously shut out. if their welfare
to be considered. To inflict upon patien
already in a state of intense brain e.
altation the tireless rattle of q roe
- crusher, interspersed with the burstif
Of bombs, seems the very refinement
cruelty. It's effect must be to add TO the
20 sufferings and aggravate every sympto
= of the disease. The care of the sick 20
IL is one of the chief civic duties of eve
"A enlightened community; in a still deep
sense the care and custody of the i