The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1901-10-25

and most of them have been thor
oughly discu used in the local press.
That does not minimize the value
OF the suggestions presented. That
the Insane Asylu N should have the
immediate attention of the author.
tiles goes without saying after read
ing the following report:
"Ward number one, known as the
violent ward, consists of eighteen
cells, all occupied. It's ventilation
should be improved.
"Ward numbsE six has twenty
cells, which al poorly ventilated,
and eight Of them are without cot,
mattresses being placed on the e ,or.
Eighteen cells are available, and
there are seventeen men in the ward.
The roof of this ward has been
puuctured by rock from the quarry
blsst. Ward number two is the old
est ward in the asylum, being built
in 1886. 1t is in bad state of re,
pair, and though as we we're told, it
has been condemned three times by
different Grand Juries, it is still
crowded by occupants, there being
thirty seven in it's one large room,
all of which are in use. Its floors
aud porches aud foundations are
decayed and the building is unfit for
its present occupancy. In this
building are the mems dining room
aud the general kitchen from which
the meals of the women patients are
carried to them in bas kets, and are
eaten by them on the grass in fair
weather, and otherwise on their ward
porches. as their ward dining room
has been turned into a dormitory,
owing to the crowded condition of
their quarters.
Ward number three has thirty two
cells, occupied by thirty.,hree pa
TENTS. Here the floors are more or
less rotten. The cells have oy erhead
ventilation. and the solid doors are
fitted with small grating.
Ward pumber four is women's
ward, and had normal accommoda-
tions for nineteen patients, yet
thirty-three women are now housed
there, many sleeping on the fl >ors of
the cells. owing to the scarcity of
cots. In this ward the ventilation
is better than in some others, the
ceiling being OF open work.
Ward number five is private
ward for pay patients only, and is
not in use.
The bathing facilities for men are
good. The women's quarters are
provided with two tubs.
The report deals with thu ques-
ton of commitments OF persons to
the asylum. That is also q matter
for Legislation aud for the past II b
years we have harped on the ques
tion, aud met the same failure as the
Grand JuIy will. Charles B. Wilson
urged a change when he was Mar
shal OF the Kingdom and had a
pull" in the Legislative halls. We
notice his name on the list OF the
Grand Jurors, who signed the re
port. Does he think he will sue
ceed in his righteous suggestion
now7 The report on this subject
says:
"a magistrate, on the certificate
OF slugle doctor of medicine,
should not commit any person to
the insane asylum, and in all cases
the patient shlu uld be produced in
court. And we would suggest that
commission OF at least three doc
tors, one of whom shall be a special
ist in nervousN~diseases, pass upon
the merits of every proposed COM
nit tment before judgment be rend-
ereu in the case, and We further
suggest that from time to time, a
visiting commission OF three we'll
qualified physicians might we'll be
appointed to visit the asylum to as
certain il all the inmates thereof
.n nrnnarlu traatad and riuhtlu