The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-08-30
To
DESPAIR
Noises From Rock
Crusher Annoy
Insane.

THE insane patients at the Oahu
| Insane Asylum are being driven to
| - further stages of insanity by the
proximity of the Government stone
crusher to the asylum. The noise ana
flying rocks from the quarries are play
ing havoc with the already unbalanced
minds of the inmates, and driving the
keepers and attendants to desperation,
according to the complaint made yes
terday to the Board of Health in a
written statement from DR.. r. NJ. Nal
ster, superintendent of the Oahu asy-
lum. If what he says Is true the situa-
ton at the asylum Is a very serious
one, both for the Board of Health and
for the Superintendent of Public Works.
Superintendent Boyd says it will cost
$25, 900 to move the crusher, Superin-
tendent Master says it is impossible to
move the asylum, and that If the blasts
are continued the lives, as well as the
minds of his patients will be In dan
ger.
In his letter DR.. Master says that
the stone-crusher is located on the
mauka side OF the asylum; that his pa
tents are exhausted and that the dis
eased condition OF their nervous sys-
TENS makes II Imperative that they
should be kept quiet and peaceatlr.
In spite OF that they are daily exposed
to the noises from the blasts, and the
Iincessant grinding of the stone-crusher
These noises, he goes on to explain,
cause his patients to get nervous and
excited, and at times wholly unman-
ageable. Not only that, but rocks are
thrown by the blasts upon the build
ings sometimes crashing through the
roofs and also upon all parts OF the
grounds. making 1t dangerous for the
patients or attendants To walk about.
He says further that numerous win
dows have been broken, and that the
fences were knocked down and not
FRO, crly replaced. making it easy for
the patients to escape. Only by the
vigilance of the attendants is this pre-
vented nov
President Sloggett stated in regard to
the letter from Dr. Master that he had
since it's receipt discussed the matter
with Mr.. Boyd. Superintendent of Pub
lie Works, and he had been told by him
that II would cost $4,000 to move the
crusher from it's present site.
Dr. Sloggett stated that this was a
serious question and one not to be de-
cided in haste: that the presence of the
crusher probably was a menace to the
asylum, but the matter was one Of i'm
portance and should be thoroughly In
vestigated before any action was taken.
At his suggestion committee was
appointed which will visit the asylum
lin company with Mr.. Boyd at an early
date, to seek some way out Of the
present difficulty. The committee Is
composed Of Messrs. Sloggett. Pratt and
Moore.
, BOARD GOES TO MOLOKAI FRI.
DAY.
1t was decided that the emi-annual
visit OF the Board be made to Moloka
on Friday, September s, spending
Saturday at the settlement and return
, ing Sunday. The number of people who
: are allowed to accompany the party Is
to be very strictly limited. All those
wishing to go must file a written appli'
, cation, stating their reasons, before
, next Wednesday, and the Board viii
, consider the applications at their reg
| ular meeting on that day.
1t was first decided that only mem
, bers of the press and medical men be
, lallowed to go. but the order was after
/ wards amended to allow people who
could show some good reason for 1t to
E accompany the party. Messrs Pink
: ham and McCandless will go along tC
e Investigate the possibility of success IN
E sinking a well.
JAPANESE BEING POISONED.
A letter was read from DIR. ARCHIE
Irwin in which he called attention u
the very serious menace TO the Japan
ese. OF drug stores conducted by peopl
Q Of their own nationality. He said h
a had had two cases within the past weel
Q lof Japs who were killed by taking med
= icine purchased at small Jap dru
lstores. One was that of a woman VIII
= felt III one night after supper and ha
e taken antifebrin, prepared at Japan
u csc store. and the next day was suffer
ing from heart depression. She died tn
next day. He also reported simila
z experience with a baby. who died las
i Monday and suggested that the Boar
y take action. Nothing was done. how
" ever by the Board. as the drug in ques
;. ton is perfectly harmless unless take
- in overdoses, when IL is likely to prov
fatal.