The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-07-16
At
THE ASYLUM
MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED AT
THE MEETING OF THE BOARD
OF HEALTH YESTERDAY.

ceived a report from DR.. Mays sug-
costing number of reforms at the
Issane Asylum, as follows:
II find that the attendants work in
eight-hour shifts. This is a custom to
be condemned. Attendants should do
their regular days work ana be re-
lieved in the evening, as in all hos
pitfalls by the night attendants.
Attendants wishing leave of absence
have hitherto been allowed to provide
substitute to temporarily fill their
place. This is a custom also open to
criticism. The selection of an employe
either temporary or otherwise, is a duty
and a responsibility that belongs en-
tirely to the superintendent.
1.-The names of all persons employed
in the Asylum under pay, whether
temporarily or otherwise, should APP
pear on the months pay roll No dis
bursement, howeveR small, should be
made by the superintendent without
the proper voucher therefor.
Turning to the women's department,
there is much that needs to be done.
First and foremost is the urgent need
Of matron of the institution in whose
hands should be intrusted the internal
management of the female department
together with the supervision of the
80 female inmates and their attendants.
l am aware that there is no appropria-
ton for the salary of such an official
1 but I fell it my duty to call attention
to the need of matron.
II find also a singular absence of
such measures for the protection
Iop nd Of hon
ures as their sex entities them to. Per-
haps no other place in the civilized
would could be found where insane
patients of both sexes are turned out to
occupy all day long the same recrea-
ton ground. Yet such is the condition
of things here. 1t is true, the atten-
dants are on the alert to keep the fe-
male patients at their end of the
ground, and the male patients at the
other Side, but that does not sufficient
ly remedy the evil. The only way to
! do so is to construct a board fence
across the recreation ground and con-
| tinue it so as to enclose the whole
female department
For the protection of the patients,
| the windows of the female wards re-
quire to be barred. One of the dormi-
tories, containing six beds, is entirely
without bars, the windows Offering ev
cry facility for ingress or egress.
| Putting the several recommended
tons into the form of a motion,
move:
81. That the present arrangement OF
eight-hour shifts for attendants be
abolisheds at the end of the present
month, and that system of day and
night service be substituted therefor.
Referred to DR.. Master, superinten-
dent.
80. That the attendants be no long
er required to provide a substitute for
temporary absences, that duty belong
ing to the superintendent"
| Adopted.
J SO. That the superintendent shall see
that the pay roll fully sets forth the
names of every person employed with
the amount due to each person"
As the law requires this, no action
was deemed necessary.
a. That a matron be appointed, if
any way can possibly be found to dc
so preferably one who has had eXper-
.icnce in insane asylum work"
Carried.
"5. That a siX-foot board fence be
erected enclosing the female depart
ment and the female recreation
ground"
Deferred till next meeting.
"6. That bars be placed on adj the
windows of the female wards and dor
mitories."
Adopted.
The proposed Kalihi site for new
asylum was discussed and the mem
bers of the board were of the opinion
that it was likely to soon be in a center
of population. The asylum commit.
tee was instructed to look for Other
sites.
The tender of the Wilder's STEAMSHIP
Company for the steamer service tC
Molokai was accepted at $50 per week
The following letter was received
from c. Bolte:
Il have received on my Heeia rancf
from August to October last year q
COWS from Mr., H. r. Macfarlane's
Ahuimanu ranch. Twelve of these
cows died during the six months from
December to June. DIR. Monsarrat eX
amined the eleventh COW and declared
tuberculosis to be the cause of it!
death. Parts of the lungs of the elev'
enth and twelfth dead cows l send yol
herewith. On June % DR.. Monsarra
examined the remaining IA Ahuimanl
COWS and l understand that he founC
seven of them to be tuberculous. VIII
you, please, inform me whether DR.
Monsarrats diagnosis is correct, and
if so, instruct me as to what l am t
do with these seven sick cows"
The matter was deferred to be investi
gated when DR.. Pratt returns.
A resolution defining the duties o
the president, which the legislator,
neglected to do while changing tn,
status of the office, was referred to