The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-03-10
HOSPITAL
REDUCES OEATBRGTt

Editor Advertiser A stay of ten
days for treatment at the Puunene hos
pital has opened my eyes q went there
with one of them closed) to the great
advantage the Maui people enjoy in
having so finely equipped hospital
near at hand, to which, in case of emer-
gency, they can go to receive skilful
surgical and medical treatment and muir
sing. equal to the best the Islands can
afford and such as can be found in few
places on the mainland.
Six years ago Dr. Robert H. Dinegar
became medical director of Kihei plan
tation and at that time the yearly death
rate of Hawaiian Commercial plantation
ran up into the hundreds. Five years
ago, when Hon. H. P. Baldwin became
manager of Hawaiian Commercial, he
called DR.. Dinegar to be medical di-
rector of it, as well as Kihei, and now
all that pertains to the sanitary condi-
ton of the twenty-eight camps of the
two plantations. the homes of 1000 peo-
pie (and this includes the water supply
is directly under his care. Accom-
panied by policeman, he visits and in
spects them all, and receives frequent
reports from those in charge. Now the
death rate of the two plantations COM
bined. is less than ten year.
| Puunene hospital is DIR. Dinegars
| working center. 1t is finely situated
one third Of mile from the shore, from
| which the trades bring cool, pure air;
| the view of mountains and sea is UNI
surpassed.
In one wing of the building are the
dispensarv and drug room, to which
fifty calls day are made. Patients of
all classes and nationalities are received
in the hospital, for the most part free
of charge. There are several distinct
| wards, separate building for conta-
gious or infectious diseases. single
rooms for critical cases, and others for
private, paying patients. DR.. Dinegar,
who received years of training in New
York schools and hospitals, has COM
petent nurses and assistants, and a
smiling Chinese cook, who willingly
prepares at any hour tempting meal,
is a valuable member of the menage of
Miss Sporting, the hospitals head nurse
and matron.
The number of patients averages thir-
ty-eight. Among the present GONZALES
cents are man whose neck was broken,
another whose throat was cut, a third
whose ribs we're crushed, fourth who
lost an arm and toe, and several beri-
beri patients, whose weakened bones are
being strengthened. They are built up
by nourishing food as well as fresh air
In another wing built expressly for
the purpose, is the finely lighted, COM
pletely equipped operating room, with
latest and most efficient apparatus for
service in operations, and for steril.
izing and preparing dressings. There
are hundreds of instruments protected
in glass cases, supplies in abundance, an
apparatus for disinfecting apartments
etc.
Then there is the electrical room. In
addition to the battery and appurtenan-
ces, there is large X-ray apparatus
with appliances for treating different
parts and for photographing X-ray ex-
posures, and a Tinson-ray apparatus
the gift of the late Samuel T. Alex.
ander to DR.. Dinegar.
Since the founding of the hospital
Dr. Dinegar has lost but one surgica
case, and that was beyond saving The
success of his operations comes of care
full antiseptic treatment, as well as from
surgical skill.
The interest in this hospital center!
in the fact that all this appliance anc
} skill are put to the use of the humbles
J laborer connected with the plantation
/ who may have the misfortune to NEE
!; with accident or be stricken by disease
; It was pleasant to observe while Their,
, the feeling of confidence and comfor
. that seemed to possess the occupants
another evidence that Puunene hospita
is eminently humane institution. I
. is an important factor of this great ant
, successful plantation, which will no
lose in taking such good care of its PEG
, pie.
The cost of it all is ten or twelv,
| thousand dollars a year, or ten O
twelve cents share to each owner.
small price for such gain in the healtl
of the community, for the good will ant
: humanity this work fosters and repre-
sents.
) Yours truly.
II OLIVER P. EMERSON.
, Haiku. Maui, Feb. 20. 1905.