The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-10-10
CLINICAL WARDS
PLANNED TO TREAT
insane PATIENTS
Or. W. A. SchwalIle Designs Hos
pitaI. and Cottages For Ter
Is -. ritory's Charges
BIG PROBLEM 70 KEEP
/ ASYLUM INMATES BUSY
Legislature WiltBe Asked $780,.
2 600 For Carrying On
, Humane Work

How TO keep $40 men employed IL
the daily problem Of DIR. W. A. sehwal.
/ lie, superintendent of the Oahu Insane
Asylum. Some Of these men are feeble
minded, some are mildly insane, some
chronically violent and others violent
periodically. Besides the insane men
there are ninety.uine insane women
who won't work but who must be kept
amused. ...'
II anybody thinks this is an easy
task he has only to step out to the
back door. of the city in the midst Of
the most beautiful surroundings and
learn for himself. The asylum itself is
magnificently located. II is located on
a natural amphitheater and commands
one Of the most beautiful views in the
world. The grounds are beautifully
arranged, with broad green lawns and
splendid old shade trees Outwardly ii
Is all beauty and all peace. Every.
where is order. II is the business Of
Doctor Schwallie to keep the place in
that condition, and with his corps Of
assistants he has done so.
Walk Through Grounds
But let us take a walk through the
grounds. Let US mingle with these
drab-clad figures walking over the
lawn, some sitting in motionless medi.
tation, others gazing intently at the
sky and others hurrying about on mis-
sions Of grave importance. 1t Is a city,
but city of the abandoned, the place
of half wits, the community Of those
possessed and smitten with the most
terrible Of blights, a diseased mind.
But with all IL is cheerful. The sun
sheds down it's soft rays. The salt
breeze sweeps in from the sea. The
rainbows play in the ever changing
mystery of the mountain passes.
Don 4 be alarmed. This rigid figure
we are about TO pass, with piercing
eyes, standing at attention with his
right hand touching an imaginary visor
may have been a black hussar in the
Franco Prussian war. He is the one
military figure on the grounds. He
will follow us ut every step and will
always be at attention like good sol
der. Otherwise he is harmless. He
win not say "a word, His hand will
remain at attention until you give him
the sign when ii will fall mechanically
TO his side. Nobody knows the mystery
of his twisted brain. He is living in q
past. that is closed, There is small
chance Of the cloud ever being lifted
from his mind. Otherwise he is happy.
The Territory has furnished him, a
home. He gets three good meals every
day and at night clean bed in clean
room all to himself Tomorrow he viii
be again on duty and on all days until
some night he joins the great regiment
on the other side.
The sun worshipper .
That ascetie figure standing in the
middle Of the lawn with rapt eyes to-.
wards the sun Is religious maniac. He
too is harmless. But all day long he
watches the orb of light with rever.
ence and holy devotion. He Is known
as the sun-worshipper. He, too the
Territory has provided with com.
| Portable home and he too some day will
fold his hands in the last silent prayer
He is incufable,
This squat figure sitting on the side
walk, who never lifts his eyes except
at neal time, and then only long enough
to take his food is an artist. During
the time he has been in the asylum he
has made SO many drawings that nc
estimate has been kept of them. He
is supplied with pencil and paper and
keeps at his work making bizarre de
signs from sunrise to shutdown. A nice
home has been provided for him by
the Territory.
A Chinese Historian
| H. 49,
at only one other melancholy figure. H,
is a Chinese and he has a large blanl
book and a pot of ink with a Chimes
pen. He has been writing in this anC
other books for years. The character
he draws are like cOpperplate. Hobod,
knows what be is writing. 1t might b.
q history of the world. But he Il
harmless and also he is kept busy with
bis work. Outside of himself no otheD
thing in the world exists.
The other figures are amusing them
selves as best they can, Some are NUT
teTing in strange tongues. Some arr
making speeches. Little groups ar,
discussing some topic in three or fOu
languages. They are all kept busy anG
they all have homes and are apparent,
happy.
This is the work that daily confront
Doctor Schwallie, to keep these mel
busy. And indeed il is difficult task
The facilities are limited. Although
much has been done there is much room
for improvement, and Doctor Schwalli
is tantalizing his mind every day t.
make the life of his charges easier AM
more interesting.
Watching the Patients
Chow do you stand its" reprcsen
tative Of The Advertiser asked Docto
Schwallie.
| at is not hard" he answered
. "when you are interested in the work
And besides somebody has TO do il
One must not take his work too serious
ly or he is in danger of becoming
patient"
And Doctor Schwallie always call
his charges patients. To him they ar
parts Of humanity to be reclaimed an