, 1865-12-09
COOK COUNTY POOR aors,..
Sanitary stattAtics-Report OF County
PhYslcIan.

The following is the report Of T.. c. Mec1u,r n
u, County Physician for the quarter eud,pr Dee.
ltt ls65, and exhibiting the san1tar7 cond,tne nj
TIT Aims House during that time, and for The whole
year: =. '~' '''~ "''''
Number orb1r.hs, :, al females. dp,,b, :, r+o,
me l0,,1,.1ng proximste eanses: Of bfa'n fever
eryripeae ,y6so9 faa11'f co. paralysis,
Snmbs1 having rrcesved medical and surgical
Number now under treatment, : ~ =
w have bad no epidemic Or endemic dIsesses dur
Ing The quarter although there ha. BEEN an unusua
number o: 1ePulsive md loashspne cases. =
auiate attention to the miserable and unfortunate
inmates Of the Poor ionse has no enyiabIe tasE 10
perform. m snd nn5sss be has large benevolenoe and
aetr." VII, very likely, be unjust, a. ii requires
from iwo to three hours hard wore At eact v1sit to
examine cases prescribe. and dispense medicine to
t1e supervision o. the bycteuic and dietcic frsula-
utnf. looks to The different wards aud surSeafs
proph ylaet1cr, possible, 10 ward of disease.
tutefest to the Board Of SnpcryisGre and iha taT
psters Of Cook county:
~ y! sns.-.........,..-----.. 30
Ms a.. o. 9eatns; 90
OF tbesc, 643 from Chicago. '
Whole No Of persons hnring received medical
No IN the Institution at the present time about 0
Ct whom De are rnaanc.
49FeeA chHQIen nave been sent to the Orphan
The Institution IL at present in very good copdI-
non. Nany Improvements haye been made which
ada greatly 10 the health and comfort or tho in
m,ttcc been oveshauled. The old bunks and ceiling
WIN tasr msn} thousand 9ecupan;s removed, and
-Four bafh-fnbe, = force pump and Wptcr tank have
becn furnished. the Of which adds materially 10
tht heaifh OF the inmates.
1t II ast0nlshfng that mn fnsttnficn cf 4h1. Idol
snonld hare been 20 long without these appliances,
as nearly all new concrs. being exceedingly a1ihy,
cove1cd with ve1min require TO b. 1 thorourblyy y
cleansed. Who has been TO blame these many ions
gears for thts criminal neglect
laECe addition has been made 10 the Iusane De.
parment tn nhich thc detective ventilation Of The
old building has been partially avoided. nm rel
a Luns,ie Asylum in he Northern p.c OF the
he Legislature could visit Cook county Poor
would pass without provisions hens made TOT this
class OF our unfortunate fe1low-cttixen< The Asy.
iu es a. Jasssoasie y 1yslow'ne md Cook eonn
who, l have no doubt, with proper raoraI, mental
and physical treatment, might be restored to rea.
son; but that treatment they cannot receive here,
merely be Eept confined thai rhcy may not injure
themselves or Others, nnd fed and clothed TINT thc7
may not perish. do hope ano pray that steps may
OF sufferers.
Mira Lewis, the Aat,on for the last two wears OF
the Insane (tcmale1 Department Il rc1y efficient and
well caIcn1ated for The position. Mr.. Sheridan, 40
hono2abs discharged soldier, at,er three years Of
scrrieeto 70: biz country. has charge Of the Male Dc
ps1tment. and we'll and lthfu1ly does he discharge
his duties. Mrs Dawson, nurse, has the snper.
Vision Of the r,ck IN thelr different wards her du.
ties arc sa1ons and arauous, hut she ia competent
and we'll adapted to tho woEk. The present War
den. LII: Chase, has had charge Of The Institution
for The last tlx years and thoroughly understands
his business. Mrs Chase Is host III herself; has
executive powers which hat few possess; Is kind
md generous 10 all, and labors and cronomi7es as
few persons would for the rich county OF Cook.
She spins weayes, cuts and makes most II not ali,
the clothing for The inmates, cane and lnsane;
quilte and makes al the bcddlnC. not only for the
Institution, but far the county jail aro makes all
the butter and cheese consumed In the building,
and most Of the wine for the use OF tho sick.
The late Poor Ilonse Committee deserve great
credit for their rtbmptness and efficiency; and in
behalf OF the inmates would lender them thanks
for the many improvements for their health end
comfort; and IN my own beaalt, for their ever
ready cooperation with, and kindness to myself
Hoping that The Institution may continue 10 be
judiciocsly and humauely conducted, l remstn, sc.