Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-10-17
"Honor to Whom Honor is Due.'
A Visit to the County Infirrnary

1
A Visit to the County Infrmary
;. Mr.. EDIToR:-Will you allow me {
, little space for my impression of our
County Infirmary and It's admirable
) management derived from a recent
visit to that institution. | really think
the people of the County are not aware
how much they have -hoHored them.
SELVES in the construction of our New
IInfirrnary buildings. They are mag.
Ihifbhf, not in their grandeur or ex pen;
siveness. but in their completeness and
Iadaptahility for their legitimate pur-
poses. Its an easy matter, fellow-citi-
zens tostay at kameand find fault with
what has heen,done atthe Ppor-house,
i but a single visit to that institution,
especially under its present able man
agement, will convince any fair-mind-
ed man, that it is an honor to the Coun-
ty, and reflects. credit upon the men
who built it, and for one tender them
my thanks for their good work. only
wish our Commissioners had located it
on an ever running water course, but
they have not and am pleased to know
that the great deficiency in water hith-
erto existing viii soon Be overcome by
the prolific genius of the able Superin-
ltendaTt, Mr.. Lowe, who, having failed
to get water in wells in the yard, has
tabout completed capacious reservoir
Into which he has turned streams
enough to supply the Institution, and
from which the water will be forced to
the fifth story Il This is agreat achieve
ment, and all are gratihed. -,
The main building, as are all, is of
brick, five stories high, eligible, except
|as to water, located on the Flushing
pike five miles: west of St, CIairsville.
In all its apartments the house is a
splendid structure, grand only in COM
fort, convenience and substa.i .itfai char
acter, warmed with steam. Adjacent
to the main building is the Hospital, >
isolated and mall regards well adapted
for its use,. and also warmed with
steam. In the rear of these are other
buildings for allpurposes, especially the
recreation of the, inmates, "a general
sitting or loafing room &c. Then comes
the JAIL a miserable excuse of al
house, In which the b6isterously insane
are confined. liam glad to Know that
the Commissioners c0n5e,Qplate a new
structure foI this pilrpose,, and l am
sure. Mr.. Lowe has Just tI,e plan. One
very unfortunate feature of our In firm
ary Is the slarge proportion 0f,inslGe-
q much larger proportion than is found
ip; similar Institutions, and much. too
MANY If their niimber could be reduced. |
1t is unfortunate that any permanently
insane ares adipitted to- our County |
,,liet as hope the time is
not far distant when still wiser pTac-
tice will prevail, and each unfortuhate |
VIII be associated IN proper and appro-
pirate Institutions. There are 5oneI
hundred inmates in the Infirmaty; One
old lady,,1Q4 years OF age, cheerful as a I
cricket. spfiglitly, carss for her own
roonsand herself, Though blind for
gany years. She is udiously lcleaniy
of ber persen and her5rue and-to this
virtue, Mr. Lowe attributes her well |
being, The oldest ihhabitant of the
house is man, trimming about who has |
been. there bvafi 4O. wears. 4 One very |
feature. Of this Instit1tion /
is, tbs, wonderful lhealthfulness of the
inmates aud, total. absence Of Ioathe- |
seifwith, tPoorshouses,, attribute this /
who'll the natehIesS care aiken !. of \
the inmates by Mr., Lowe and his fsmi7 /
ly. The most -StudiouS attention to |.
and Sanitary regulations
evidently is what does it. And permit 4
me, injustice ttifTMTnI owe to say "a
word in regard to, his conduct, as In
frniary Superintendent, I was for
many years officially associated with 4
somU County 1dnfinridries;s and have /
made Tiny. duty t0Nisit others, andnI 4
do not hesitate to r say 70 the, County 4
Com issioners, and, Infirmary Direc-
tors, and the people Ct the County that
in Mr.. Lowe, you have, after all that
which makes your Infrmaryl the sue
cesssit is; a well arranged mass of brick 4
and mortar don't make an efficient and
happy asylum, land will further say,
though at the risk perhaps of silocking.I
his modesty, ,lsthat 5or administrative
TACT energy, fruitful resources, watehf;lI
tender regard, q generous. natqre and
benevolent heart, Mr.. Lowe, is pre-em-
qualified for his present position.
Geiltlemanly tessaTdi visitors, courteous
TO all: anda a kiafly word OF sympathy
for each one. .upCerr his. GAZE. He has
compelled all to respect and love him,
as was evidenced Oh every hand as he /
made his rounds, and from everywhere
cane. lt1e eonNlcti9n .tll4Ir MI ! nhu
y II, !. Ia Z ~ ~ t.laI sli
Is tle Ligit ,,ia. ~ siS pla;sg, aia
x IN nls esssl.ia9ie ..i .a.I3 aee ensloieI 70
shaIe ~1,tl T, nun snetr iolh ,hleett ,9l
pralse. lauosgh y m N eiloft5 tiie gfoahqs
nave Dsen osap " tilllty g4qed Sifq OBJ
erWlse ilipIoYed aiii aaorne9, anu ne
mas yes Heiler Sn,ei pIisys ~l,lcn pron
ise auuitional' 'loxeiaiess anu .sNaiue