Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-01

They re- Scaly old set, and wherever they go
You'll find them in groups or strung out in a
Sitting around,
IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
Third Annual Report of the Trustees and
| Superintendent.
TRUSTEES REPORT
To HIS Ercellency, H. G. Newbold, Coz
ernor Of Ioacd::
The Board of Trustees respectfully
report as follows:
That at the date of the last report the
number of patients in the Hospital was
two hundred and fifty-one There have
been since received four hundred and
thirty. Number discharged, three hun
dred and fifty-nine. Number died, six
ty-six. Present number, three hundred
and twenty-five.
Two more wards in the fourth and
fifth stories of the main center building
have been completed, furnished and oc-
cupied by patients.
Two sections Of the south wing are
now enclosed, consisting of four wards,
which will be ready for occupancy by
the first of May next, when the total ca
pacity will be increased to four hun
dred.
The amount Of current expenses for
the Institution since the last Report, is
$121, ,15549. The amount OF moneys re-
ceived from all sources, within the said
period, for defraying expenses, $l24,- :
1868; leaving balance on hand of
$3,OO1.O9
For full exhibit of expenses, we re-
fer you to the report of the Steward for
statement of moneys paid out and for
what they were paid; also, to the alb
stract of the Treasurer. both of which
are hereto annexed.
Since the date of our last report, Mr.
George Josselyn, and his estimable wife,
Mrs. Anne B. Josselyn, who had so ably
filled the position Of Steward and Ma
tron since the opening of the Hospital,
presented their resignation, to take ef-
feet May Is, 1877. TO fill the vacancy
of Steward. the Board, on the nomina-
ton of the Superintendent, elected Mr.
George B. Smeallie, who has faithfully
performed the duties of this responsible
office.
Mrs. Lucy NJ Gray, on nomination of
the Superintendent, was elected Matron.
and with marked ability has performed
her official duties.
The farm and garden have yielded
abundantly, atfording a large supply OF
vegetables and small fruits for the pa
tients, feed for the stock, and straw for
beds in the Hospital
We will remark, that the dietary of
the patients is ample, food well cooked,
substantial, nourishing, and more varied
in kind than in most private families.
The Superintendent assumes the ten
able position that large majority OF
the insane are suffering from debility or
exhausted vitality, and require a sub
stantial treatment both as to food and
medicine.
The Board, taking into view the
crowded condition of the Hospital at
Mt. Pleasant, and the urgent need OF ac-
commodations for the ever increasing
number of the insane in our midst, be-
lieve it to be the policy Of the State to
push on to early completion the four re-
naming sections of the south wing of
the Hospital.
They recommend that an appropria-
tion be made for furnishing the four
new wards now nearly completed, also an
i appropriation for extending the main
sewer as recommended in the Superin-
tendent's report, and for opening an av-
enue directly eastward from the Hospi-
tai to the Burlington, Cedar Rapids u
Northern Railroad.
The ground is level and dry for nearly
the whole distance, which it shortens for
the transportation of coal, stone and
other supplies, three-fourths of mile,
besides enabling the travel both to and
from the Hospital to shun one mile OF a
very low and soft piece of the public
road, which for several weeks every year
is impossible for heavily loaded teams.
Also small appropriation for plaster
ing the ceiling Of the basement and some
parts of the attic, for greater security
against fire, and lastly, they recommend
an appropriation for the construction OF
a reservoir for supply of surplus wa
ter, near the Hospital, which may be
necessary in times of great drouth to
make up any deficiency which may oc-
| cur.
During the current year we have been
subjected to an unexpected expense by
the failure of the iron chimney for the
furnaces. This, which is made in sec
tions of cast-iron two feet in length and
three and half feet in diameter, ex-
tending upward one hundred and thirty
feet through the center OF the brick
ventilating shaft, became cOrrOded and
dissolved by the condensation OF the
gasses generated from the sulphur in
the bituminous coal. Several sections
from the upper part became displaced
and broken, some falling inside Of the
smoke-stack. 1t became necessary to
remove forty-three feet of the old fiue
and replace it with ten sections OF new
cast-iron, and the remaining twenty
three feet with boiler iron, made in one
section. The expense of the repairs
was about seven hundred dollars, paid
from the current fund Of the Hospital.
During the last biennial period sew
eral insane persons have been transfer
red from the penitentiary to this hos
pital. Several others who have COM
mitted or attempted to commit murder,
in various ways, have been sent from
country jails. All such persons are ex-
tremely Objectionable in the ordinary
wards of hospital, usually profane and
vulgar, if not demented, they corrupt
the morals of others and are constantly
annoying the officers and attendants
by attempts, often successful to escape.
We think it would be economical as
we'll as humane to provide at once a
seperate ward for such persons, attach
ed to one Of the penitentiaries or hos
pitals for the insane.
For further particulars concerning
the condition of the hospital, we re-
spectfully refer your honor to the re,
ports of the Superintendent, Steward
and Treasurer.