The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-06
lowed for the amount of breathing air which
each pstisnt requires.


each patient requires.
h1rEN-HooM.
A complete reorganization Of The linen-rootn
would be a great benefit to the inmates, on the
grounds of both cleanliness and hygiene. II
should substitute warm and e'ean clothing TO the
threadbare, ragged and sUiled aecoutrements
that they wear, and would provide them with
clothes better suited to the inelemencies Of the
winter season.
In spite Of the assurances OF the stperin-
tendent, we are loath to believe that they are
furnished with a change Of linen twice week
for We noticed the hslf.empty boxes Of the linen.
ruom containing nothing but few tattered rags
All had shoes OF, the day OF our visit, but none
wore stockings; the latter should be furnished
them during winter, as large number SITTER
from suel, deprivation.
Your solictude for the welfare Of the inmates
" II doubtless prompt You to take some steps %
put an end TO this pennrious proceeding, and Ia
supply them with at least two suits and additional
clothing TO meet cases OF emergency.
We think that In the interest Of the patients
and through hygenie considerations IL might be
well and very advantageous to adopt summer
and winter uniform,
II could be made OF coarse material and manu-.
factHred by the female inmates Of the asyium
the cbeapness of the goods would make this
change matter OF easy accomplishment, and the
patients would then present . clsanlv and or
DERBY appearance. which they have never up to this
time exhibited.
bEubtNft
The dormitories contain iron and wooden beds
the former being more easily attended to and less
liable to vermin, should entirely replace the Let.
ter. u would take some time before this change
could be entirely effected, but Ii might as well be
initiated now. Each bed has one mattress, one
pillow, without clip, one sheet and one blanket.
The mattresses ought to be iumigsted at least
once month with suphureus vspors, this pro.
cess being very easy and cheap.
The coverings OF the mattresses together with
the moss should be occasionally washed In order
TO eliminate all unpleasant odors IL might be
preferable and still more economical TO use pine
shavings for filling mattresses instead Of moss.
The committee believe that II is necessary 10
have ON hand larger quantity OF sheets go ne to
allow Of their more frequent renewal; and that
the blankets should be warmer, beestIse, though
double. their material il too light and films TO
be an effective protection from cold
1NFranARY.
There is great deficiency and extraordinary
omission in the distribution oF the asylum: there
is no infrmsry. II there be department. truly
Indispensable and OF paramount necessity, il is
undoubtedly this enc. La the present state OF
affairs, the inmates who happen to suffer from
some general disease are condemned TO keep
their cells.
II is easy TO perceive the Inconvenience snd
danger attending 90 great lack Of forethought,
and how difficult 1t must be to treat properly the
patients thus promscnously distributed Not
only is this dangerous to their immediate neigh
bors, butin fact TO sill those who are In good health
and who are TO remain in the same room. These
are made the sufferers from this uBwise arrange.
ment, being compelled 10 inhsls an atmosphere
laden with odorous emsnstions, and thereby ex-
posed TO all the dangers Of s9ntagon. II sesms
TO ms that community OF misfortune need not
carry along with Ii q community OF unpleasant
odors, and that more regard should be enter.
tanned for natural repugnanoe and the laws OF
hygiene.
Order. salubrity and hygiens require that 4
change should take place In this msttor az soon
ss possible. and We earnestly beg OF you TO take
some steps TO allot separate portion Of the asy-
lum to the purposes OF an infrmary. II this be
done we suggest that there be three rooms
divided by well closed partition walls; the first
to be used for the sick inmates the second for
raving maniaos, preparatory TO their being re-
moved to the Jackson Asylum, and the third for
those who befoul themselves.
PHARMACY.
We have no remarks to make relative to the
pharmacy; II is in good condition. aud contains
the principal drugs In general use.
small cottage in the yard is used AZ bath
room. Upon entering it we perceive, on one side
Of IT, q long, narrow trough, in which the in
mates perform their morning ablntions in the
same water. This practice, so contrary TO all
notions OF cleanliness, is evidently conducive to
the propagation OF contagious outaneous dis
eases. and oompels the inmates 10 apply to
their faces and hands water filled with nnumer-
able seeretions and namsless filth.
AT the lower end stands large wooden box.
four feet in width by ten ia length, which consti-
tutes the bath tub. The only way 10 enter 1t ia
BY srhddling over one Of the sides. 1t Ia no easy
matter TO go in or out Of it, and for some. par
icularly the women, 1t is source OF great iu-
convenience. They are allowed to battle ten
minutes, sir at one time. We shall not repeat
what we said above relative to additions, but
shall simply call atten lion to the fact that in the
Last case the water is still more contaminated,
aud that the whole body being msde bare, the
dangers of oontsgion is still greater. This prao-
tice Of washing and bathing together in the
same water should be at once abolished. We
suggest that henoeforward every inmate be al
lowed TO battle in a separate tub, in order to reap
the advantage OF truly clesnly and wholesome
bath.
All difficulty could be obviated by having q
wooden reservoir with several spou's, for wash
ing; and for bathing we would prefer metallic
tubs, because OF their durability and of their
being easily kept clean.
LAUNDRY.
Until the asylum be enabled to have the wash
ing done by steam, ii would be better and more
economical to use the ashes Of the kitchen stove
to make strong lye. instead Of boiling the clothes,
az ia now the practice. Should this change be
adopted. the cleansing would be far more thor
oughly effected, and al unpleasant odors would
be eliminated from the clothes
KITCHEN AND COOKING.
1t ia the character OF good administration TO
call into action all the zeal and liberality ut it's
command. in order TO furnish the poor invslids
entrusted to it's care with the largest share OF
comfort by way Of wholesome food, 80 regards
Its quality, it's quantity, It's variety and ts pre-
paration. We can say nothing as to the quality
Of the raw meat provided, because on the day OF
our visit ii had already been prepared in the
shape OF stew. For the same reason We can
say nothing about the vegetables. The bread
We saw was white, well baked, and had good
taste. There was plenty OF it, and every one was
given liberal share. Ga
1t IL q pity that the amount appropriated for
the table expenses should be 80 small as to pre-
oude variety; yet it would be advisable to at.
tempt some improvement in this respect. At
present all articles OF food are invariably boiled.
rhis rigidy uniform mode Of cooking produces
q disagreeable monotony which is unwholesome,
and brings about unconquerable disgust, which
in it's turn becomes source Of disturbance to the
nutritiye functions. Stew, when eaten too FREE
quenty, 10 unwholesome and becomes indigesti-
bic on account of the amount Of grease 1t con-
tains.
Roasted and broiled meats, retaining, as they
Al oil tha~ ,kr,k haosu tod