Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-07

| violently insane and had to be locked up.
Mr.. Spurrier added that MOOnsh0uer
was . good nurse. but he had got drunk
and behaved 50 immorally that he was
obliged to get rid of him, and had given
him his choice of leaving the asylum or
going to Jail.
Dr.. Bolenius stated that Frank Farrell
was taken from the asylum, finally, ON
the 18th of July. His wife was anxious
that he should die at home. He had a
good bed when he left the asylum. His
bed-sores were bad, but they were not
the cause of his death. His death result
ed from sOftening of the brain. Bed. sores
| are very apt to attend this disease even in
| ward in which Farrell was confined arc
attended by . man named Folk, who ap-
pears to be careful aud competent.
After running debate between the su.
perintendent and directors as to who was
responsible for the admitted lack of proper
nurses, Mr.. Spurrier read from the min
utes of tho board, March 4th, q resolution
passed by the board, refusing to pay in
mates of tho almshOuse for services of any
kind.
Mr.. Evans explained that if the board
consented to pay one inmate as nurse all
the other inmates would refuse to do any
work unless they, toO. were paid. He
added that "the judge" had sustained
him in refusing to hire inmates. Suitable
nurses could bs hired elsewhere.
Mr.. Spurricr referred to the difficulty he
had experienced in getting suitable nurses
for that part of the asylum known rs
South America" where the vilest and
filthiest of the inmates arc kept. Very
few persons are either willing or know
how properly to attend them. He him
self knew nothing about insane people
he was only q tailor and tailOrs were not
expected to be accomplished nurses. He
called attention to letter he had written
to President Evans, dated July z, in which
he had asked help in the insane depart
ment, aud to which he had received no
reply.
President Evans replied that he couldn't
run into town every time tho superin-
tendent wrote for help. The superintend.
ent was placed in charge of the asylum
and was authorized to lire all tho help he
needed.
DR.. BOlenius said tho institution had
always heretofore borne an excellent rep.
utatiOn and had been spoken of in the
highest terms by visitors from all sections
of the country.
Mr.. kreider said tho institution had
boen run by former superintendents with
out hired help, but if hired help is necos-
sary to secure the health and comfort of
the inmates he would not oppose it. He
thought, however, that the successful run
ming Of the institution depended moro OH
| tho efficiency of tho superintendent than
on the employees.
Mr.. OberhOltzer was convinced that tho
inmates did not like tho present superin-
tendent. He had heard many complaints
both inside and outside and though he
was not prepared to say that these com.
plants wero we'll founded, he was satisfied
| there was much dissatisfaction with the
present management.
Mr.. Spurrier replied that he knew tho
inmates were down on him, and that false
charges had been made against him by
persons outside of the institution. Ono
Of these charges was that he had attempted
to usurp the place of the late Superinten-
dent Cox. This was utterly false on the
contrary he and Cox were warm per-
sonal friends when Cox took sick he came
here and did his work for nothing, inclu,i-
ing the keeping of his books, and attend.
ing to his correspondence. He took the
position at the solicitation of members Of
this board. Many Of tho people who do
not like him were formerly connected with
tho institution. Some Of them came here
rs paupers aud went away with loads of
goods. Having keys to tho closets and
store houses they pilfcrcj from them. The
institution is now rid Of these people and
they t;.ko revenge by lying about the super
intsDdent and inventing tales of cruelty
ant! neglect that have no foundation. The
superintendent added that hc bad two
| wards Oh two different stories Of the asy-
lum, containing twenty seven insane fe-
males, with no sane person to look after
them except his wife. She attended to
these poor people aud made daily thirty
eight beds until her strength gave way
and she has herself been for two weeks
past prOstr.tcl on !. bed Of sickness. Mr..
Spurrier added that he had done all he
was capable Of doing, and VS. almost
worn ont himself. II tho board did not
think he was doing cnuugh no WAS really
| to step down and out.
Mr.. Evans asked tho Superintendent if
ho had ever applied to tho boar.i for any
thing in reason that was refused him.
Mr.. Spurricr replied that he must
answer no. Ho had applied for help, and
was told to get it but where can he get
it? lie believed if ho could get suitable
| persons to take caro- Of the insane the
board would pay them. But no can't get
| them. He knew that Frank Farrell was
| not 80 well attended to rs he would hayo
been in his (Spurrier's) family, and there
arc others in the asylum who ought to
havo better attention than they get but
no cannot give it to them, nor eau the
insane assistants give it to them.
Mr.. OberhOltzer said: 81 Mr.. Spurrier.
you are the superintendent; you arc not
expected to do tho work or the nursing,
but you arc expected to see that it is
done. You should 60 through the institu-
tion once or twice everyday, that you may
see and know the condition of the inmates.
1t is complained that you spend most of
your time in the Office attending to your
books or to visitors"
Mr.. Spurrier replied that his practice
was to 60 through all parts of tho institu-
tion almost every day !; that he has a
good deal of bookkeeping to attend to,
but does most Of it at night that he
never went to town On his own business
but once and that was to resign his Office
in society SO that he might devote his
whole time to tho institution; he had not
even taken time to 60 to church on Sun
day, though he was formerly a regular at
tendant. Tho difficulty is that he cannot
be in the several wards looking after tho
interests of tho patients and be at tho
same time in his Office keeping his &C
counts or entertaining visitors.
Mr.. OberhOltzer said if the labors now
devOlving ON the superintendent are too
heavy the board had better hire q clerk to
attend to Office matters and allow the su-
perintendent to give his whole time to
looking after the comfort of the inmates.