Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-11-15
Report ofthe Board of Visitors to the
Charitable Institutions of the
County.

SOuntl.
To the Honorable, the Court of Com
mon Pleas of Henry County, o.:
The Board of Visitors to the charita-
BILE and correctional institutions of Hen
ry county, appointed at the October
term of Court in 1882, have the honor
to report as follows, upon the condition
of said institutions during the year end
ing October, 1883.
Your board met for organization i'm
December, 1882, at the residence of MrsA
NJ. l.. Heller. Mr.. John III. collars VIZ
chosen President and Mrs. VI. f. Helldf
Secretary. Shortly after the first meet
ing of the board Mrs. Heller removed
from the county, whereupOn the board
appointed Mrs. VIM. Harmon mem-
| Der, and Mrs. $. &. Haag SecretaTYS
Three meetings were held during To-
year. These meetings were made by
visits to the several institutions by the
members conformity.
The superintendent and Matron of
the Infirmary always extended warm
welcome to the board.
| There are Mt present 2G inmates in the
Infirmary. The average number of in
mates each month has been II; - have
been admitted; } have died; II have
been discharged.
In the main building inmates are
each furnished with comfortable rooms
and beds, which for tidincSs and clean
illness compares favorably with any
similar Institution. They arc seeming
ly happy, are we'll fed, clothed and 9TH
erwlse Properly treated.
The out-builtlings, where the most
needy inmates--the idiotic, etc.,-are
housed, are sadly incomplete in arrange
ment and management necessary for
the proper care of this unfortunate
class.
Your board was unable to procure a
detailed statement of receipts and en-
penses of the lntirmary. The Directors
who have charge of the accounts and
disbursements of the institution, from
motives known to themselves. evaded
our conference and the board has no
knowledge of facts of their economical
and efficient administration.
The Jail is complete in every depart
ment and the citizens of the county
may we'll be proud of the character and
administration of a Jail that is not ex-
celled by any in the State. Sheriff AL
Ter and wife always extended courtesy
to the board and urged them to come at
any time.
Your board, after careful eXamina-
ton, would make the following recom-
mendations in behalf of the Intrmary:
l. That the clergymen of the county
should alternately render religious eoun-
SCI from time to time, by personal visi-
tations to the inmates of the Infirmary.
=. That the Intirmary physician1
SHOULD make one regular professional
visit each week, and in the treatment
of a patient render such medical treat
ment and management of the case as in
his opinion is wise and prudent. We
feel that radical change of the present
system of dispensing medicine unto the
poor of the 1nfirmary is needed.
3. The thorough cleaning and cleans
ing OF the out-buildings in which arc
confined the idiotic, epeleptic and I'M
durable or chronic cases. Improvement
IN their sanitary condition and change
to competent attendants is advised.
1. Citizens of the county should in
terest themselves in visiting the in
mates of the Infrmary and secure fo
them various kinds of free readind
matter.
D. We would urge the removal of al
children from the Intirmary to Child
ren's Homes in counties having Il home
and if this cannot be done at once, ia
vor the construction of an appropriate,
building and the employment of prope
persons for the care of this unfortunat
class.
g. That the General Assembly abo!isI
altogether the office of Intirlnary Di
rector. A competent Superintendent
coming with all his accounts directly 4
the Commissioners, would do all th
work, and with them do it better at
far less expense to the tax payers of tn
county. Let the Superintendent man
age the conveyance of all paupers to th
lnfirmary, as he obviously could do at
far less expense than is now borne fo
the same service. We would place
high estimate upon the competency d
the Superintendent, and suggest that
the office of Infirmary Director coul
be abolished with its invariable an
hurtfull political aspects, the Court
Common Pleas could make a far wise
appointment of the Superintendent.
All ofwhich is respectfully submitted
Mrs. S. G. HAAG, Sec.
Mrs. L. Y. RICHARDS,
Mrs. WIN. HARMON,
JACOB AUGENsTEIN,
J. H. COLLARS, Prest.
Nov. Is, a. ID. 1883.