The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-05-21
THE POOR HOUSE.
A Reporters Observations at tho Stark
County lnhrmary.
A Small Army Enjoying the Charity Of tho
County Food and Raiment-- Health
And msdioins--Produotion
And. Consumption.

II was mentioned In the hearing Of q
Democrat reporter that the Inhrmary dl
rect0rs we're 10 hold ono OF the regular
meetings on the promises, and 90 con.
aiderabie publicity and comment has
been given 10 that Institution recently,
We determined 20 attend the meeting and
make pen sketch OF the institution, for
the benedt Of the readers OF the Demo.
crat. John, our coachman, being indis-
posed, we concluded TO save him the
trouble OF hooking ny our 2:40 team, and
walked the short distance TO the Inilrma-
| ~ grounds, Az we approached the edge OF
the city the thought flashed through our
cfanlnm that we had not been 10 that
Institution for some time past, and con-
seQnently was not sure OF the way, inas-
much ~ wa had left our guide book
behind and there were no gnide-boards
IN front, we concluded TO unbend our
dignity and make Inquiry OF o passing
farmer.
"Will you please direct us to the mfr
mary sir" we asked.
"Ju-t follow this road for half q mile,
and you will come 10 large barn and q
lot OF tumble down buildings on your
right, 90 up, and you will find what you
want" was the answer We received.
We dellbeTated then and there 1ye
minutes whether We should 20 on or
turn back; but rejecting that such little
obstacles AZ "lnmble-dOwn buildings"
should not deter a reporter from the pur-
suit OF knowledge, and that McGahan,
peace 10 HIS ashes, had crossed the des
ert alone In pursuit. Of the same bubble,
we placed our No. II shoes with the toes
polluted lnarmary.ward, aud In q short
time arrived AZ tho goal.
WHAT VIZ FOUND.
Well. we did not fnd the buildings
"tumbling-down," bat we found Super
intendent Pontlus and Deputy Zimmer.
man busily engaged In prOpping up the
southwest corner of the building and
strengthening the 4 orlng, no az not 10
endanger the lives OF the directors and
trustees, who were expected to gather In
the grand audience chamber" which
10 located In that portion Of that "pala-
tial pile" After the Superintendent had
driven IN three kegs OF sp kes and direct.
0d hia Deputy 10 remove the plle-driyer,
he extended 10 US the freedom of the
premises. We edeyoted the day 10 extend.
cd observation, and association and In.
tercourse with the inmates; the conclu.
elons we arrived At will be found below.
The Inlirmary building and Its sur
r0undlngs Ia 30 we'll known TO most OF
the readers as not 10 need o description.
Suillce 10 aay that the original house was
built In 1887, and 10 now forty-eight
years old.
THK WARDS or THE COUNTY.
There are ut present In the Stark Coun.
ty Inarmary over two hundred persons,
the largest number since the establish
ment OF the institution. Their ages
range from 50 years down almost 10 as
many days, The males predominate, and
Germany 40 to nativity, although there
are representatives from almost all the
crowned heada Of the Old World, and the
several Republics not slighted. While
Kaiser William has contributed the larg.
est number Of subj cte, Queen Victoria
cannot complain OF her Tepresen tation;
neither can Francla Joseph The King
OF Denmark need not get jealous OF the
Swise Confederation, nor should King
Humbert, VI Italy, cast any reflection
upon the French Republic, They ap-
pear to be equally we'll represented.
FOOD AND RAIMENT.
This small army Ia regularly fed, cloth.
cd and sheltered They receive their
meals each day OF good. wholesome food,
the bill OF f.re beinc varied daily, and
consisting OF good beef or pork, potatoes,
turnips, cabbage, beans, rice, dried corn,
Gsh, oatmeal, soup at every meal, good
coii,o, ging rbread, uies, butter, apple
butter or mOlasses. Eyey care IN taken
with the culinary department as TO
cleanliness, and TO aee that oil the food
Ia properly cooked and served warm,
Proper order II observed In the dining
rooms, and there Ia eulllclency OF every.
thing, 30 that there IN no necessity for
hurry or undue haste on the part OF the
Inmates ~ their meals.
The sleeping rooms are kept In order,
and the beds are all clean, warm and
comfortable. and furnished with blank.
ctr, comforts, sheets. holsters and pil.
ows. Many OF tho bedsteads are OF the
single pattern, and the occupants OF the
rooms are required 10 keep them clean
and the beds made.
Clean clothing Ia distributed every
Sabbath morning. The men are regI.
larily shaved once each week, and on
every Thursday oil the inmates 6re TO
quired 10 take u bath, unless excused on
account Of sickness, In this connection
wo were fOrclbly struck by the total lack
Of convenience attending this much.
Deedf0l sanitary and healthfnl rule, IL
VIII no doubt surprise many Of our rea-
ders when we state that the bath room"
furnished by the wealthy county OF Stark
for this purpose consists OF room eight
feet square, containing ono bath tub,
In this room and In thls one bath.tub
two hundred persons, majority Of them
defective, cleanse themselves and mako
their toilets, males and femaloa-tho
lame, the halt, the blind, tho sane and
inaane--weekly weid their way 10 this
Pool OF Bethesda" and remove the i'm.
purities from tho body.
HEALTH AND MEDICINE,
DR.. Fraunfslter, the lnnrmary phyaic.
ian, Visits the institution regularly twice
a week, and In often called out In OK.
treme cases by telephone. All the alex
are visited, a diagnosis OF the case made,
and proper remedies and food prescribed
for their treatment. Great care has TO
be exercised by q physician iu attend.
ance upon patients OF this class, for tho
brain often conceiyos pains and aches
and diseases whore none exist. In such
cases no has 10 20 entirely according TO
his own judgment and knowledge, list.
enipg with patience 10 recitals OF "ter.
riblo paine In tho heart" awful sensa.
tions In tho head" '"'eIcruciating tor
turoB In tho stomach" and then quietly
prescribing q dose Of glauber salts.
Several cases Of fever made their ap.
psaranco az tho institution during tho
winter, but with prompt treatment and
proper care tho diseaee In each case was
arrested, and no doaths occurred, To
show that the disease 10 no fespecter Of
persons, we will mention tho fact that