Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-12

law that may be drawn for each patient per
month is Sl6 The amount actually drawn
was Sl5 per capita for eighteen months, and
Sli for the remainder of the time. The cx.
penditures were Ss23,2ll66. The annual cost
OF the support OF each patient was Sl1iHe.
The number of officers and employees at the
beginning of the period was %; and at its
close us. There have been treated In this
institution, since its foundation thirty years
ago, 6,6O5 patients, OF whom 1859 have re-
covered; l. l3 improved; l,5I5 not improved;
l,2l0 have died; and IL have been discharged
as not insane. The appropriations made by
the last General Assembly have been econom-
ically and iudciously expended. The new
wing was built under the immediate superyis-
ion of the Superintendent of the hospital, and
is model OF convenience and soidity. The
Trustees and Superintendent make recon-
mcndations and earnest pleas for considerable
appropriations FOR needed improvements dur
ing the current period. The most of these
improvements are desirable aud should be
made as rapidly as practicable.
HOSPITAL FOR rHE INSANE At INDEPENDENCE.
During the period an additional cottage has
been completed and the capacity of the Hos
pita Tor the Insane Al Independence thereby
increased 50 AS TO accommodate one hundred
additional patients There were In this in
stitution for treatment July |, 1855, 6M per-
sons. There We're admitted during the per-
iod 6l; lib We're discharged cured lS1 i'm
proved, III unimproved and lag dicd; leaving
in the hospital June %, 1887, nj The Of
ticcrs and employees at the beginning of the
period numbered 80; at the close 40.
The expenditures were S!5l ,5i9.6S. The ar-
crage daily number of patients was 1t6 The
annual cost Of each was Sl1o.S9. This lnsti-
tuition was opened in 1874, with an average
population that year of rs. There has been
an annual Increase, and in 1887 the average
population was 75G, and the whole number of
patients treated In 1887 was 1869. The APP
preparations made by the last General AS
scmbly have been well expended. The new
cottage, costing s40,OOO, furnishes cheap aud
good accommodations. The appropriation of
$4,000, to enlarge the rear central building
was not sufficient, as the Trustees report
to complete the improvement An nd
ditional 81, G0j Is asked by them for this pur-
pose, and should be granted. Water is sup
piled now in abundi Ice and at reasonable
cost, but more cisteSni are still desirable. The
ventilation Of tbs ri in building should be
improved and passenger elevator put in.
There is need Il kiore and for the use Of
the hospital. Gad It should be purchased as
soon as the condition of the state treasury
will Justify it.
There is much in the reports of the Super
intrndcnts of these hospitals worthy OF the
attention Of the legislature and of the citi.
zcns generally. The large and increasing
number Of insane persons in the state, may
well awaken public solicitudc as to the caus-
Is of this increase and the best means for
its prevention. | earnestly commend to your
thoughtful consideration all that is said by
these able aud experienced Superintendent,
touching the welfare Of the unfortunate class
with whom they have to deal, and especially
as to the causes of insanity, the quarantine
against imported eases, and the necessity
for early treatment July !, 1887, there were
,49S patients in the two hospitals for the
insane, of whom BOG were born in Iowa, 50i
in other states 6Si in foreign countries, and
the state Is about seventeen per cent. OF the
whole while the foreign born patients at the
hospitals for the insane are about fOrty-tivc per
cent. of the whole number.
THE NEW HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE
at Clarinda is nearly ready for the rccep
ton OF patients. 1t consists of: First,
Administrators building, containing all the
necessary quarters for the offices, and also
accommodations for 40 patients. Second,
one series of six wards with sufficient room
for the accommodation Of 200 patients II
will require, according to the estimate of the
Commissioners, Sll,,1O TO finish and furnish
these departments ready for occupancy.
This appropriation should, think be made
ut once and the work already done utilized
without futher delay. The work thus far has
been well done, but | regret that the Com
missioners have not been able TO accomplish
the work according to their estimate presented
to the last General Assembly, and there is
With the completion and occupancy Of the
present portion of the building, the institu-
ton should be placed under the control of
IA Board Of Trustees as the other hospitals
arc, and the work of construction continued
under their management.
VISITING COMMITTEE.
Tn. hosuitals for tho iusau, arc visited o,ce n
month hy ono az ,roro nj tho thran ,neuhn,s az
Tho visitirr committno Thny ernnnannornced
visit ali thc wards nf th, 6nSnitals ,Inarcom,
nanied bv oticcrs mr. rmrInvns listen tn ali
complaints. investigate all charges of abuse
or wrong-doing communicate freely with
the patients, and are thus able to obtain u
very complete and accurate understanding OF
the entire management OF these institutions.
The current report Of this committee contains
many matters OF interest and suggestions OF
value. The general conclusion Is that these
hospitals are very carefully and hnmanely
managed, and are doing very thorough and in
every way excellent work.
,vsr,rur,ox FOR prrup->uNprn c,urpprN
r,,a,,,.a,,l,,, -, ,ti ,i,,,i,,,, - ,,,,,,,a.
c Vi .s ma
w, ;S w ~ 'r ~ So w
90. az tH cion'' ,iti' %, ~
WIN p,ensule tre .t W, VI s.io
anu cAp'Sss elG nopJ 'ha. 10 iieas
,ol uIeiuiness ma. W INA ~ t,, ,.n,ns
nav p zen liel ,aocI "u' inS ''1 p"at wv on
out u mas NOW urallS an 'nS INMATES ~ sah
t"oiy acru"ii'at'' mn anS apPi9iTSIa
'iouo iol "uI oh "i ~ ~ -, 81
appropriations ol Tue iaSt a nehelli AsseIli9ly
nave oeen wen eAprn"cu. lnG ieSo,lhienua
tIo.S Vi IN, me tIus'Gcs ny cltl,icu '" niush
weight me ce'ltral p'iliuins snoui9 nc c I'M
pieteu as soon as uhenus van nc P,oNiucu. in9
superintendent ID "cNo'co !" MS "oh an"
makes In his report many valuable suggestions.
The progress made IN bringing into activity the
darkcned faculties OF fee6le-minded children
has been very marked, and the work done In
this institution has only to be observed In order
to awaken an interest in it and to wish Tor its
still further development.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME.
Tho rcnort of tho Soldiers, Orphans, Home
and Home for INDECENT Children shows that
since the opening Of the institution In lS62,
there have been received ,41 soldiers orphans,
Of whom but AZ now remain, Ninety-hVe per
cent of those who have left are good and useful
citizens. Since the home was opened for III
digcnt children in 1876, there have been re-
ceiycd from forty-cight counties 5i2 children,
Of whom 25l remain, making the whole number
| in the home at the close OF the period 293 The
trustees and superintendent exhibit the needs
of the institution, some of which are quite
urgent Since this report was made the home
has had a sewers loss In the destruction OF the
| main central building by lire, caused by stroke
Ioi lightning. lhere was also loss OF supplies
including provisions, clothlhgI furniture, e.s',
amounting To S6,UU, as estimated by tne