The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-22
Terrible Sanitary Condition Of the
8. & s. o. Home.

Soldiers and Sailors Orphans
Home near Xenia, has caused Leg.
islative investigation with view
to ascertaining, if possible the
causes of the infection.
The committee have made their
report, and show such existing
facts as should subject the manage
ment to severe censure.
Considering that the condition OF
the Home, described in the report
existed under the "Splendid" ad-
ministration of "Brass God" For
aker, we cannot help the conclu-
tion that the parental love and
care for the "Old Soldier" and their
orphans, so vociferously claimed
by the g. o. p. isa "barren ideality."
In summing up the results of its
investigation the Committee says:
"The overcrowded condition of
the dormitories and the total lack
of ventilation, together with a
greatly overheated atmosphere on
many occasions, make these cot
tages veritable hot-beds for propa-
eating the germs of infectious dis
eases. A child with diphtheria
sleeping with it's companions under
such conditions might readily in
feet the entire family. Itfrequent-
ly happened when the recent epi-
demic first broke out that from
lack of hospital accommodations,
infected children were associated
with their comanions from "a to 4S
hours before removal.
So long as these children of the
Home are subjected to the dangers
of overcrowding, and are given
such grossly impure water as is
sometimes supplied, we may ex-
pect epidemic diseases to prevail
among them. What can be said of
supplying these children with
water from a creek reeking with
the filth of slaughter-house, not
200 yards from the intake! The
constant cry last Summer, we were
informed, was "water, water"
None was to be lad except from
the reservoir, which was covered
with filthy scum, and this supply
was so limited that men followed
up the creek, opening out all the
little stagnant pools, in their efforts
to supply the demand. Is it II
wonder that sickness has resulted
Looking at the twenty-four little
new graves at the cemetery, the
question arises, who is responsible?
The hospital is entirely unsuited
for epidemic emergencies. In the
beginning Of this epidemic the
wards were rapidly filled with sick
and dying children, and those al
ready in the hospital for other dis.
eases were exposed to all the dan
gers of intimate association with
diphtheria, and scarlet-fever pa
tients.
On visiting the hospital on the
night of Nov. 20, it was found to be
excessively overcrowded. In one
ward, filed with sick beds, the at
was stifling-the tenn.
perature 100 deg. F., and yet, on
account of the arrangement of the
it was impossible to ad-
NIT breath of fresh air, without
the patients to dangerous
Physicians and nurses
could not avoid free mingling with
both the scarlet-fever and diphth-
eria patients, and proper separa-
ton of these diseases was impos-
sible. The children at that time
had become almost panic stricken,
and an order to be sent to the hos
pital produced almost the effect of
4 death warrant.
Owing to the abominable con-
of the hospital, the bodies
IF those who died had to be carried
'ut through wards occupied by
'ick children, and at least one death
occurred, in a convalescent, from
The shock produced by the sight.
The hospital at this time became
/ veritable death-trap; the super
ntendent refused to allow another
,hild to be taken into it; and 1t be-
,ame necessary to vacate some of
he cottages and utilize them and
he schoolhouse and industrial
buildings as convalescent and
quarantine wards"
Respectfully Submitted,
THOs. g. HOOVER,
Lr nv Nur caxy