The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-12

tia ~ thu 'oAs
The board adopted this plan. and have re-
cost OF 81, 1886. / believed then with the
board, and still believe, that It was the
best thing to DO. and ask you to appropri-
ate the above sum to relieve the indebted
ness incurred.
There is nothing beyond the ordinary TO
report of the Institute for the Blind. The
general health of the pupils has been nor
NAL. Recently there was a number of
cases of measles, fortunately in mild form
but with prompt treatment no serious res
suits are feared. The year has been a
prosperous one to this institution, many
needed improvements and repairs having
After four years of faithful and efficient
service, Prof. e. f.. Grifith resigned as SUI
was elected by the board of trustees to
succeed him. The enrolment of pupils for
the present school s year numbers nner ass. Home
one OF the most interesting of the charita-
BILE institutions of the State, has had a
with GA children in its care. Last winter
diphtheria prevailed at the home, and out
of forty-two cases three proved fatal, a
surprisingly small per cent.
The officers of the Institution believe the
annual maintenance fund should be in
creased to $4,000 per annum. The home
and not adequate protection against fire.
/ concur in their appeal for a sum suffs-
cient to remedy this want.
The report of the Indiana School for
Predetermined Youth, to which l invite
your attention, shows this school to be in
a satisfactory condition. The zeal and ear
nestness of the superintendent, with the
sympathetic cooperation of the board OF
trustees, has contributed much to its pres
emf high standing. The trustees have con-
Quoted the affairs of the school within its
income.
pupils during the past year of thirty-three.
The total number cared for at this time is
asS. The experiment IN dairy farming our
the receipts exceeding the expenses. Aside
from the pecuniary consideration. it affords
a heaithful. pleasant and needed work TO
that the recommendation to purchase a
farm for the use of the school merits your
consideration.
HOSPITALS o THE INSANE.
The report of the board of trustees and
medical superintendent for the Central
Hospital for the Insane demands your es-
pecial care and thought 1t is by far the
largest public institution in the State, and
1t is surrounded with the greatest response
bilities. More than one-half the insane pa
tients receiving the care of the State are
gathered in this hospital. The number of
patients at the close of last year was .49s.
In June. 1894, the laundry was struck by
lightning during a violent thunderstorm,
and, in spite of every effort, the build
ing, a wooden structure, vas consumed
by fire. The machinery and a large
amount of clothing of the inmates were
lost. Upon the building the trustees had
providently carried $4,000 insurance. With
the large number of patients to care for
this was a more serious loss than would
ordinarily be felt in public institutions.
init of no delay. The board of trustees,
together with the superintendent, con-
fsrred With ne; os and it it was decided asd m,tt that
waiting to report to your body.
A substantial brick laundry; fire proof.
is now nearly completed and ready for
occupancy. There have been much need
ed improvements made on buildings and
grounds A large part of the buildings
be unwise and false economy to delay
this longer, I especially agree with the
ing and plumbing. You cannot afford to
do otherwise than to make a sufficient APP
preparation for the repair of this institu-
The report of the Eastern Hospital for the.
Insane shows that its capacity to receive
patients has been reached. The number of
patients during 1893 was 422. and 1894, AL.
The district tributary to this hospital en-
that there are now 16O insane people need
ing treatment in this district, an average
| ceIved. Many Of these are in the poor
houses or confined in the county jails, quite
a number probably durable if given i'm
Indiana has practically declared that it is
the duty of the State to care for the insane.
recommendaion Of the medical superinten-
dent for additional room. Fortunately this
QOSplldl Is SO constructed InaI an increased
capacity can be obtained much below the
cost of establishing a new hospital. Espe-
separate buildings be provided for the treat
ment of tuberculosis patients. owing to the
INFECTIOUS nature Of the disease: -
for Insane. made many improvements, and
through the economical expenditure and
judicious management of the moderate APP
preparation therefor have increased it's ca
pacity to care for 500 patients, instead of
39S, before the addition was made. The re-
~ r or c nT1d r nrr,ic inc
entailing considerable outlay, have been
ccmpleted-a thing possible only by the
%strictest economy Of management of the
The number of inmates fer Oct. 81. 1899.
was 44o. and for same date in 1894, 5o1, an
ticnal inmates comes the necessity proper
tionately to increase the annual nain.e-
nance. l think the suggestion that officers
and employees in hospitals for the insane
be exempted from military and jury duty
ana working tine roads viii commend itself
future needs of this hospital are set forth
in the report.
and surroundings of the Southern Hospital
for the Insane have added materially to
their beauty and health; thorough drain
age. better sewerage and more perfect san
| itation have been secured. A system has
been adopted that Will in the end make the
| general landscape attractive and pleasing.
A feature introduced will have, if con-
| tinued, a beneficial effect upon the care of
the insane. This is in the training of at
| PENDANTS by means of q training school.
| Nowhere are the services of skilled nurses
| and attendants more needed than in a hos
| pital for the insane.
In the death of the Hon. Solomon Gimble
the board lost a valuable member. He was
we'll fitted for such a position. / appointed
as his successor Mr.. Samuel B.. Boyd, who
brings to the discharge OF his duties an
earnestness and interest in the work that
bespeak we'll his usefulness. The capacity
| Of this hospital is not adequate for the in
| sane in the district tributary to it. There
were 424 patients at the close of the last
fiscal year.
BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
The closer my acquaintance with and
| means of observation of this work of the
State Board of Charities, the more 1 am
convinced of its value to the public, to the
public institutions and to the executive Of
the State. Its labors have been performed
with a conscientious and painstaking care
that is in the highest commendable. AS its
Importance becomes better understood, so
increase its duties and its labors- This board
should have an additional allotment of ST.
600 for its use. because of the increased
| work 1t is called upon to perform.
The members of the board receive no COM
| pensation for their time, only necessary
travelling expenses being paid. Mr.. Slough
| ton A. Fletcher and Mrs. Corneiia c. Fair
banks. who had served with disinterested
ability and fidelity upon this board from it's
| organization, resigned from the board. To
| succeed them l appointed Demarehus C..