The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-18

for three months, it having been
charged that she was a drunkard.
MRS. GRANNIS
Stated that she took a baby there on
October Dist that weighed nine pounds
and was in good condition, the parents
both being healthy. 1t was now covered
with what she was told are syphilitiC
sores and so emaciated that she die
not recognize it when she called to see
1t. She thought that the real cause was
insufficient food and that it was suf-
ferlng as animals do that are not hall
fed. The nurses told her that most Of
the children brought there were suf-
fer1ng from the same cause as this one
and that is the reason for the great
mortality
The mother of the child, she said, is
a strong, healthy girl, with no sign OF
! disease and the father also appeared
| healthy
THE GREAT MORTALITY.
DR.. Fowler stated that he had charge
OF the institution for some months, sc
far as visiting the sick children. The
great trouble at that time seemed tc
be insufficient help. The matrons and
nurses were frequently changed and
there was lack of funds. The direct
ors consulted frequently with him, as
they were anxious to avoid the great
mortality prevailing. He and they tried
by changing food to better matters, but
without success. He wrote to DR.. Che
ney Of the home at San Francisco
telling him the state of affairs and ask
ing him for advice
He received an answer from DR. Che
ney, saying that at the San Francisco
Home they had lost nearly all the chill
dren in spite of all their efforts, and
had finally had to close the home. A
sort of epidemic of cholera infantum
afterwards broke out here and some OF
the children died. Perhaps they might
have been kept a little cleaner and
dryer by their own mothers. He did
not know. He could not tell how many
died or what the percentage was.
Mr. Lord, who was assisting Judge
Holl, said that in the past eighteen
months Of the eighty-one foundlings
brought to the institution, forty had
died.
In answer to questions, DR. Fowler
said that his reading showed him that
the mortality among foundlings proper
was from 80 to 80 per cent.
child when first born might show
no signs of syphilitic affection, but ii
might develop short time afterwards
He did not think, however, that such
child would weigh nine pounds al
birth.
WHY SHE RESIGNED.
Mrs. Huntoon was recalled and said
that she was often dissatisfied with
the way the nurses cared for the cl1il-
dren. She found them sore from mat
tentiOn. The rules against the use OF
narcotics We're very stringent, but she
once detected Mrs. Piper, q matron, us
ing laudanum and gave notice that
she would leave the board unless the
matron was discharged. She left the
board on that account, as the other
members kept Mrs. Piper.
DIR. WATTS
Was called by Judge Holl and testified
that he had been attending the home
recently and had noticed nothing wrong
in the sanitary condition of the place
He was called to attend the child in
question, and was satisfied that it was
a case of hereditary syphilis, having all
the symptoms.
There was nothing strange about its
becoming emaciated. 1t was to be ex-
pected that such a state of affairs
would exist
1T WAS NOT FOR FOOD.
Mrs. Shaw, the matron, was recalled
and said that the pantry was quite dirty
when Mrs. Warner was employed, as
the woman who preceded her was re-
moved to another position without hav-
ing chance to clean it up. The meat thai
was spoiled was put away by her anc
forgotten and became wormy. The
meal that was bad was intended for the
COW and not for food. There was Other
meal for use that was good. The milk
from the COW was as nice as she ever
saw.
The mush, she said, was all made il
the. same kettle, both for her own table
and that of the children. She had never
known any mush to be warmed over fol-
the next day. She ordered all the gro
ceries of the best quality. When Mrs
Warner was there it was very warm
weather, and potatoes were sometimes
used to make hash with the cold meat.
No meat that is unfit is ever cooked
or, if so, it it is thrown away. The
kitchen is kept as clean as is possible
for one with the amount Of work to dc
that the cook has. Unwholesome food is
never served to the children if she dis
covers it. Mrs. Warner left, saying thai
she was sick. The milk supply has beer
increased within the past two months
from three gallons to seven.
MRS. DEMING'S STATEMENT.
Mrs. Deming testified that the whole
building had been cleaned up, calci-
mined, painted and vanished The or
der was given for cleaning and calci-
mining the house before DR.. Waggonel
visited the home, but the man did moi
come for about ten days, and in the
meantime DR.. Waggoner called. The
work has all been done. The infected
! bedsteads have been replaced with iroT
ones.
| The improvements have been made
| as fast as possible, and will be contin
ued The provisions are the best tha
! can be secured, and the matron ha!
never been restricted in ordering them
/ She thought the best possible care haC
/ been taken of the children. After she
heard DR.. Waggoner had visited the
/ home, she went to him for advice in re
gard to improvements she wanted
made.
| DR.. Waggoner told her if they did no
/ take measures to compel the President
/ to resign, he would see that the home
| did not get its State appropriation any
| longer. The board formerly employed {
/ Secretary at $50 a month, but it pays it:
/ Secretary nothing now. The former Sec
rotary was DR.. Waggoner's daughter
| She did not know how long the bed
| steads were injected before they were
! discarded. DR.. Waggoner offered ne
! criticisms on Mrs. Clayton, the Presi
! dent, except that young woman
would be more energetic in managing
| the institution.
| The further investigation was ad
! journed till $50 a. m. to-day.
PLEADED GUILTY
/ TI1Tr q