The record-union., 1896-01-04
FOUNDING HOME INVESTIGATION.
DR.. RuggIes Makes His Report to the
Governor.
He Finds Little to Condemn and Much
TO Praise-A Suggestion About
the Children.
the Children.

The report Of DR.. Ruggles, President
Of the State Board of Health, to Gov
ernor Budd, on the investigation of the
charges against the management of the
Foundlings' Home, was made public
yesterday for the first time.
1t is a voluminous one, and fully COW
ers the ground. After recapitulating the
circumstances under which the inves-
tigation was had, and stating that two
of the charges-those that persons
wishing to adopt children from the
home We're refused permission, unless
they paid a stated amount, and that
State aid had been obtained for chill
dren absent from the institution-were
withdrawn before the investigation. =
He then says: The evidence was
very positive and conclusive that pre-
vious to about the 1st of October the
institution was not in the neat and
cleanly condition it should have been
in. The walls were smoked, the paint
dirty. the bedsteads were, many of
them, wooden, and infected with bed
bugs.
1T is in evidence at that time, to
the credit of the managers, it can be
said, a special meeting was called and
measures ordered taken to have this
sad condition of things relieved, all of
this previous to the inspection visit per
order of the local Board of Health.
Since that time the renovating process
has been going on as rapidly and as
thoroughly as the financial condition of
the institution will permit.
From personal observations I am
able to say that the walls are newly
and neatly calcimined; the paint re-
newed and varnish applied wherever
necessary; the wooden bedsteads, which
had been kindly and with mistaken
charity bestowed, had been condemned
and consigned to the flames, and new
iron bedsteads supplied in their places.
1t is satisfactorily shown that the pres
ent condition is what is desired, though
1t must be admitted that the condition
previous to the date mentioned was
very reprehensible
THE allegation as to the underfed
condition of the inmates was not taken
up and fully considered. Much en-
phatic testimony was presented as to
the amount and character of the food
furnished. But the great preponder-
ance of evidence of the Lady Managers,
natron and the cook, whose boy was
one of the unfortunate starved ones;
the presentation Of bills for supplies,
supplemented by my personal examin-
alton of the children, compel me to say
that the allegation is not sustained.
The next in order of consideration
was the allegation of very great NOR
tality in the institution. The computa-
ton from the identified records of the
institution shows me that the mortality
was 50 per cent. of the admissions At
the first glance this appears to be very
large and justifies a presentation of the
allegation. But when it is considered
that the great majority of these unfor-
tunates are of a degraded, dissipated
and diseased origin, it does not seem so
strange. Also it is to be considered that
over go per cent. of all handled ba-
bies die before arriving at the age of 5
years; that nearly 80 per cent. of all the
babies in cities and towns, under 1 year
of age, and who are fed on artificial nu-
triment, die. Also, that sanitary statis-
ties and founding hospital reports,
both foreign and domestic, show
much larger per cent. than does this in
stitution. I am surprised it has done as
well as it has. 1t, by comparison with
those of Russia, Italy and France, is
mucn less.
Very strong inferential evidence was
produced TO sustain the allegation as to
immortality among the inmates. These
charges are Of a very serious nature.
and, if sustained, should receive very
severe condemnation. The evidence is
somewhat conflicting, but enough is
shown to place some Of the inmates in
a very compromising situation.
There seems to be a very peculiar
condition attached to this institution. 1t
is, nominally, a foundlings' home, yet
really an orphan asylum, with inmates
of all ages up to 13 years. If it be really
q home for foundlings. my opinion is
that no children over or years
should be admitted, and those already
there, over that age, should be trans
ferred to the regularly organized or
phan asylum. Or, if this plan of organ
ization is to be continued, then a sys-
tenn of most rigid discipline should be
immediately adopted, so that a com
plete, perfect and positive separation
of sexes should be maintained, and no
possibility of a recurrence of what is
the foundation of this allegation