Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-03-18
Ny Visit to tie Battle Creek sanltarium.

reaching only sever per 1000 (only about
one-third that of Chicago and other large
cities), and unexcelled even by the health
lest country districts. 1t has four rail
roads-two great runk lines between the
East and the West, the Michigan Central
and hi Chicago & Grand Trunk; a line to
Cincinnati, Ohio; and another new line
reaching out toward St. Louis.
The purpose In the presentation of this
brief description of the Battle Creek SAM
tarium is to give to the public as precise
and correct an idea as possible of what
This institution undertakes to do for sick
people. n of the means and methods
there employed. The institution presents
no panaceas. 10 certain cures" no secret
remedies, and does not " guarantee" cures
IN any case. The physicians make no pre-
tensions to extraordinary skill. No claims
TO extraordinary or specific virtues are
MADE TOR their air, water or climatic ad-
Vantages afforded. The aim of this insti-
tuition has simply been to gather together
IN one place and under favorable condi-
lions, all the means, methods and appli-
ances tor the treatment of the sick which
are recognized in national medicine,
ana TO utilize these means and methods in
a conscientious and intelligent manne
The institution makes no claims to abso-
lutte perfection in any particular, but only
that perfection in every detail is the ideal
to which they earnestly aim, and to reach
which no pains or expense is spared, and
that tie single purpose of the institution
Is to aid the sick to the most complete and
permanent recovery in the shortest posi-
BILE time, and to make the invalid, during
the progress of mis- cure, as happy and
comfortable as possible.
Pure air, pure water and a pourous, we'll
drained soil are amoung the most essen
tai feature of a hrst-class location for the
Sanitarfum A happy combination of
these essential elements, founda at Battle
Greek, at the particular point selected for
TINS institution was what led the founders
OF the establishment to plant it here at
inception of the enterprise, nearly
thirty years ago, after a considerable time
spent In looking about for the most eligi.
Die site. The soil is a sandy loam overlay-
ing a bed of clean gravel. sixty feet in
depth. n surface is rolling and slopes
TO the Kalamazoo River, a beautiful
stream Which courses along between the
mis- sixty feet below the site of the SAM
tafium, and at a distance of about one
nunufed rods. The water supply is ample
Tor the needs.of the institution, which re.
quires from $1,000 to $1,000 gallons per day
uuflng the busy season, and never less
than from $4,000 to co., gallons daily. The
oanitarium property comprises a large
main building, a hospital, an annex,
twenty cottages and other buildings, a
lakeside resort and pavilion at Lake
Soquac, at h end of the electric street
car line, Just outside the city limits, and
there's three dairy and small fruit farms,
making in all about 400 acres. The main
building Is 312 feet in length, with q rear
of 100 feet n Is five and six
stories In height above the basement.
The hospital building is 1OOx6O feet, five
stories high. The main building accom-
modates 500 persons. The hospital $50 and
the cottages 400. A recently erected five
story dormitory accommodates a portion
OF n nurses in the employ of the institu-
ton. The ventilation of the institution is
ample and perfect in all it's details and in
cludes an Independent ventilating shaft
in each room.
The spacious grounds about and in front
ofthe main building are laid out in beauti.
full lawns studded with natural forest
trees, rnamental shrubs and trees includ-
ing a lumber of magnificent palms and
other tropical tree,sewiich are housed dur
ing the winter season. Two fine groves
afford a pleasant shade for out of doors
recreation In summer. In front of main
entrance a large fountain d beauty to
the view and moistens and purifies the air
with its cooling spray. Concrete walks
extending out over the pleasant city are
laid out about the spacious grounds, and
a smooth UR1I.knrt Iou,v,c pffNrl o.~.to
Opportunity for lawn tennis and other
sports. From the roof and verandas and
most OF the private rooms one obtains
most delightful and commanding views
OF Unnatural scenery in great variety; high
distant hills. rolling hills, little lakes,
winding brooks with the pleasant little
city in the midst, makes up a view which
is rarely excelled in the middle states. The
abundant supply of pure air furnished by
the elaborate system of ventilation rem
ders the indoor air of the institution prac-
tically equal in purity to natures best
samples of out door air, even when the
season requires closure of windows and
doors. AS the whole buildings heated by
steam. halls included, a very nearly uni
form degree of heat Is maintained. the
temperature being much more even than
that of the most equable climate known.
During the winter months n large green
house supplies the house with beautiful
Dot plants, and flowers are never absent
rom the dining and other public rooms.
Patients are supplied with flowers and
plants in their rooms. The green house is
connected with the main building by an
underground tunnel through which the
patients have ready access during the
cold months, and here they find a nice dis
play of tropical and other Towering plants,
palms. bananas, etc. One of the chief at
fractions is a large orange tree, neal fifty
years old, which is always in bloom or
hanging with most delicious fruit. 1t is a
distinct purpose with the management to
keep patients SO thoroughly occupied that
they will have no time for Inconsistencies,
blues, self-introspection or Exchanging
symptoms" often an unwholesome pas
time with hospital and sanitariurn pa
tients. Everybody Is kept busy getting
WELL"
The program of treatment is, of course,
varied from day to day and from week to
week, not altogether, however, to meet
The indications of changing symptoms
but In h carrying out of d methodical
plan for the accomplishment of the object
sought to be attained, namely, the remov-
al of the causes of the patients malady,
and the training of disordered functions
into healthy activity. No two patients
ave exactly the amt program, each case
having it's own peculiarities and indica-
lions for treatment, The following is the