The Elbert County tribune., 1898-12-15

l DtuNtIs IECs o. ne tOihAAAftt~C
Gently appointed by the State Board OF
Charities and Corrections has made Its
report to the board. which has trans
mitted the report to Governor Adams
with Its approval Of the recommenda-
lions made. The report of the commit
tee In full is as follows:
Denver, Colo, Dec. Z, 1S95.-To the
State Board of Charities and Correc.
tion:-We, your committee appointed
at the special meeting OF the STATE
Board OF Charities and Correction sep
tember 20. 1898, at the request OF Or.
Il. r. Thombs. superintendent, and Dr.
j. T. Eskrldge OF the Board OF Com
missioners, to examine into the condi-
tion and management of the Colorado
State Inmne Asylum, beg leave to re-
port:
The secretary of the board, Mr.. @.
l.. Stonaker. was Instructed to proceed
without delay to examine the books
and accounts OF the institution, more
particularly to ininquire into the meth
cd Of keeping accounts and records.
On the 9th and 10th Of November,
1893, n formal hearing was had at the
State Insane Asylum, there being pres
ent Chancellor Mcdowell, chairman;
Mrs. s. S. Platt, T. ii. Devine and the
tnt toihihit'ttf
Rev. Il. II. Malone of the board. and
DIR. J. T. Eskridge and G. C. Unfug Of
the Board of Commissioners Of the in
sane Asylum, who had been invited to
sit with the committee during the
hearing. Although Mr.. Devine Of the
committee urged that DIR. Thombs be
permitted to be present during the ex-
animation of witnesses. your commit
tee decided to hold the meetings behind
closed doors, the commissioners only
being present with the committee. Wit
nesses were sworn and their testimony
was stenogmphically reported and Is
made n part of this report.
Two meetings have been held sub
sequently at the state capitol for the
examination of witnesses whose testi-
mony is included in the report.
After full, fair and impartial dis
charge Of our duties in the premises
we beg to report to you the results
thereof:
First-We find that in the manage
ment Of the Colorado Insane Asylum
there are no records and books in
vogue which give or can give any ade-
quate idea of the general financial,
physical or material condition of the
institution. For this reason 1t was be-
yond the power of your committee to
conduct intelligently an examination
into the financial and business affairs
of the institution.
Second-We further find that, up to
the date of our inquiry, there has never
been any system relating to the issu-
ance of supplies on reQuisition to the
several departments Of the institution
and no check whatever kept upon the
supplies issued or delivered.
Third-We further find that there
has been gross and habitual neglect on
the part Of many of the officers, at
tendants and employees of the instltu-
tion with respect to their duties, and 1t
appears from the testimony that this
neglect has covered long period of
years and could have been known to
the superintendent of the asylum,
which under the law relating to his du-
ties he had full power to correct.
Fourth-We further find that the su-
perintendent has given very made
quate, irregular and unsystematic su-
pervision to the affairs of the institu-
tion. This finding Is supported by the
evidence received on the investigation.
which shows:
a. That wholly insufficient
amount of time is spent by the super
intendent at the Institution.
b. That the superintendent has
been grossly neglectful In the matter
of visitation Of wards of the institu-
tioh.
c. That he has not required or re-
ceived proper reports concerning and
knowledge of the patients in the insti-
tuition and that no records of the con-
dition Of the patients, physical or
otherwise, have been required or kept.
q. 1t appears that patients of the
Institution die. are prepared for burial
ana are taken away without the su-
perintendent seeing them and pro-
nouncing after examination that they
are dead; that he issues certificates of
death upon the report of employees,
who are not physicians, without n per.
sonal examination.
e. 1t appears that the superintend.
ent has permitted attendants. in many
Instances, to determine: First.
whether patient requires medicine,
ana second, to administer that medi.
cine on their own judgment. without
advice from the superintendent, and
that the attendants are permitted to
keep In their possession certain drugs
to be used and administered at their
discretion, none of these attendants
being physicians.
Z. That the determination of tbo
necessity for restraints upon the IN.
tients is left entirely to the Judgment
and discretion of attendants and no
report thereof is required to be made
by such attendants to the superintend.
ent, either as to the occasion Of the
restraint or the character or the du.
ration thereof.
Where tho BIame Is Placed
&. That the supervision of the su.
perintendent over the officers. em.
ployes and attendants has been utterly
unsystematic, inadequate and neglect.
full, and that this absence Of system.
attic supervision has resulted in gross
neglect of duty on the part of many
OF the employees and attendants, to the
serious detriment of the institution.
Ii. That the superintendent has moi
conducted any adequate, thorough and
sufficient examination to determine the
condition OF patients admitted to the
asylum.
Fifth-That the asylum. as conduct.
ed under present management, has
been n place of detention, rather than
hospital for the treatment of the in
sane. While we recognize the limita
tions caused by lack of funds, never.
theless we find that under proper
management very much better con,
dition OF the institution could have
been secured, even with the funds al
disposal. The management of the In
stitution is derelIct in the following
particulars:
n. There is no regular or sufficient
medical examination or knowledge OF
the patients.
b. No amusements of any sort are
furnished for the patients.
c. That the patients do not receive
proper exercise nor MS much as couId
be given by the help employed at pres
ent.