Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-21
Senator McIntire and Representa-
tive Buchanan Talk.
Observation-Disclosures
Will Oppose Legislation Compelling
the Removal of Our Incurable In
sane From County Hospital
to Mt Pleasant.
[From Saturdays Daily.]

sition are those people now confined IN
the hospital Wapello county recently
erected for their use, but had they a
voice in the accommodation il is said
the board of control of state institu-
tons will make to the legislature this
winter for their removal to the state
hospital, it would surely be heard in
defense of the present mode and
against their removal. In line with the
contention made in the Courier few
days ago, that our hospital, built at
an expense of twelve to fifteen thous-
and dollars, should not be abandoned
at the behest of the board of control
or any other regulator of affairs, that
cannot make exceptions to possible
rule, State Senator w. a. McIntire and
Represen1ative-elect A. w. Buchanan
paid visit last Wednesday to Wapello
county's farm, with view of getting
at the facts in the matter, believing, as
they do, that the existing order of
things, as applied to this part of the
state, should not be changed.
Senator McIn.ire.
81 am unalterably opposed to removing
the incurably insane from the county
hospital" said Senator w. A. McIntire.
I'VE have built a suitable place for the
retention of these unfortunates, many
of them not insane but weak minded,
whom medicine never will do any good
but who require the fresh air and en-
ercise and kind treatment which they
are receiving at the present time. The
state or the superintendent at Mt.
Pleasant, before the existence of the
board of control, compelled us to care
for some of the incurably insane, even
before we had the present conveniences,
but then the state hospital was full and
the shoe pinched tile other fellow.
Now the patients in the hospitals are
back. Mr.. buchanan and myself visit
ed the county hospital, and while 1
know nothing of the care of insane
persons, yet it was plain TO be seen
that they were contented and peace
able and not one did we see confined
in 4 cell. Our visit was altogether un-
expected by Mr.. Wilson, the. steward.
The most violent had the freedom OF
the wards and hallway, and many of
the lesser affected had the freedom of
the grounds under the eye of the at
tendant. Now taking into consideration
that their condition is fully as good
as when kept at Mt. Pleasant, and>I
am, reliably Informed that it IS. better,
the cost of keeping patient at home
is but $3s per year, as against $144 per
year at Mt. Pleasant, and in view of
these facts | believe it is the better
policy both for the unfortunate and for
the municipality to keep them where
they are now, rather than to remove
them, as it is said the board of control
will recommend to the legislature THIS
winter. Many of the so-caled insane
are just weak and are supposed to be
hcpelessly insane because they have
been sent from Mt. Pleasant as incur
able. The arrangement of the hospi-
tai to my mind is the best that could
be suggested for a county institution.
The building is three stories in height,
with cells, a corridor. sanitary appli-
ances in each cell which are used dur
ing the night time and water closet
for each story in the shape of an l., to
be used during the daytime. This lat
ter feature was commended by Judge
Kline during his recent visit here, and
he also said that our hospital is as well
conducted as any in the state. While
we We're on this visit we saw two men,
who We're sullen, stubborn persons
whenfhey were admitted, but the day we
We're there they We're each blowing in
the field, with i double team the. same
as any farmer might be doing. This
is an argument in itself and speaks
we'll for the care they have received.
An incurably insane person.in my iudg-
msnt, does not need medicine so much
.,tr 4 L., 4
treatment. / do not know what atti-
tude the board will take in the matter;
whether they will recommend that the
patients be returned to the state asy-
lums or prohibit the building of more
county hospitals aud allow us to keep
our patients. II they take the latter
view the question naturally arises,
what disposition will we make of those
who are adjudged incurably insane
hereafter l am in favor of the pres
ent plan, but taking into consideration
the fact that perhaps some of them
are mismanaged, l do not know what
attitude would assume toward the
prohibition of building in other coun-
ties. should the legislature allow us to
keep our patients"
Representative Buchanan.
I'VE found fifty-four patients in the
hospital" said Mr.. Buchanan, 'and
none of them We're confined in cells.
Most of them We're walking in the
yard under the care of an attendant.
Part of these had been sent to the poor
farm before 4 hospital had been built
and we found their appearance to in
dicate health. A few of the men could
not be controlled at Mt. Pleasant, but
now, through the medicine of kind
treatment, fresh air and exercise, seem
ed to be in contented frame of mind
and were walking about the yard. One
or Two have been discharged cured.
One instance was told us of man
who had been confined at Mt. Pleasant
for twelve years, and who was sent to
the county hospital as incurable, and
how long do you think he stayed?
just one month and one day. when he
was. discharged as we'll. / do not think
the question of money should enter
into this question as much rs the well
fare OF the patient, but when a person
can be kept here for very much less
than at Mt. Pleasant, and given better
care, it seems TO me the proper thing
to do is to retain the present hospital.
II is true The institution has no dance
In 4 nt,,a lT.