Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-21
ALLAMAKEE INSANE.
Larrabee Reports on Conditions in
Allamakee County Asylum.
FINDS CONDITIONS ARE VERY BAD
Kline Makes Report on the Asylum
In Des Hloines County-He Finds
Much to Commend and Some
Things to Criticlse.


Des Moines, Dec. 19.-Governor. Lar
rabee recently inspected the asylums OF
Allamakee and Linn counties, and has
made public his report The Allama>
kee institution appears to be in pretty
bad shape, but Linn county is given the
credit for being one of the best asy-
lums yet visited. The report on Alla-
makee is as follows:
October visited the asylum for
the insane in Allamakee county. The
patients are kept on the poor farm,
about six miles from Waukon. n. X.
Nelson is superintendent. He had one
female assistant, and one male assist
ant, his son, Is years old, and one
daughter, 10 years old. Mr.. Nelson had
some experience i'll charge of paupers
some years before. DR.. Crawford, II
member of the insane commission for
the county, comes when called, as ply
stefan. They also call any doctor that
is wanted. The physician, does notvis-
it the Institution with any regularity.
The insane men and paupers are kept
together. One old gentleman COM
planned bitterly that he had to live
with the insane. He seemed to be a
nice old gentleman, and had evidently
seen better days. He complained that
the insane made so much noise and dis
turbance that it made it very unpleas-
ant and very uncomfortable home for
persons like himself. The insane wom>
en- are kept apart from the paupers by
themselves. The superintendent and
family are paid $1,000 per year, and
their living, but he pays for all help
employed on the farm.
"They had recently changed matrons
by order of the board of insane com
missioners having had some trouble
with the former matron. AS nearly
as l could learn, she had abused the
patients to such an extent that the
commissioners would not permit her
to remain longer. The physicians usu-
ally furnish their own medicines. No
supply of medical stores is kept at the
institution, with the exception of a
few common articles. No record is
kept of cases, prescriptions or changed
condition of patients. Several rooms
were provided with iron CRATES at the
windows and iron CRATE doors. They
had one set of handouts, which they
use occasionally. The superintendent
said they ought to have more. Re-
straint is ordered and applied by the
superintendent. No record kept OF
restraints or of punishment. Physician
does not supervise dietary. This is left
for the superintendent. The quality of
meat is said to be fair. Pork and beef,
| and occasionally chicken. Fresh beef
in winter. Buy little occasionally.
They keep twenty-seven cows; butter
made at the institutions; used on the
table twice day.
The Interior Arrangements.
"They had good iron bedsteads,
straw ticks, quilts, cotton and flannel,
feather pillows and bedding changed
once week. Water supply good.
Have no ice. Facilities for bathing,
none for men-have one bath tub for
insane women. Generally two battle
in the same water. No facilities for
ire protection. Womens outside cloth
ing common gingham and calico. Thin
flannel and common cotton for under
| clothing; some do not use any; food
| is well cooked; have common china
dishes; oil table cloths and red dam
ask; three meals every day; no cases
| of abuse by attendants or anybody.
About thirty insane are in the insti-
| tuition. There seems to be no record
| kept and the superintendent was not
| entirely clear as to the actual number.
| -Four epileptic patients. A few OF
them get violent or ugly, as the super
intendent called it, occasionally; TWO
very filthy; one old man has hardly
been out of the building for about sew
en- years; sits in his room most of the
time. Such as we can get out have
regular exercise, was the reply OF the
superintendent. Men are kept sepa>
rate and apart from the women. No
classification of patients, except at the
table in the dining rooms. Men work
| on the farm and about the house and
barn. Women assist some about the
work. No amusements are provided.
The priest comes frequently to visit the
institution. Three religious papers
sent here from Des Moines; no library.
The cost of support last year was about
$1.30 per week. The superintendent
stated that they had it down to $1.1G
and that it was up to $500 at one time;
bad management, he supposed. The
superintendent thought that included
all expenses. Have farm of 22s acres:
buildings heated by hot,air and lighted
ny OH. bullu1nSS OF Drlck and WOOD;
in good condition. One building for
the poor, and the superintendent
family. One for the insane women
and one for the insane men and pau
| pers.
Zone man locked in room. iron
CRATE door. One woman locked in Il
room, lying on the wire springs of the
bed without any bed clothing what
ever. Said she tore up the clothing so
badly that they had to take it away
from her. A woman about 90 years
old, as nearly as could estimate, runs
away occasionally. therefore they keep
her locked up. The rules are printed
and posted up in the building. They
permit patients to be shut in Their
rooms and put on bread and water.
They require book to be kept for rec
ord of punishment, but no such book is
kept. The superintendent is evidently
a good farmer. The farm appears to
be well cared for and crops are good,
but the inmates of institution are poor.
ly cared for. There seems to be very
little attention given by way of medi-
cal aid or assistance"
Linn county has fine farm and
buildings worth $4,000, fitted with
modern appliances, hot and cold water
p1um3,;po opd ,lxlrafbar HHyo,,ar