The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-17
oKLAHOMA'S INSANE VISITED
Their Care and Physical Condition Re
ported to be All That Should BE

report thereon under section 13 OF arti
Gle Of chapter 8, session laws of 1899, is
as follows:
Guthrie, Okla, Sept 9, 1899
ITO His Excellency, c. NJ. Barnes, Gov
ernor of Oklahoma, Guthrie, Okla:
''Sir-Your committee. appointed by you
under section thirteen d3) of the act of
the legislative assembly Of Oklahoma,
approved March 10, 1899, page p, chapter
! 3, article 2, session laws of 1899, to visit
the Insane Asylum at Norman, examine
| tie patients detained therein and report
| upon their condition, and the sanitary
condition Of the asylum, with further
duty to discharge all persons detained
therein who are not actually insane, de-
sire to report as follows:
The board met for the first session in
Guthrie, August IS. 1899, and organized
for business. J.. ]. Hiatt, NJ. D., Of
Guthrie, was elected president; Wilbur
S. Hamilton, NJ. D., of Norman, was
elected secretary. The secretary was in
structed to procure a suitable book for
keeping a record of the patients COM
mitted to the asylum and the work done
Of procedure was formulated and the
board adjourned to meet at Norman
August 81 1899 On that date the board
met as per adjournment and made de-
tailed and thorough examination of the
sanitary condition of the asylum, its sur
rocndings and the health of the patients
contained therein and from this and sec
ond visit We desire to report: that great
care IS evidently exercised in keeping
the asylum and its surroundings clean,
orderly and in hygienic condition; every
ward, we believe, is kept constantly
clean, beds and clothing thoroughly aired
AMI washed and every effort is made to
secure proper ventilation for the inmates.
I'VE believe that the asylum is in as
good sanitary condition as would be the
case l. the same was maintained and
under direct supervision of the territory.
The only deficiency that just now ex-
lists is the insufficient supply of water;
the asylum depends upon the public water
supply of Norman for its water and dur
ing the past summer this has not been
sufficient to furnish either the town OF
Norman or the asylum with a constant
supply. We could suggest no way Of
remedying this and as we learn that Nor
man is contemplating an extension Of
their waterworks we believe that this
will be corrected as soon as that IS ac-
ccmDlished.
1.-The food furnished the patients is evil !
IDENTIFY sufficient in quantity, the quality |
is excellent and changes are made as
often as is necessary for the comfort and |
health of the inmates The physical con- /
dition OF the patients seem TO be excel |
lent; no sickness existed that could be |
due to any local or un-hygienic surround !
ings of the patients. In fact they seem
to be as well as any equal number of !
people with their necessary physical in
frmities would be if outside of the asy- !
lum.
After this examina ton the board ad- |
journed to meet at the call Of the secre-
taary.
''The second visitation was made Sep
TENDER 4, and c. On the above date the
examiners met at the call Of the presi-
dent and began a personal examination
of the inmates of the asylum. Every
person confined in the asylum was seen
individually and a record made In each
case. This record will be found in the
book of records kept by your committee
and is open for inspection at all times.
1T is the intention Of your committee
to make this permanent record that will
be open for the inspection of the public
and will be added to from time to time
as inmates of the asylum are discharged
and as new ones are received.
After thorough inspection the follow
ing inmates were recommended for dis
missal as cured or convalescent:
CThe inmates recommended for dis
charge We're six in number. one each
from Roger Mills, Greer, Pottawatomie,
Pawnee, Oklahoma and Kay counties and
the governor has notified the superintend-
ent Of the sanitarium to arrange for their
return to their homes at once. a seventh
inmate was recommended for discharge
at such, time as suitable home could be
provided for herr
other cases were taken under advise
ment and We're continued subject to a sec
ond visitation at. the asylum.
The above report covering the first
two visits TO the asylum Of your commit
tee Is RESPECTFULLY submitted. We are.
sir. respectfully yours.
Il. J. HIATT.
"a. HAYNES BUXTON,
"V. 5. HAMILTON,