Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
SUGGESTS A CHANCE.
Hon. John coWnie Visits WapeIlo
County Insane Asylum.

SSGhey titSohS hoy
From Tuesdays Daily.
An important change or modifica-
ton in the new wing recently erected
to the building at the county farm
has been recommended by John
Cownie, member of the state board of
control, as the result of his first Off
cial visit to the .Wapello county farm,
which was made yesterday. With the
exception of the necessary change in
the building and the need of some
change in the sewerage, Mr.. Cownie
said that he found no fault, whatever,
with things in general at the county
farm. "The institution" he said, "is
far above the average. Ishave no crit
icism to make, and think Mr.. Wilson
is conducting the institution in the
best possible manner. consider Mrs.
Wilson, the stewardess, woman es-
pecially qualified and capable of sup
erintending her department of the
work, and am we'll pleased with the
management in general. talked with
a number of patients and they ap-
peared to be perfectly satisfied, as
much SO, at least, as can be expected
or people in their circumstances.
In regard to the insane patients that
are being cared for at the county
asylum, Mr.. Cownie said: There
need be no fear that they will be re-
moved to Mt. Pleasant. We could rot
if we would" said he, lowing to the
present crowded condition of the lat
ter institution. The annual increase
of insane patients is about $50, and at
present all the institutions in the state
are practically full. There are about
500 patients in the county houses and
all we can do is to see that they are
accorded proper treatment"
Mr.. Cownie said he did not hesitate
to say that insane patients, whether
they be classed as chronic patients or
otherwise, can be better cared for at
the state institutions than they
can at county asylums. The care of
the insane at the former is special
ty, and the methods of attention and
care naturally tend to better results
than can be expected at county
institutions. Notwithstanding this
fact, however, Mr.. Cownie said that
the care which the chronic insane pa
tients are receiving at the hands of
the management of the county insane
wards, is all that can be asked, and
the board is taking the precaution to
see that such care is accorded that
class of patients.
Mr. Cownie said that the worst fea-
ture that he found in the new insane
ward in this county, was the fact that
there is but one outside exit to the
new wing and that is situated at the
extreme end of the building. There
was provision made for an exit at the
other end of the new part of the build
ing, but for some reason or other it
was closed, and never completed. Mr..
Cownie said that he had recommend
ed that this opening be made at once.
Mr. Cownie said that he found that
the sewer from the building opened
rather close to the institution and in
his report will suggest that it be ex-
tended further from the building.
Mr.. Cownie left on Burlington No.
last evening for Fairfield where he
will inspect the Jefferson county in
stitution today. He has been subpoe-
naed as a witness before the grand
jury in the John w. Stone case, which
will be tried at Mt Pleasant Wednes-
day. From Mt. Pleasant he will go
to Charlotte, in Clinton county, and
thence to Upton, in Cedar county, at
which time the board will have visit
ed every county house in the state
where insane patienta are kept.