Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-29
CARING FOR INSANE.
Rules Promulgated By State Board
Of Control.
OF INTEREST TO EVERY TAXPAYER.

OF INTEREST TO EVERY TAXPAYER.
Copy of the Rules and Regulations
Just Received atthc Office of County
Auditor Morgan Griswold--The Pub
lie Interested.
County Auditor Morgan Griswold is
in receipt of copy of the rules and
regulations for the government OF
county and private institutions in
which insane people are kept, as re-
Gently adopted by the Board of Con-
troll of State Institutions, for the
state of Iowa. The rules apply to the
Wapello County Hospital for the In
sane, and for that reason are OF inter-
est to every resident Of the county.
Readers of the Courier will remem-
Der that in Saturdays paper an
nounoement was made of the fact OF
the appointment Of c. w. Stroud to
the position of night Waterman at the
Wapello county institution. which APP
pointment was made in accordance
with recommendations OF Hon. John
Cownie, member OF the state board of
control, who visited the institution Of
fcially some weeks ago.
Mr.. Cownie had only one other rec
commentator to make at that time
and that was that fire escapes should
| l., ~ H. h,,il VII, nr-n a
insane persons are confined. AS
stated in the Courier, this matter will
be attended to in the near future, as
the members of the board of supervis-
ors are now considering plans for the
said escapes, and are making prepara-
tions for giving an order for the pur-
chase and erection.
Tho not required by the board Of
control, the Wapello county board
will proceed in the near future to the
construction of an ice house at the
county institution. 1t is to be of
ample capacity, and it is figured that
it will be filed with ice taken from
the Des Moines river at the most con-
venient point, most likely in or near
this city.
Synopsis of the Rules.
The rules and regulations as re-
Gently adopted by the board of con-
troll, in brief, are as follows:
| l. All insane persons must be
| treated as diseased and mentally ir-
responsible for their acts and must
not be punished as persons of sound
mind may be for violation of rules,
etc. But they must be induced to ac-
quire habits of regularity, cleanliness,
etc. and they must be clothed as near
ly as is practicable with their condi-
lions, as sane people are, and they
must be encouraged to deport them
selves as sane persons at the table
and elsewhere.
No Punishments.
fiected on insane persons, but the
freedom and privileges of those who
do not obey proper rules and orders
may be restricted. Corporal punish
ment shall not be inflicted in any case
and only SO much force shall be used
as is necessary to prevent violence, to
preserve property, and to insure the
safety of other persons in the instltu-
ton. Physical restraint is not to be
lresorted to unless in cases of absolute
necessity, and then it must be mild
and of brief duration. Seclusion in
daytime is prohibited except in ex-
IRENE and exceptional cases and it
| shall not be continued any longer than
lis absolutely necessary to produce the
desired result on the patient.
8. Insane persons, whose condition
permits, shall be required to take reg
ular daily exercise in open air when
the weather is suitable, and they shall
be furnished with amusements and
employment suited to their mental
condition. Suitable newspapers, mag
azines and books shall be supplied 10
those who are able to understand
them, and opportunities shall be Civ
en- patients for attending religious
services.
Clothing for Patients.
| a. Patients must be supplied with
suitable clothing in ample quantities,
and they must be kept neat and clean
at all times, Unless otherwise order
| ed by a physician, insane persons
| shall be bathed regularly once week
and oftener if required; the water
shall be clean and not previously
used; the temperature of the bath
IShall pc the most suitable for the per-
son bathed. Care must be taken to
lprevent uncleanliness. Each insane
person shall be furnished with clean
suit of underclothing each week, and
as much oftener as due regard for
cleanliness may require. The bed of
each person shall be kept clean and
comfortable. Clean sheets and pillow
cases shall be furnished for each bed
each week and mattresses and other
portions of the bed must be cleaned
and removed as often as required to
insure perfect cleanliness. Vermin
must be kept from the beds.
| s. Rooms occupied by patients
must be dry and well lighted; well
ventilated and kept at proper TEN.
perature. No insane person shall be
allowed to live in or sleep habitually
in, any room the floor of which is
more than two and one-half feet low.
err than the surface of the earth out.
side of and next to the building.
Fire Escapes.
6. Suitable means of escaping