The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-20
MOLDYOFFAL HEAPED
IN INMATES ROOMS
Com m iss ioners Make q Tour Of
tho Institution and Submit
Sensational Reports--Sum-
mer States the institu-
tien Reeks With Filth"

"Reeking with filth" is the way
Commissioner Summer describes the
condition of the county infirmary, III
report written after visit to that
institution. The other commissioners
were equally emphatic in their state.
ments as to the sanitary condition OF
the buildings that shelter the unfor.
tunate poor Of Stark county.
Tuesday Commissioners Crawford
Summer and Hill made a tour of in
spection of the infirmary. 1t was
made for the purpose of finding out
the exact condition of affairs, and 1t
was thorough. They went from cellar
to garret in every building, examined
the hooks and corners, the beds AMI
even the bodily condition of the in
mates in so far as they could from
what was visible aud smellable.
The report that they made was sick
ening-horrible. Some idea of the aw-
full condition of things found may be
imagined by the fact that after going
through the dining room where the in
mates eat, Commissioner Summer
stepped hurriedly out of one door and
vomited and Commissioner Crawford
made his exit by another door and also
relieved his stomach of it's contents.
Commissioner Hill had little strong
er stomach and got out without losing
his dinner.
LOOKS BAD IN PRINT.
This is not pleasant thing to put
into print, but the time has evidently
come when the mask must be thrown
off and the sufferings of the poor DIT
the infirmary be given to the public
in all their sickening details. For
some time past the News-Democrat has
been attempting to get at the exact
facts in order to present them to it's
readers, but no definite information
could be secured. Now 1t comes from
an official source and the people will
learn more than they ever dreamed
existed.
The commissioners were absent from
the city on Wednesday and did not take
any action. Thursday they sent for
Superintendent Lichtenwalter to meet
them. 1t had been agreed upon before
hand that each one of the commits
sioners should write out a report of
the condition as he saw 1t for himself
and the reports should be read at their
meeting, and out of the three a state
ment could be framed which they were
all to sign and make a part of their
records.
When Lichtenwalter appeared before
them, Commissioner Hill was not
present, 1t being impossible for him to
be there. The two who were present,
however, told the superintendent In
very plain terms how they found
things. They made two exceptions in
their statements. The insane ward and
hospital were in good condition and as
clean as they could well be considering
the buildings. These are under the
care Of two matrons or nurses, who
are reported to be doing all that Is
possible under the circumstances.
SUMMERS REPORT.
Summers had just completed his re-
port and after some general talk he
read it to Lichtenwalter. The report
of the commissioner was as follows:
Tuesday We visited and inspected
the county infirmary. We found the in
sane building and the hospital build
ing in good condition. The old build
ing In which many of the inmates are
kept was also in fairly good condition.
The dining room for the inmates had
Just been scrubbed, but there was a
very nauseating stencil pervading the
whole room. There can be no proper
excuse for this condition. The builc-
ings, three In number, outside of the
main building, In which quite num-
Der of the male inmates are housed,
were in a deplorable condition-reeE-
ing with filth.
Many of the inmates we found in
very dirty and filthy condition. It
seems to us that the inmates should be
to keep themselves and their
rooms reasonably clean, II the inmates
do this some one ought to be
secured who will see to 1t that they do
observe ordinary cleanliness.
USES STRONG TERMS.
while we recognize the fact that
with the present accommodations 1t Is
q difficult matter to properly care for
the inmates, yet we cannot help but
condemn In the strongest terms tho
present filthy condition Of many of the
Inmates and number Of the build
Ings.
Another matter to which we wish
TO call attention Is the fact that an
ldiotic boy is being kept in the hosri-
tai. He has been Kept there for two
years to the detriment and great an
noyance Of the persons who properly
beiong II that branch n the instit1- |