The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-22
ORDERS FOR
INVESTIGATION
INTO ASYLUM
Governor Ferguson lnStructs
Committee in Full.
EVERY NOOK OF CONCERN
viii be Looked Into and Re-
ported on,
EVERY NOOK OF CONCERN

! Guthrie, o. T., Jan. 21.-The committee
Of doctors selected by Governor Fergu-
son to investigate the Oklahoma sanitari-
un, consisting of DR.. Elliott Of Black
well, DR.. Werner of Newkirk and DR..
! Cook of Watonga, left here this morn
ing for Norman. The members expect TO
be absent from the city three days or
more, and will put in their entire time in
looking into affairs at the sanitarium-
Before the committee of doctors left
the city this morning a long conference
was held with Governor Ferguson in the
governors private Office. Specific instruc-
tions were given them regarding the in
vestigation, and Governor Ferguson be-
lieves that his instructions will be car
ried out to the letter. Among the things
mentioned in the conference this morning
are these:
Sanitation of the sanitarium.
Quality and quantity of food provided
for the inmates of the institution
Provisions made for the safety of the
inmates including fire escapes on the out
side of the building, etc.
Medical treatment-quality and guam
tity of medicines on store at the santari-
um.
Careful examination of persons who
are county charges, or who have been
placed in the sanitarium for inehriation
and other causes outside of insanity.
Number of idiots and county from
whence sent to the sanitarium.
Charges of brutality, including the bur-
ial of inmates without notice being given
of the death TO relatives.
While the above are some of the princi-
pal matters mentioned to the committee
by Governor Ferguson, many minor
things will be looked into by his commit
tee In regard TO the charges of brutali-
ty, the members have ell the correspond
ence which has been in Governor Fergu-
sons hands in regard to this matter.
Some startling situations have been men
toned in the correspondence, and If the
statements can be substantiated some
unlocked for results win probably come
to the front.
The committee was especially instruc-
ted to secure the number and names Of
the idiots in the institution. The law
states that these persons are not TO be
confined in the sanitarium; and some plan
must De 1OuUU III OIutI ~ ldhS tdiE u
these unfortunates. 1t is probable that
the relatives of the unfortunates viii be
asked to take care of them, and where
there are no relatives the various counties
viii be called upon TO provide some means
of taking care of the idiots in the insti-
tuition at the present time.
In all cases where persons have been
confined for causes other than insanity,
consisting principally of inebriation, the
committee IS empowered to dismiss such
persons from the institution. and per-
sonany see that they leave the premises.
It is understood that there are number
Of persons who are confined in the sani-
tariurn. but who are not insane. These
persons have been sent there more TO
cure them OF iuebriation, or to try and Sc
cure a Kelley cure" effect. The law
does not provide for such cases, and
Governor Ferguson will attempt to stop
the sending of such persons to the Nor
man institution.
The committee on its return TO this city
will make fu4. report. typewriter, to
the governor and a copy will be sent 70
the secretary of the interior department,
in order that he may know the exact
condition of the sanitarium.