Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-01
CARE 0| TIE insane
Board Of Control Inspection
Shows Conditions Bad at
County Institutions.
As a General Rule Insane Are
Not Well Cared
For.
improvements We're Made In
But Few Of the County
Hospitals.

- AStAO Ao
ton, formulated rules and regulations
for the various county institutions
where insane are quartered.
While the reports for the recent semi
nnual inspection show marked i'm
provements in many directions, and in
some of the counties BONA fide efforts
to make conditions such as demanded
by the board Of controls rules. the
fact remains that the grossest ignor-
ance and inccmpetency are displayed in
a large number OF the county hospitals.
An examination of the reports to the
board of control show this. The condi-
lions in some of the counties are such
that the board Of control has fully made
up its mind to emove the insane from
a number of the counties where the sit
uation is worst, as soon as room for
them can be found in state institutions
or in we'll equipped and maintained
county institutions.
Among the reports is one made this
fall by DR.. C. F. Apologize, superin-
tendent of the Mt. Pleasant institution,
on the Polk county hospital. This re-
por. showed up the Polk county insti-
~ ~ u q SAS . .IASAA 0006S
Robinson OF the board of control has ex-
amined the institution and has found
conditions much bettered than when
DR.. Apologize ven there. He has filed
a supplemental report. Increased at
tendants and a night watch, as required
by the board, have been provided, and
other improvements made.
Below are given features Of the re-
ports on the different county hospitals,
as filed with the board of control by the
inspectors:
The report on the Hamilton county
institution, which was visited by DIR.
M. N. Voldeng Oct. 5, shows there has
been some improvement since the In
spection in May. The inspection is re-
ported as not being as close as 1t ought
to be, especially as to bedding. There
have been no bathing facilities, but
these are being provided.
AT the Woodbury. county institution 1t
found the paupers and insane ate
in the same room. There is one insane
patient thare who vas never %adjudged
insane and was sent by the overseer of
the poor. The asylum and hospital
buildings are not well ventilated. Little
or no attempt is made to separate the
paupers and insane women. Bathing ia
cilities are very poor.
In the Lucas county institution no
discrimination is made between the in
sane and the paupers. There are no
facilities. Insane and paupers,
male and female. eat together at the
table. There is no employee pres
during meal time.
In Sioux county the beds are infested
with vermin. The rooms are poorly
heated. "In my Judgment" says DIR.
voldeng. who made the inspection, this
institution is not a fit place for caring
the insane"
In the Webster county institution the
Inspector says there can hardly be said
to be sufficient facilities for caring for
the insane. David G%ustafson, " adj
insane, has been at the institu-
ton for years and was found by the in
srector outdoors with iron shackles on
his ankles. Insane and paupers eat to-
gether and there is but n bath room
for both seves.
The Pocahontas county institution is
by DR.. Voldeng as n of
the best he has visited.
In Allamakee county it was found by
Hill that conditions were good.
In Marion county DR.. Voldeng found
the facilities for caring for the insane
exceedingly inadequate. Male paupers
sleep on the same floor and the same de-
where the insane women sleep.
More attendants are recommended.
Dallas county was inspected by DR..
yoldenp He found it in excellent con-
aition with the exception of lack of suit
able fire protection.
In Clarke county, Wr. Wherry recon-
mends the building used by the male pa
tents be vacated and that bathing
should be given. In Decatur
,ounty DR.. Wherry found many I'M
since the spring inspection.
In Wapello county DR.. Apologize
the building poorly ventliateo.
Eleven men and one oma y on the
floor and sleep there. one Ie-
male patient is constantly restrained,
md. the greater part of the time, Is IN
,ao,,,a,on The room occupied by these
na+,ents ia not AT for a belng.
! . . One consumptive insane woman
. kent in the pauper department.. ols
nd other inflammables are kept IN one
:, The basement rooms adjoining that IN
which the eleven! men and woman
sleen. Several patients do not receive
,roner care and attention. 1t is recon-
,,endad no acute case be permitted 10
,ntar the wapello county asylum.
ronditions in Hardin and Boone are
~ of the best. In Marshall the build
no Is pronounced in very untidy con-
1it;on and the ventilation poor. Inere
been much Improvement IN Jasper
,ounty. In Keokuk, insane and pau
,ars eat in the same room. In Floyd,
are fair. In Powshiek, the
is reported encouraging. In
.ow,a. conditions are poor n there has
,een little Improvement. In Hancock,
improvements suggested at former in
,pection are rot yet made. In Maliaska,
here is said to be too much mixing OF
,aupers and insane. In Louisa, the
makes no regular visits as re-
,uired. In Van Buren,, improvements
ire being made. Johnston county has
marked improvements, and Cedar
IS we'll. Cerro Gordo county Is not se-I
.iouslys criticised. Henry county has
made improvements. In Lee county,
he papers and insane eat in the same
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