Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-05
FARM IS A GOOD ONE
State Inspecting Physician APP
proves of County Institution.
HE VISITED OTlUMWA LAST MONDAY
DR.. M. c. Mackin of independence APP
pointed by State Board of Control
to Inspect the County Hospitals
Throughout the State.
[From Tuesdays Dally.I

[From Tuesdays Daily.1
"The Wapello county farm is fully
up to the average of the kindred in
situations I have visited during the
past several weeks, and l have been
in nearly all the counties in the state"
said DR.. M. G. Mackin of independence,
the Inspector appointed by the state
board OF control to visit the county
insane hospitals in Iowa and to report
on the conditions of the various places
to the board. Judging from the state
ments he made to Courier represent
ative last evening while waiting for
his train at the Union depot, his re-
port regarding the Wapello comfy farm
VIII be favorable and will recommend
no radical changes from the system
being followed at present.
Not Like the Last.
The inspection of the Wapello coun-
ty farm last year was not satisfactory
to many of those interested in the
care of the institution. In the first
place the report of the examining ply
stefan contained statements at inter-
walls which were found on investiga-
ton by the board of supervisors to be
in error, and all in all the report was
considered unjust to the board and to
the steward, George Wilson. DR..
Mackin speaks in way which would
indicate that he is well pleased with
the appearance of the farm and the
conditions here.
Compliments Steward.
"You have splendid steward and
stewardess in Mr. and Mrs. Wilson,
said DR.. Mackin last evening. '"They
seem to exert every energy to make
life as easy as possible for the people
under their care and they have good
success. l think that your Wapello
county farm is good one, fully up to
the average and improving right
along"
In the Basement.
The doctor found some little fault
with the basement sleeping rooms, a
few of which are maintained for the
male insane patients at the county in
|stitution. He says that as a rule
basement rooms the floors of which
are three feet or more below the level
of the ground are unsanitary, espe
cially when they have cement floors
However, as he said, this defect is be
ing remedied in Wapello county.
Good Sanitary Conditions.
The sanitary conditions at the Wa
pello county hospital are good. and tn
cleanliness that exists throughout tn
institution is to be commended. Their
are no radical changes that / woul
suggest, and l consider that the inst
tuition in this county is carried on vel
The water supply is about to be better
ed, another fact that is worthy of az
prevail.
DR.. Mackin was formerly. but is no
now, connected with the state insan,
hospital at independence, and has hac
much experience in dealing with pee
pie whose minds are imperfect. Il
! speaking of allowing the insane peopl
and the paupers to associate he dis
4 played lenient views. He said that
an insane person has formed an al
tachment for a room in the pauper'
ward there is no harm done by allow
| ing him to retain the place, although
as rule the practice of allowing tn
i two classes to be together is not ad
visable. The sexes, he said, must b
separated, according to the rules lai
1 down by the board of control.