The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-08-21

serious cases IN consultation with the
head physician, Dr. Darnell. and in a
few minutes can report Oh the num-
Der of deaths, the causes, names of the
deceased, residence and places of in
terment for any year the interviewer
may name.
Construction Of WARD Buildings.
The primary classification of those
confined at Longcliff is regarded as
follows: The noisy and violent; dis
turbed and disturbing; the quiet non
workers; the suicidal and epileptic;
the quiet working class; the sick and
infirm. and the neat, quiet, mutually
agreeable class. The wards occupied
by these enumerated in the above sew
en- classes are models of cleanliness.
Not even a speck of dust can be dis
cerned The visitor is surprised at
this condition. The floors are as high
ly polished as are those in the finest
dancing hall: the ceilings are steel;
the walls of adamantine; the stairways
of iron and the steps of back polished
slate. The buildings are fireproof, dis
ease-proof and neat. The epileptics
are confined by themselves, and in the
tuberculosis wards the poor, emaciated
consumptives are isolated They have
special bath, lavatory and fireplace;
the floors are impervious vitrified tile
and the walls are enameled. The eX-
pected disagreeable odors are lacking
in all departments, and in the sleep
ing rooms, where scores of single beds
with the best of springs and mat
tresses stand within a yard of one an
other, the coverlets are as stainless
as can be found in the most scrupulous
housewives apartments in the city.
Every room has perfect ventilation, the
fresh air in winter being obtained
from conduits opening funnel-shaped
about twenty feet from the base of the
buildings Each ward is fitted with a
spacious loggia wire screened in the
summer and glass-covered in the win
ter. so that patients can look upon
nature as she changes her garb at all
seasons Hospital wards are provided
for patients and employees and each is
fitted in hygienic style, operating
chairs and surgical appliances being
conveniently placed. In the various
wards patients can be seen playing
cards, checkers. billiards or pool; in
the female wards the organ or piano.
while the sewing and knitting needle
from a part of the paraphernalia and
some very fancy creations issue from
these departments. Others read news
papers. magazines and books and are
remarkably we'll informed upon the
most important topics of the day. F'e-
male inmates play and can read music.
Methods Conducive to Longevity.
The methods employed at Longcliff
are conducive to good physical health
and longevity. Any of those confined
there, if left at home. would long ago
have been lowered into the grave.
Regularity in eating and sleeping.
with pure air and exercise, are respOn-
sible for the general health, not
single case of sickness being recorded
out of the S37 patients confined within
the hospital when the reporter visited
the place. The treatment is humane
and scientific No brute force is dis
played. no blows struck. no matter
how violent or unruly may be the un-
| fortunate man or woman. Science has
revealed means to conquer what in
past ages may have required brute
strength and manacles. None in the
advanced wards ever attempt suicide.
Many appear happy and are unwilling
to leave the institution. A fact which
even the physicians are not competent
to account for is found in the declara-
ton that few patients. no matter how
advanced their mental decline, fail to
recognize the significance of the magic
word home"
A Complete institution.
Aside from the ward and administra-
ton buildings the writer gained access
to the assembly hall, the power house
with it's immense boilers, engines. mo-
tors. air-compressing machines and
dynamos; the kitchen. cold storage
plant, bakery, pharmacy and "mortu-
ary." All belong to one great system.
Ice is cut on an artificial pond and
when summer approaches the water is
turned out OF this basin to avoid the
dangers arising from stagnant, disease
breeding pools and the land is used for
the cultivation of potatoes or some
other product.
With the Trustees.
An hour spent at the session of the
board of control convinced the repor-
ter that the same systematic, honest
and careful methods noticeable about
the grounds also govern the actions of
the trustees. Absolute harmony was
characteristic. No contracts for in
ferior foodstuffs or supplies were let.
and the suggestions of Mr.. Zahrt, the
clever and far-seeing purchasing
agent, who understands the conditions
of the market as thoroughly as any op-
orator on change are generally acted
upon with the result that thousands of
dollars are saved by buying when quo
tations are low. Judging every de-
partment, every method and every act
of trustees. superintendent. physicians
and attendants. the writer must still
admit that Longcliff is indeed a won
derful institution. No state can show
its superior
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