Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-28
MAY BE COLONIzED.
Physicians Want Colony for Epi-
ieptics Established.
TO WORK FOR AN APPROPRIATION
Bill May Be Introduced at Next Gener-
al Assembly Asking Money to Pro-
vide for Isolation of sufferers-Dr.
Brockman Favors Plan.

1t is the general opinion that an ap-
preparation will be secured from the
state legislature at it's next session for
the establishment of either colony
for epileptics or a sanitarium for suf-
ferers from tuberculosis. The plan to
colonize the epileptics has long been
fought for by DIR. Powell, superinten-
dent of the school for the feeble-mind-
ed at Glenwood, while Dr. F. H. Little,
of Muscatine, has also worked hard to
bring about this result 1t is proba-
BILE that one of the projects will be
carried through the next general as.
sembly
DR.. Brockman Favors Colony.
In speaking OF the plans for caring
for this class of sufferers, DR.. d. c..
Brockman of this city, stated this
morning that the Iowa physicians
would be unit in fighting for the pas
sage of a bill providing for the care of
either the epileptics or the sufferers
from tubercular diseases. He stated
that in his opinion the epileptics should
first be cared for and he strongly favor
ed the plan of securing an appropriate
from the legislature for the establish
ment of a colony where the epileptics
might receive proper treatment.
Muscatine Physician Talks.
In a recent issue of the Muscatine
Journal DR.. Little said:
THE Muscatine County Medical So
ciety at its last meeting addressed a
resolution to the Iowa State Medical
society asking the appointment of a
committee to present to the coming
| legislature bill to establish state
institution for the care and treatment
of epileptics. If the various medical
societies in the state will take this
up, and l believe they will, there will
soon grace our state an institution
| that is quite as necessary as those for
the insane, the blind, the deaf and
/ dumb, the feeble minded, and the inc
! briate. Every medical man has had
ample opportunities to observe the
need for such an institution. For all
have seen the unfortunate epileptic in
jails, almhouses and asylums, and
know how indifferently they are cared
1 for in such places. Little or no effort
| is made to treat these cases, and they
rapidly go from bad to worse, and
these same cases il properly cared for,
their hygiene looked after, personal
habits corrected, their food prepared
along scientific lines, and treated by
4 scientific men who would devote their
4 whole time to the study of their cases
would, result inata percentage oil
cures, and if not that an amelioratior
of condition.
Completely Ostracised.
4 The condition of the epleptic in soceit.
is one of almost complete ostracism
I He is not cared for because of the
dread his unforeseen attacks cause il
\ people If he gains employment il
any capacity, he is discharged as sool
as his employer learns that he is al
epileptic. He cannot work arount
machinery, or with horses, for any me
ment he may be seized with convlll
sion. The same is true in any of tn
trades. The poor unfortunate canno
do the most menial of labor on &C
count of that fearful disease, epilepsy
, He stands around and sees other er
: joy life in various ways, sees then
go to and from their daily labors, haE
ply and contented and prosperous, bu
from all this he is shut out, becaus
of his unfortunate condition, unles
he Is person Of means he soon find
himself in the county house and Their
he stays until death ends the scene.
! THE Craig colony in New York i
a home for this class of cases, an
/, their statistics show that much can b
! done for the epileptic. The labor G
the inmates of the farm connecte
with the colony goes long way tt
ward paying expenses.
Our state has done and is dom
, much and will do more toward takin
!, care of its unfortunate ones, and her
! is an opportunity for the great stat
of Iowa to place itself in the foremos
rank among the states and do wor
of humanity.