The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25

kind in the world and in point of scientific
management it is, experts have said, as
good as knowledge can make. Not until one
has visited the grounds and looked into the
inner works of the institution does he
realize what a modern and gigantic COM
munity it is. True, there is a certain feel
ing for the inmates tina deadens the desire
to investigate infinitely, but a few visits
and talks with those in charge, who have
the work at heart. and wonder and admira-
uncanny atmosphere.
THE AMPLE GROUNDS.
The grounds of the Central Indiana Hos
pital for the Insane include in all $50 acres
of land, of which forty acres are cultivated
by gardening and the remainder devoted to
lawns and buildings. The lawns are beauti-
fed with swings n benches and walks
and many heavy shade trees. where the un-
fortunate inmates can spend their unhappy
hours amid pleasant surroundings, at least.
There is a ball field, where the inmates bat
and throw the baseballs. The most popular
amusement among the men Is, however,
the throwing Of baseballs at rubber ''nigger
babies" The women devote most Of their
outdoor hours to the swings and walking
through the grounds. Very few Of the in
mates are allowed outside the wards unless
accompanied by guards. The usual custom
is for a crowd Of from twenty to thirty men
or women to be guarded by four or five per-
sons. The lands of the hospital are valued
at $780, 900. The value Of lands and build
ings is placed at 81, 6S4.2 $50.
There are thirty-one buildings included In
the Institution. The two main buildings are
the department for the men and the depart
ment for the women. The floor area of the
mems building is zoe. 341 feet, and it's ca
pacity is 736 inmates. The largest building
on the grounds is the one in which the wom-
en- are kept. If one should walk around the
outer walls of the building he would cover
a distance equal to a mile and a half. It's
total area is almost $40, OO0 feet, and its ca
pacity is 902 inmates The total area of all
the buildings is something over sixteen
acres.
NUMBER OF INMATES.
One is surprised at the number of IN
mates in the hospital. At present there are
about nineteen hundred who are under the
care of the institution. The number varies
from week TO week. as many are dis
charged as cured and others go back to
llClI dAA1AlCS II AQllDt liidl AdNc UGGn
under the care of the hospital from 1888
until 1902 is 22,SG1. The daily average is
about eighteen hundred. When one takes
into consideration the district from which
the institution draws. some estimate of
the number of insane people can be had.
The district covers thirty-eicht counties of
central Indiana, many of whose insane are
not sent to the hospital but are kept in
county jails. poor asylums or elsewhere.
The average number of insane last year
in Marion county was slightly over 500.
The other counties. however. do not APP
preach this figure.
The two main causes OF insanity as shown
by the statistics from last years report are
hereditary and intemperance. Epilepsy. and
senility are also prominent causes. There
are many others as shown by the records
such as worry over business, disappoint-
ment in love, sickness, hard luck. over
work. worry over a crime, use of morphine
and other drugs and financial reverses. The
inmates are for the most part people past
middle age, many Of them so old looking
that one could not judge their exact age.
The records show that there are more
women than men In the hospital. while the
number of young people is very small.
WOMEN DO SOME WORK
The life OF the innate at the hospital is
as happy as the hand Of mar can make 1t,