Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-25
State Board of Charities
Submits Sensational
Report.
RECALLS, DARK AGES
Basis OF Recommendation That
State Take Control of
Insane.

Chicago, April 25.-ReyelatiOns of
the most revolving and inhuman treat
mCnt of insane inmates of Illinois cOun-
ty almShOuses are made in report just
submitted to Governor Deneen by the
state board of charities. The astound-
ing conditions described in the 100000
word report are made the basis for an
emphatic recommendation that the
state assume complete control Of the
insane.
The report shows that in many of
the almshuuses Of Illinois there exist
horrors which SAVIOR of Europe in the
dark ages and which are almost unbc-
lievable in a'Christian community of
today. 1t is shown that conditions
which were complained of 90 years ago
to the general assembly in memorial
presented by Miss Dorothy l.. Dix are
still existent. Cook county is not touch
ed by the report, due to the existence of
the adequate institution at Dunning.
Photos Presented.
With the report are submitted photo
graphs of some of the monstrous abuses
which have thus far been tolerated by
the state of Illinois. One of the pic
lures is of box bed in which an in
sane woman was kept 40 years An.
other shows" young girl chained by
her ankles. \ third discIoses a rude
box, fashioned somewhat like coffin
with Stats across the top, hasps and i
bolt which was used as a sleeping
place for the unruly insane.
some Conditions Found.
Here are some of the conditions
found by the state board of charities:
Numerous almshouses exist where
steel handouts. barred cells. steel cages
and padlocks are in service to restrain
the insane. A girl of 20 was kept in {
steel cage in Stark county
In IS almshouses there is no effec
tive separation of the sexes. which re
suits in the birth of illegitimate chill
dren to insane women. In the Frankie
county almshouse an imbecile woman
has given birth TO five illegitimate chill
dren and is about to become a mOthe
again.
In 81 counties the care of the aims
house population is let by contract, ol
the basis of the lowest bid, "a system
which leaves human msery>at the mes
Cy of human greed" In some countie
the cost of the almshOuse occupant
is approximately 81 per week per car
ita, for which they are supposed to rs
ceive food, clothing and all care.
Mnny Declared Filthy.
Many of the almshouses are filthy /
an indescribably disgusting degree an
are overrun with several breeds of vel
min. In the Clinton county almshous
the patients have not bathed for l
years.
Insane persons in some almshouse
exist in conditions which are unfit fc
any living creature. In the Scott com
ty almshouse an insane paralytic, he'll
less for nine years. lived in putri
bed in an upholstered basement rOOl
with brick floor. In the DuPage aim
house an old man, insane and also
victim of tuberculosis and cancer. III
able to care for himself in the slighte
degree, lived in a bed infected wit
vermin. In the same almshouse a
other old man, insane, was kept in
room in the basement, alive with We
min, his bedding and clothing beir
filthy.
Chained to stop Stamping.
Rough modes of physical restraint a
in vogue in some almshOuses. In 81
phenson almshouse girl was fasten'
with chains, straps and padlocks
her bare ankles at night. to keep h
from stamping her feet and waking pc
pie up. In Dekalb amshouse a sol
box, with air holes. somewhat larG
than basket, with a top locked
bolts, is kept for bed for unruly ma
men.
Lack Expert Service.
Almshouses maintained by coun
governments do not and cannot p
vide continuous expert medical a
nursing service.
In 50 almshouses there are no ba
tubs and in others the water supply
deficient.
In certain almshouses insane persC
are punished physically to make tn
behave.
In 54 almshouses there is no prov
ion to separate the insane from
plain paupers.
Sixty-four almshouses have no
protection
Some of the insane are detained W