Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24
FIND ALL HOSPITALS IN
EXCELLENT CONDITION

Oakland. This Is the poorest of all our
charitable or correctional Institutions.
The buildings are old and not generous
ly equipped They are of wood, and. in
view of the fact that the inmates are all
blind, dangerous. 1t should he the aim
of the state to equip these with modern
fireproof or at least slow burning build
ings as soon as possible.
The inmates are employed as follows:
The men at broom making and the wo-
men at chair Gaming. They keep what
they earn and in addition are cared for
by the institution.
A sidewalk is needed on one side of the
grounds, which are in thicxly settled
part of Oakland. The state should put
in this sidewalk as all other property on
the street has been improved and the
state is the only owner behind in this
respect
The superintendent, Joseph Sanders, is
himself blind.
Secretary Gates reported he had in
spected Agnews state hospital October IS.
All the old buildings except one of the
male cottages have been razed and the
sites cleared away. Plans are being pre-
pared for new buildings, but will not be
started until next year. The patients are
in temporary barracks. which have good
plumbing and heating systems.
The patients are receiving as good care
as can be expected with the facilities and
buildings provided. No new patients can
be received.
Raise Many Vegetables
Secretary Gates further reported he had
Inspected Stockton state hospital Oc-
tober 20 and so. The new farm has this
year, besides keeping the dairy, produced
5000 sacks of potatoes, worth $500, and
,, - ~
dens a good supply of vegetables.
The kitchens, one for male and one for
female patients, are among the best in
the state, neat, clean and large we'll
lighted and ventilated. They are well
ordered and the cooking is we'll done.
The meals are well served in various din
ing rooms, some central and some in
the wards. The meals are good and suf-
fcent.
The ward buildings are old and not in
the best repair, but were clean and
sanitary. The attendants on the male
wards average one to more than eighteen
patients, and on the female wards one to
fifteen patients. The attendants are on
duty thirteen hours daily, with half day
off each week. They sleep in the wards
at night, subject to call II anything in
the ward requires it, The attendants here
have seen long service one forty-four
thirty years. Although careful inspec-
tion was made. no evidences of III treat
ment of patients was seen. Some of the
patients were seen at their bath. One
complaint of abuse was Investigated. A
patient complained the attendants had
put an electrical machine in his abdomen
and it was pounding him, and they had
crushed in his ribs to hold the machine
in place. Other patients have similar
dellrsions and cne had written letter to
the president. discussing cruel and in
human punlshments.
DR.. Stocking. superintendent of Agnews
state hospital. was present at the meet
ing and presented and explained the
plans proposed for tho new hospital
buildings at Agnews. The buildings are
we'll arranged 4 the cottage plan, With
facilities for treatment and cure promi-
nent. The plan Is in advance of anything
in this country.
Or. Moore reported he had visited the
national penitentiary of Mexico