The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-02-12
GOV. DENEEN DEFENDS
Conduct of Institution For Feeble
Minded at LincoIn-Many
EaISa Cfnriec

Minded at Lincoln--Many
False Stories.
Springfield, ILL.,, Feb ii-Governor
Charles s. Deneen has prepared a
statement in which he denounces in
uDmistakable terms the attacks that
have becn made upon the manage
ment of Illinois Asylum for Feeble
Minded Children. In Lincoln 1t is in
part as follows:
MaIiciousness and Effrontry.
think I can fairly conclude this
review of the present medical admin
istration of the Asylum for Feeble
Minded Children by saying that the
malicious ISLANDERS to which ii has been
subjected are almost without parallel
in mendaciousness and effrontery. BY
failure to protest against misrepre.
sentation, the investigating committee
has permitted the false inference to be
drawn from the publication of one
sided testimony that the medical adj
ministration of the institution is in
competent. The opposite lis the truth.
A sjust presentation of condition
shows this department to be thorough
ly competent in its personnel, thor
oughly efficient in its methods and
thoroughly organized for its work. No
better medical department can be
a similar character.
shall not leave this subject without
adverting to the charge given public.
ity by certain portion of the public
press that some members of the medi
cal staff are dope fiends.' The pub
lication of such charge. unsupported
by scintilla of evidence. Is an out
rage and having made inquiry to as
certain the facts, | take this oppor-
tunity of denouncing u as unfounded,
false and vicious.
Accidents Specified.
Much newspaper comment has been
made upon the case of Vergine Jes-
sup, who, on the morning of March
90 last, was found with slight injur
les on face. hands and breast, such as
the assistant physician in charge of
the case testified might be inflicted by |
any child upon herself with tho fin |
ger nails. The charge has been made |
that the child had been bitten by rats. |
No direct evidence of any kind was of |
fered to show that such was the case |
and the statement is in conflict with |
the diagnosis OF the physician in |
charge No case of rat bite has ever
occurred during DIR. Hardt's admins
tration, and so far as can be ascertain
ed none during the history Of the In.
stitutiou.
Case of Minnie Steritz. May 2. 1907.
burned while being bathed by another
inmate, contrary to the rules. during |
the absence OF the attendant. In vic
lation of duty. The occurrence was
inexcusable but solely attributed To
the failure of the attendant to comply
with the rules of the institution. The
employe was Immediately discharged
after an investigation by Civil Service
Commission and the State Board of
Charities and has been refused rein
statement.
The accident occurring August 2s.
lSJl 10 waiter kaak. whose rlgnt arm
was injured while working in the
laundry. Walter KaaS was one Of the
bright boys OF the institution and was
not an epileptic In the presence Of
an attendant and before he could in
terfere. he mischievously put his hand
I'm an extractor partially filled with
wet clothes. A few articles Of cloth
ing wrapped themselves about his 4
arm. twisting and breaking IT. He was
Immediately attended by DF. Hook OF
the institution medical stan and taken
10 St Clara's hospital. where ampu-
tation was found tn be necessary and
was performed By Dr. Ewing. sur
geon for the Chicago and Alton rail-
road. Extractors similar in character
lConcIuded On Third paeel H