Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-17
CHANGE IN STATE HOSPITALS
Iowa Wants Epileptic Institution for
Numerous Patients
1NEBR1ATE ASYLUM UNPOPULAR
Compulsory Cure of Persons Addicted
60 Drink Proves Failure at
knOxViIIc-State Board
Makes Report.
CFrom a staff correspondent

DES MONIES. Nov. 1G.-(Special)-lhe
state Of Iowa will nave at least one more
state institution before another biennial
term has passed. and may lose one when
is now in operation. That which is wanted
is an e~pileptic farm and that which is not
wanted Is an inebriate reformatory.
The Board of Control has urged before
several legislatures the purchase of LAM
on which to establish a colony for cpl
leptiCs. This recommendation will be made
again to the legislature and more emphatic
than ever before, and inasmuch as the state
institutions will not be greatly i'm need of
large sums for extraordinary purposes in
other directions it is regarded as certain
that the epileptic colony Will be established.
There are about 1000 epileptics in Iowa,
including those that are Kept at home;
there are 4SS now at the four state lnstitu-
items. Many are in poorhouses, others at
the institution for feeble minded and also
at the insane hospitals. Unless their ali
ment has led to positive insanity they are
capable of doing a great deal of work, and
If they were colonized on a farm they
would be able to very nearly pay their own
way through life. 1t is planned to take
nearly all Of them from the institutions
and place them on the farm. Save when
they are seized with a spasm they are able
to work. For this purpose a farm of at
least Gao acres is wanted, which would cost
$4,000 or over II the legislature should
appropriate for the purchase of the land
the construction of buildings could be de-
ferred.
For Northern Part of State,
The institution would probably be located
in the northern part of the state, on high
ground, far removed from any city. The
buildings necessary would not be expensive.
This would reduce the total cost of main
tanning state institutions.
The other institution which is a source OF
a great deal of annoyance and trouble is
the Inebriate institution at Knoxville. The
experiment of compulsory cure of persons
addicted to the liquor and drug habits has
proved practically a failure. The number
of persons actually cured or benefited is
very small. The only persons who get good
results are those who voluntarily go to the
institution. Those who are forced to &c
there by order of court are always defiant
They conspire together and many run
away. For some time a serious effort ha:
been made to recapture and return all who
go away, but this is proving expensive, a.
the number of assertions increases all tn,
time. 1t is possible that the institution will
be abandoned, and certain 1t is that tn,
disposition of the state is to not spend an,
more money there in permanent improve
ments.
Money for Tuberculosis Hospital.
The largest expenditure of the stat,
under the Board of Control recently ha!
been for the new tuberculosis sanitariun
at Oakdale, between Iowa City and Ceda.
Rapids. The board has expended $lO3, 81
for this institution. and has a farm Of p
acres, and accommodations for eighty pa
TENTS. A total of lO5 patients have beer
admitted since 1t was opened, February
last. The board asks for $57, 500 more. o
which $22,5CO would be for cottages and $20.
600 for kitchen.
Detailed report is made by the stat
board in regard to the results of farm Oh
%erations, and ii is shown that an immens
quantity of grain, vegetables and fruit 1
grown. In the current year this crop re
port showed: Beans, 1901 bushels: beets
i,lSS bushels; broomcorn, AGO pounds; cab
bage, 4lO,5lO pounds; field corn, 46, 1854 bush
els sweet corn, 247,327 pounds; popcorn. %
= bushels; cucumbers, SO, 341 pounds; carrots
ll4'H4 pounds; celery, 1881 pounds; oat.
I,252 bushels; tomatoes, $50 bushels; egg.
ll'S43 dozen' milk, 2,1l5. 95l pounds; Iart
Sol2O pounds; pork, 1857 pounds, an
many other things.
Z The herds of the institutions have bee
t tested for tuberculosis and of the SIS an
imals tested 2s6 were killed.
= The board reports the abandonment G
the deep well at Glenwood and constructio
OF a pumping plant. An appropriation
? wanted for a well at independence.
! water system has been completed at Knox
Vile, but the water is hard.
Considerable has been done at the inst
tutons to provide against losses by fire.
, The board during the last two years re
r appointed the heads of four institutions an
selected new heads for six of the institl
: ions. The new men are MARQUIS Barr q
Anamosa, j. c. Sanders at Fort Madison
ID. +, kfrschner at Iowa City. w. J.. Kuse
at Eldora, Fl. s. Miner at Knoxville an
q J. T. Harnett, state agent.
$ Juvenile Courts,
g The board makes an interesting report o
e the work of the juvenile courts OF III
Z state. For the year ended December
e 1907, there was brought before the low
T courts 1,123 children, Of whom Ts6 WEI
BOYS. OF these. So boys and 6 girls wer
discharged Internationally; 100 boys and
A girls were returned to their parents undo
supervision; 81 boys and 81 girls were place
In new homes; 81 boys and 81 girls wer
placed in private institutions: . boys and
girl were sent to the institution for feebI
. minded; IS boys and 8 girls were sent I
?, the orphans home; Ia boys were sent I
n Eldora and 70 girls sent to MitchellviIl,