The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-30
Recommends improvements
at the County lnfirmary,
which Commissioners Have
Already Ordered.
WOMAN WITH CANCER
DANGER TO INMATES
The Board Advised that She
Should Not Be Chartered
With Other Women-Sug-
gestion Will Be Needed.

--
recommendation of the Wayne
county board of Charities in respect to
the health and general conditions at
the county infrmary were read by the
county commissioners on Saturday
and pronounced somewhat tardy. With
one exception all the recommendation
made have already been provided for
by the commissioners
In substance the charities board
complained against the inadequate fire
protection, useless waste of coal in
heating the administration building,
'unsanitary toilets. the confinement of
malignant case of cancer in the wom-
ems building, and that there was no
canopy over the passage way from the
women's ward to the dining hall, SO as
to protect them in inclement weather
The one exception referred to is
that of the segregation of the cancer
Gus inmate from the other inmates.
This has been considered. but the
board has not reached conclusion as
to what action to pursue. The chari-
ties board suggested the use of tent,
and if the recommendation is not ad-
opted, chairman BeeEon intimated on
Saturday, some other method would
be provided SO that diseased patients
would be by herself
Orders have already been placed by
the board which substantially comply
with the recommendations OF the coun-
ty board of charities. The report Of
this body to the commissioners is as
follows:
Report 20 & ie Board.
To the Wayne Connty Board of Com
missioners:
Gentlemen:--A At cur recent visit to
the county infirmars. We were much
surprised and sli:sp ppointed to find
that nothing had yet been done. to fur
nish sufficient supply of water to
meet the demands of the institution
Under the present system there is no
fire protection for buildings filled with
helpless people, many of whom, in case
Of fire would most inevitably perish.
The toilets cannot be properly flushed
and consequently are unclean and un-
sanitary. Their condition has existed
for many months and we earnestly rec
ommend that you give it your immed-
late attention, and that if possible, the
springs which formerly supplied the
water, be connected with the reservoir
at the earliest possible moment.
The engine which now pumps the
water from a well is unreliable. and
we are Informed is frequently out of
commission for two Or three days at
time, and we urge upon the necessity
for immediate action.
We also note that while the men
have covered passageway to the new
dining room, the women have no such |
protection and we recommend that a |
canopy of some sort be placed over
the walk from the women's building |
before the inclement weather begins.
We also notice that the administra-
ton building has not been connected |
with the new heating plant which now
heat for the other buildings
and which is sufficiently large to
heat all. That with the present ar
it requires from so to so |
tons of coal at 1915 per ton to heat
the one building while 20 tons in ad-
dition to the amount new required for
the other two buildings would be suf-
ficient. We recommend that the build
ing be connected with the heating
plant, in order that this unnecessary
expense will be stopped.
We learn that there are a number of
men in this institution who are able to
work and refuse to do so. We be-
ieve the superintendent should be up
leld in his efforts to have them do
what they are able to do, and that
f they refuse, they should find a home
else and the county not
to support them.
We were particularly impressed
With the unpleasant conditions in the
building caused by the ex-
,essive use of disenfectants, made
Necessary by case of malignant can
.er. We think there should be some
for isolating such cases.
hat all others should not be subjected
o the dangers and discomforts arising .
herefrom. This might be done tenn i,
'orarily by means of a tent We hope ,
'ou will sincerely consider this mat
er. |.
Respectfully submitted by the ,
oard of charities, Eleonor H. Robin
on, secretary.