Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-21
CONDITIONS AT
THE WORKHOUSE.
DrS. RumfOrd, Frantz and
Robin Point Out Need for
Exercise Yard

In combating the statement made
by DR.. Albert Robin that the condi-
tions at the Workhouse are bad and
that many of the prisoners have tub
erculosis, DR.. Samuel c. Rumford, the
official physician of the institution,
states that many of the prisoners come
to the institution tainted with con-
sumption and other diseases as a re-
suit of the lives they lead.
DR.. Rumford states that every pre-
caution is taken to prevent the spread
of the disease. Each man has his own
drinking cup and the vessels for ex-
pectorating are cleaned and disinfec-
tants placed in them. The talk of
overcrowding and poor ventilation in
the workshop. the physician states, is
all nonsense. The prisoners showing
signs of tuberculosis are placed at
work on the farm or else put to work
i'm the quarry carrying water and
other jobs and if they. become worse
they are placed in the hospital wing
where they have a sunny porch and
comfortable chairs. AS for the food
served Dr. Rumford states it is good
and nutritious and is of a better quail
ity than some of the men get at their
own homes.
DR.. Rumford states that before the
lpeople of the lower part of the state
talk of an investigation it would be
,d,-f~,lIo 20 looly oro,,pd az homo oud
see how the ventilation and food pro-
position is carried out in the iails
there. Many of the prisoners from
those iails almost invariably begin tc
fail before they have been at the
Workhouse many weeks and a large
percentage of the deaths from tuber-
cular troubles are from those from
down the state, as was the case Of
the man last week, DR.. Rumford says.
Dr. Rumford agrees with Dr. Robin
that the ideal plan would be to have
separate wing or building for the
tuberculosis patients, and to have the
prisoners all outside. He advocates
having prisoners employed in making
roads. He also advocates an exercise
yard.
DR.. Rumford states that the life NJ
John Goodwin was not in danger when
he was in the Workhouse and he was
suffering from tubercular gland
such as children living in the best
districts suffer with at times.
DR.. Frantz Investigates.
DR.. A. +. Frantz. secretary of the
State Board of Health. who investi-
gated conditions at the institution.
] that ha
in good sanitary condition and
everything was neat and clean. From
an observation DR.. Frantz says: Il
do not consider Greenbank prison a
hotbed for tuberculosis. but IN fact
the very opposite" Dr. Frantz advo-
Gates a large exercising field for the
convicts and believes in time il viii
be provided, and also new building
entirely separated from the main iai
) for tuberculosis patients.
DR.. Albert Robin has written a lette
in reply to the criticisms of his lette
protesting against the conditions a
the workhouse. He suggests that IA
following points may be taken up 70
careful consideration.
1. Abolition OF the contract syster
Of labor or else a greater return to TIA
, prisoners in the shape of bonus an
better feeding.
2. The employment out Of doors q
prisoners with the exception of til
long term prisoners lover one year,
3. Provision for a greater amour
of outdoor exercise for all prisones.
4. Caeful examination of the pris
oners with a view of detecting the ear
ly stages Of tuberculosis and the isoia
ton of those affected in a separat
building, so that they will not at an
time come in contact with the othe
prisoners.