Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-06
RECORD At FORT MADISON RE.
MARkAeLE DURING PERIOD
OF sIxrY.TWo YEARS.
REPORT OF HEALTH BOARD
COVERS MANY POINTS
Rate During Pass Few Years Increased
Because Of Transfer Of Life Prison.
ers From Anamosa to Fort Madison
-cosson Probe Under Way and to
Bs Most Thorough.
Special to Times-Republican.

sixty-two years of its history there
have been only 151 deaths at the Fort
Madison prison, and this includes the
hangings.
It is also a matter Of surprise that
in all its history there has not been a
death from any epidemic diseases.
There has not been a death from ty-
phoid fever since the present warden
took charge, and in fact fevers Of all
kinds are rare.
| But the warden and the board Of
control. and probably all who invests
gate the prison, agree with the report
of the state board Of health that
competent physician ought to be en-
ployed who would devote all his time
to the prison. At present the old sys-
tenn Of hiring a part of the service of a
Fort Madison doctor for SIS a month
is followed, Just because the legislature
has not given the money for any bet
ter system. On this the board of health
says:
| "The prisoners are prone to acct
dents because of the kind Of work they
perform, and the hospital facilities are
| inadequate for the number Of men de-
pendent upon it for dental, medical
and surgical aid. We believe the state
should pay sufficient salary to COM
mand the whole time Of the physician
in charge, or to secure for him skilled
assistant to be constantly in attend
ance whose training is such that he
would be qualified not only TO properly
care for the sick but to give competent
first aid to the injured"
| Death Ratio Low.
Regarding the death ratio the report
of Eiker and Sumner says:
1.-THE total number of deaths from
all causes including executions is Isl.
This covers sixty-two years. from 1886
to 1911. The average number of deaths
per year during this time is 2.+S plus.
One can but infer from this plain
statement of facts that the death rate
in this institution is extremely low and
far better than in most communities
containing the same number OF inhab-
itants. It should be remembered that
a large part Of these inmates are not
in the best condition when entering the
penitentiary. Many are sick and dis
eased after having been confined in
| jails for months without proper exer-
cise All this must be taken into ac-
count when examining into the care
and keeping of such men,"
In summing up. the board Of health
committee said:
| "Our conclusions are that the best
efforts Of the officials are being put
forth to manage the Fort Madison PEN
itentiary in the best possible manner,
taking into consideration the means
furnished for managing the institu-
ton"
The committee appended to the re-
port a table showing the number of
deaths in each and every one Of the
years since the prison was opened. The
first few years there were no deaths
there. Later the number Of deaths f1uc-
tuates. varying greatly from year to
year with no apparent cause. There
were fourteen Of the years when not a
death occurred. The record for the last
nine years is: For 1903. Ave deaths:
for 1904 three deaths; for 1905. five
deaths; for 1906, four deaths: for 1907.
three deaths; for 1908. two deaths; for
1909, no deaths: for 1910, five deaths;
for 1911, up to Aug. 22. eleven deaths.
Transfers Increase Rate.
! T.
1908. The indeterminate sentence law
went into effect in 1909, and immedi-
ately there were transferred to Fort
Madison practically all lifers and all
the men over thirty years Of age. and
the immediate effect Of this is to in
crease the death rate at the prison.
| As to causes cf deaths the committee
made q tabulation showing that since
| Dec. 2, 1909, tine deaths were from the
following causes: Cerebral hemorrhage.
heart failure, pneumonia and intestinal
nephritic, two euch; from gangrene of
| the stomach. angina pectoris, diabetes,
cancer, tuberculosis, paresis, dysentery
and hanging one each.
The report OF Drs. Eiker and Sumner
was made after two visits under condi-
tons most favorable to q fair inquiry.
and this report relieves the Cosson
committee Of any necessity for inquiry
| into the sanitary or hygiene conditions
prevailing at the prison. The accusa-
ton has been made that the prisoners
were being starved or Ill fed, but the
fact that they get fat on the fare fur
nished them disposes Of that charge. 1t
was also said that they were dying off.
but as q matter of fact this is not true.
The report dispoEes OF most Of the gen.
| eral charges OF mismanagement at the
institution.
The Cosson Probe.
| The Cosson committee to investigate
| the various md sundry charges made
in connection with rumors about the
l Enrt Madison nriaOn has zone about Its