Evening journal., 1911-11-15
WORKHOUSE
TALK AGAIN
Or. Robin Says Physicians
Report Bears Gut His
Charges
WITHHOLDS GINGER"
IN GIVING CUT REPORT

The Social Service Club was told
last night by DR.. Albert Robin that
the Grand Jury report that conditions
we're all right at the workhouse, di-
rec,ly contradicted statements in the
report made by the physicians who in
vcstigated the institution, especially
that the physicians found the tuber-
culos.s ward not ample, and recon-
mended new quarters, while the
Grand Jury reported the ward salts
factory The meeting last night was
held behind closed doors, but part OF
DR.. Robins speech was given out 10
the press. He remarked that II was
given with the ginger left out"
DR.. Robin said the physicians re-
port bore him out in the following
charges:
First. overcrowding and uncleanli-
aess. On this point the physicians
say that they found no uncleanliness
on the part Of the management, but IN
some of the cells, individual careless
ness on the part OF the occupant was
TO be seen, and especially in the tu-
berculosis hospital. III the workhouse
discipline proves adequate TO maintain
a silent system Il should be adequate
to maintain personal cleanliness in
every cell IL prisoners are punished
for talking why should they not be
punished for splitting.
Second insufficient ventilation Of
the workshop. This the physicians ad-
rItff NJ hrft \ Ia Iaru
ton OF the size Of the room and the
number Of employees therein, we feel
that the weather is such as to pre-
vent the windows being kept suii-
ciently open and the air becomes stag
nant.
Third, contract system.
THE charges made against the con-
tract system were based. first on the
fact that piece work as maintained
by contractors. who are in for the
money is bound to be governed by
the economic principle that the more
pieces a workman produces. the lar
ger the profits and the tendency would
be to overwork the workmen. Sec
ond. the system is to attack the
broader principals of modern penal
ogy. II the object Of the prisoner is
TO develop the latent faculties and the
prisoner be discharged a useful and
self respecting citizen, such work
as requires only automatic attention
to the monotonous task, is not calcu-
lated to awaken any useful faculties.
Fourth, the underfeeding Of the
prisoners.
Personal investigation convinced
/ hot off ta do Ia lrra
the diet so as 10 give the prisoner a
maximum amount Of nutrition. Neither
the warden nor the president Of th'
Board OF Trustees was able 10 tel
me whether the prisoners food con
tains the number Of heat units or cal
ories, which are regarded by author
ities to be necessary to maintain per
feet nutrition A simple reference 4
the tables on food values published
by the government, or the determine
tion of the gain or loss OF weight b.
the prisoners during their stay woulS
be sufficient 20 settle that point Tn
less this is done opinions based on th'
I casual inspection Of one or two mealI
has no value.
THE physicians report bears on
the fact that there are conditions IN
the workhouse which have lowered
the resistance of the prisoners will
latent tuberculosis, who might have
resisted furtheR development of th'
disease had they not been confined
AS the conditions are lack Of fresl
! air and underfeeding, the very con
clusion of the physicians COMMITTEES
J points to underfeeding as one Of The
, important factors.
Fifth. the prevalence Of tuherculo
sis in the workhouse.
This is a charge in which the pub
lie is directly concerned, since tuber
culcsis in the workhouse means great
! er spread of infection by the con
sumptivo prisoner when he leaves IN
prison to return to his customar
haunts. In this respect the report q
the physicians fully bears out tn
! charges. OF 65 deaths from all cause
40 were due 10 tuberculosis, or 60 pc
( cent. The report does not state th
/ full number Of victims from tubercu
losis, since no systematic examine
! ton Of the prisoners is made an
! where such data cannot be secured
is safe TO conclude that al least
: per cent. of all the floating popul;
! ton are tubercular II is to be r.
membered that iA the New Cast
. County Workhouse great man
prisoners serve a short term and VIII
) can tell how many of the short teri
I prisoners leave the institution wit
: the germs Of tuberculosis in the
systems. The small number Of deatl
: from tuberculosis among the viii
prisoners may be explained by q
fact that the whites are general
more resistant to the disease thi
y the colored They are mostly sho
4 term prisoners and in some instanc
some Of the white prisoners WI
have contracted the disease were pa
d. doned on account OF their health"
y He closed with the reading Of q
y following communication from the n
tional committee on prison labS
which said in part:
n las you are doubtless aware, [
- prisons and penitentiaries of the cou
~ try are notorious breeding places
tuberculosis. DR.. j. b. Ransom,
Clinton prison. estimates that fu'
half the deaths in our prison popu
IN tion is due TO this disease