The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-25
OSBORN ORDERS CLEANUP
OF HOWELL SANITARIUM
AFTER INSPECTION TRIP
Calls Attention to Members of
Board to Faulty Conditions
He Found There
UNCLEAN AND UNSWEPT
Commends Them for Past Work
and Asks Them to Keep Close
Watch on Institution
UNCLEAN AND UNSWEPT
From q Staff Oorrespondent.

| LANSING, Mich, July 25.-Wed-
nesday afternoon, Gov. Osborn made
an inspection OF the state sanatorium
at Howell, and found things in such
deplorable condition, that he iRs
written to every member Of the
board demanding that conditions be
improved.
Gov. Osborn's letter follows:
made an Inspection OF the state
sanatorium for the care and treatment
OF tuberculosis persons at Howell yes-
terday. 1 deem II my duty To inform
you that 1 found the sanatorium un-
clean, unswept unscrubbed, cluttered
and generally untidy j made thor
ough inspection OF the administration
building and out-buildings did not
make a close inspection OF the interior
OF the infrmary or cottages for the
reason that l do not consider myself
competent TO Judge as to what the con-
dltlons should be there, and for tho
further reason that I did not desire to
unnecessarily disturb the patients.
I found the administration building.
although a new building. In the worst
condition l have found any state instl-
tuition In. The windows were not clean,
,the floors were decidedly dirty, and
there were bad odors many places, and
especially In the rooms occupied by
hired male help. At various places in
the basement and under the porch are
waste materials and rubbish. so disar-
ranged and heaped as to greatly In
crease the fre risk
I found the COW barn dirty. although
II Is new building equipped with
steel stalls and cement floors. The
floor stableyard, although on high
gravel hill and easy OF perfect drain
age. was soggy and unsightly.
There seems 70 he no excuse for these
conditions. The help numbers one TO
each two and one-half patients. 1
found elRhty-one patients I'm the insti-
tuition. II has a capacity for eighty
six II the same lack OF care. OF which
there Is abundant evidence In the ad :
ministration building, Is true OF the
professional and medical sides or the
Institution, conditions are deplorahle.
The cost per patient is between twelve
and thirteen dollars per week, which Is
above the average and seems excessive.
and especially unless the attention and
treatment given are unusually pain
stalking. do not know what kind OF
care Is given 10 the incinerAtion OF
sputa. but / am fearful there Is gem
eral laxity The institution at Howell
r. now and should be In perfect condi-
tion.
Your board IL required by law TO
meet semi annually at the sanatorium.
However, / underhtand you have mot
almost every month, which is commend
able: and from this ] feel sure that you
will be more than willing to undertake o
anything that viii lead TO an Improve
ment in the management or the insti-
tuition. I am sure you VIII be pleased
to give the condition OF the institution
and its management your most careful
attention IN order that a most desir-
able improvement may be obtained.
found DR. Pierce, the superinten-
dent, a most anahle and courteous
young gentleman. and I see no reason
WHY he may not be made good man
for the place II standards there arc
elevated and he 10 compelled TO work
up to them