The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-09-09
CONDITION OF SUMTER AIMS
80 HOUSE, - sct
Official Report by State Board of
Charities and Corrections.

Charities and Corrections.
Our score card report on the Sumter
county almshouse, based on our~in-
spections and attached hereto, shows
a total score Of G57 out of possible
1000 points, grouped under three
main heads:
4. AlmshOuse: Permanent Featurcs
Under this head LAG out of a DOS
sible 200 points are allowed. This
score Is due to inadequacies in the
plant which will not be detailed here.
TO make the fundamental structural
changes in the Sumter almshouse to
improve these conditions materially
would involve considerable expendi-
ture of public funds. In view of the
fact that this board intends to Law be-
fore the next general assembly it's
plans for district almshouses under
which the Sumter alnishouse would
be consolidated with some other aims
houses. we will not urge ait present
any improvements in the perma-
features of the establishment. It is
believed that the district aImshouse.
the creation Of which the board in
tends to urge, can be made true hos
pital homes for the aged and inf,rm
poor, at minimum cost with q
maximum service and equipment.
IL. Matron's Management OF the
Almshouse.
1t is entirely within the hands of
the matron of the almshouse to in
increase the score under this head. II
Will be seen from the score card re-
port that We are allowing her $50
out Of possible 400 points for her
management of the almshousc. She is
to be commended for the methods of
occupying and disciplining the paupers
she uses, for good conditions in gem
eral In the paupers' houses including
the cleanliness of the rooms and their
equipment, for the care she takes OF
sick paupersiy and for the hygienic re-
quirements she tries to enforce among
inmates Of the almshouse. To enable
the matron to improve her score, we
suggest that she
CD Keep a more complete record
OF the paupers admitted to the aims
house which will include their names.
the dates on which they were admit
ted, the race, sex and age of each one
of them. whether they were married.
single or widowed, and what their
physical and mental condition was.
also the dates on which they we're,
'discharsed and the r.asuns- for t,its., !
charging them.
(2) Have the surface closet clean
ed out regularly once a week and the
sewage buried under at least three
feet of earth.
CD Have the manure in the stable
yard piled daily in bin and hauled
of once week at least quarter of
a mile from the almshouse.
ca Keep the refuse from the
kitchen covered until 1t is removed,
using lime around the kitchen as
needed.
III. County Commissioners and the
Aliiishottsc. f| -
Under the law. the county commits
sioners are the overseers of the poor.
In this, the third head OF our score
card report, we have graded condi-
tions at the almshouse for which the
county commissioners are respon-
sible. AS we said In commenting on
the first main section Of the score card
report, this board intends to urge the
formation OF district almshouses. In
view of this fact, we will not suggest
at this time number of improve
ments and repairs which are needed
to bring the present almshouse plant
up to standard, contenting ourselves
with suggesting only the most press
ing. They are as follows:
CD Screen the exterior doors and
windows Of the matron's quarters and
the paupers' quarters. J
CD Provide a rubber sheet to be
used when needed on the beds OF
helpless paupers.
(3) Have built at the almshouse
three fly proof surface closets OF the
wet type.
(1 See that the inmates of the
almshouse are given a light supper.
(5) Require the following profess
sional services Of the county physician,
paying him adequately for providing
same: make physical examination OF
each pauper within twenty-four hours
after admission to the almshouse;
vaccinate each new pauper against
small pox, unless there is contra-in-
dication: visit the paupers weekly, in