The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-31
EASTHAvEN Will
MAKE CLOTHING
IN new BUILDING
Plan to Send Field Workers
to Patients Homes Also to
be Started.

Bids for the erecting Of two-story
brick building, to be used as an addi-
tional cottage for women, will be re-
ceiyed and opened by the Eastern In
diana Hospital for Insane next Tues
day, according to statement made
today by DR.. 8. E. Smith, superintend-
ent of the hospital.
The new building, which will be
begun Immediately if q satisfactory
bid is received is planned to take care
Of forty women, with accommodations
for their necessary nurses and attend
ants. Need for the new structure has
long been felt, as the hospital has
been crowded for some time in the
women's department, and it is be-
lieved that the building will accommo-
date the majority of women who may
be sent there. Owing to the fact
| that a number of men are employed
in the farm colony, there is no great
need for room for male patients, other
than the temporary need caused by a
recent fire and which will be relieved
without delay.
At present there are approximately
875 patients in the hospital, and al
though no definite proposals have
been offered, it is planned by the hos
pital authorities to make a number
of changes and improvements in the
| institution.
To Manufacture Clothing.
What is probably considered the
most important improvement planned
| is that of the erection of two new
buildings which will be used for "Oc.
cupational Therapy." In this building
the patients, both men and women
| will be given some sort Of employ.
| ment that might create an interest in
their minds, and thus help in curing
or improving their mental condition
DR.. Smith is planning on placing ne
cessary equipment for rug weaving
clothing manufacture and general
sewing. Efforts will be made to OBJ
tain one of these buildings at once
and the other in a years time.
The heating and power plant Of the
hospital will also be enlarged and re
modelled if the present plan of i'm
proyement Is carried through. The
present plant will be much too small
to accommodate the hospital IL the ad
ditions are made, and it is also very
much out of date. The boilers in the
power plant are the same that were
put into the plant when it was erected
in 1885, and have been in continuous
service since that time. Much would
be saved in fuel by the installation OF
new boilers, it is believed as the old
boilers are wasteful, due to their lack
of modern improvements, as well as
their age.
] Will Extend Laboratory.
Another important improvement
which probably will be projected in
the near future is the extension and
equipment Of the laboratory to meet
the nationwide movement against
venereal diseases.
| "It is our desire to have this labor
atory used for the service Of the com
munity," DR.. Smith said, "and for this
purpose, tests will be made in this
laboratory for physicians of the com
munity and all service possible in aid
of the stamping out of these diseases
will be given. The hospital is also
prepared financially to take and give
treatment to patients, who for reasons
of contagion or otherwise, are MOI
deemed fit by their physicians to BIZ
treated in their homes. The full de
tails OF this plan are not yet com
Ipleted, but will be worked out later
probably in conjunction with physic
ians of the community"
i Plan Voluntary Admissions.
The institution is also planning tt
care for the patients who will come tt
/ the hospital under the provisions o
an act passed by the 1919 legislature
which was drafted by Dr. Smith, ant
which provides for voluntary admis
sion and treatment of individuals
without the necessity OF a sanity in
quest, who are developing nervous Of
mental trouble. Under this act per
sons may be taken into the hospita
] TContinued On pars EIeven.l