The Topeka state journal., 1919-10-27
Institution Poorly Lighted, Ven
tilated and Unsanitary.
UItimatum to Commissioners
Follows Sherborn Probe.
DISEASED NOT SEGREGATED
No Sheets for Beds-TOiIet Fa-
cilities Menace Health.
Children Eat Standing Because
There Are No Chairs.

The Shawnee county commissions
ers, recently active in stirring up
trouble for the Topeka Orphans
Home, find today that they have been
throwing stones in a glass house.
The commissioners today were given
thirty days in which to bring the de-
tention home to the standard pro-
vided under the state law. In re-
port to the state board Of health, DR..
Florence Brown Sherborn. head of
/ the child hygiene department, di-
rected many criticisms of the institu
ton. The report is one of a series of
reports covering investigation of local
! cha rites.
Charges that children-both boys
and girls--sleep in an unlighted, un-
| heated, poorly ventilated attic were
made. The attic is declared to be a
| in charge of the five children in the
attic. Four of the children were
! boys. No chairs and no toilet articles
are in the attic. A broken pail is
provided in lieu of toilet. Six chill
dren sleep in the attic. The older
boy and girl were not related.
! In the kitchen, Doctor Sherborn
1 found two small tables are placed to-
gether at meal time. There are no
chairs. Consequently the children
|
followed two years.
Girls For Lansing Held.
| Doctor Sherborn found 6 children
| in the home. They range from s
months to Is years. Six children
from one family are in the home. Two
| girls of / 5, under sentence to the state
| industrial farm, were in the institu-
| ton.
Criticism was directed to general
| conditions of the home as well as to
methods of management. Diet pro-
vided for children, tho. is held to be
| fairly good. In order to qualify for
! state approval, however, the county
! must meet the. following require
| ments:
az The dirty condition of the beds oc-
/ necessitates. sleeping in direct contact with
comforts and blankets. Since children are
going and coming all the time, there is nc
doubt but that many children sleep in con-
tect with the same bedding.
/ (2) The absence of rubber sheets for the
protection of the bedding from bed wetting
/ (3J The condition of the one toilet is q
menace to health and an outrage to de
cency.
(4) The attic can never be made suitable
for sleeping purposes because of made
quate provision for heat, light or ventila
Moral Hazard at Night.
(5) There is a moral and physical hazard
in placing any 14-year-old girl in charge
OF f1Ye other ch1ldren at nlgnC (1Our o.
them boys). 1t is a responsibility which
should not be required of any child o.
this age.
90 There is too much dust from dirty
torn wall paper. broken plastering, old tori
1inoleum and badly cleaned old woodeI
floors.
! % 1t is not in accord with moderr
standards of comfort conducive t.
good eating habits to require sixteen chill
| dren, six of them past fourteen years o
| age, to stand around small kitchen tabl'
to eat.
(S) There was no visible provision 70
| either outdoor or indoor occupation othe
than the tasks required. The children hud
| died around in the kitchen doing nothing
| when not working. and either leaned
| against the wall or sat upon the floor
The only plaything seen was one broker
rocking seat.
What State Demands.
| (Q) The provisions of Section g. whicl
| reads: Each home for children shall fur
nish or cause to be furnished for the US
:. of each inmate and employe individua
towel, washcloth, comb and individua
! drinking cup sanitary bubbiing foun
| tain and toothbrushes for all other thai
infants, and shall keep or require thes
articles to be kept at all times in cleanl.
and sanitary condition." are violated IL
every particular