Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-12
HEALTH CONDITIONS
At THE W0RKHOUSE
State Board Reports to Trustees
Result of Inspection and Makes
Some Recommendations.

The report of the inspection of the New
Castle county workhouse by the state
Board of Health on March "a, was read
ut the monthly meeting held at the rnsti-
tuition Yesterday. The report, which Is
on the sanitary condition of the prison,
states that the only real serious condition
now existing, from a sanitary or health
standpoint, is how to provide proper
accommodations for female prisoners.
The report in full is as follows:
REPORT.
The New Castle county workhouse
was inspected on March "a, 1920, by the
secretary of the State Board of Health,
hy the special health commissioner and by
the executive secretary OF the state
tuberculosis Commission. The condl-
tions found will be discussed under two
main heads: % Mems Department and
~ Womens Department.
MEMS DEPARTMENT.
General appearance-Clean, light and
we'll cared for.
Cells-Small, poorly ventilated and IN
many instances without adequate natural
light The construction was apparently
first-class In its day, but is not according
to the best modern ideas. However, the
accommodations cannot be condemned II
Pumbing-There is a toilet in each
cell and there is provisions for artificial
ventilation of the toilet compartment,
which can be separated from the cell by
the closing of slide door by the cell occu-
pant. There are also toilet accommoda-
tions in connection with the work shops.
There is a battery of shower baths that Is
ample and the construction is satisfactory.
Kitchen-Floor in poor repair but the
officials state that it is to be resuTtaced.
The cooking and eating utensils are ap-
parentlv kept clean. The food, according
20 information from the prisoners, as well
rs by personal observation, is ample and
appctizing. The kitchen is not separated
from the dining room.
Dining room-The dining room is
large, light and well suited for Its purpose.
Store room-The store rooms are clean,
light and dry, and the food is kept in good
condition. Refrigerator space appears to
he ample.
Work shops The work shops have good
natural light, ample air space and can be
we'll ventilated by the proper adjustment
Of the windows The general condition as
to quality Of the air and freedom from
dust was better than IN many private
shops, although not ideal by any means
There is bound to be certain amount OF
litter and dust in any large shop where
scores of men are employed. The condi-
tions in the small shop were much better
than in the large shop, where the men are
more crowded. Every effort Is apparently
being made at present to exclude diseased
prisoners from the shops.
tuberculosis ward-Entirely separated
from the prison proper. ample for ITS
purpose, good, natural light, open veranda
r
Medical department-There Is ample
provision for the thorough medical ex-
animation and treatment OF prisoners,
although many bed-ridden patients could
not be cared for at the same time. taclll-
ties are available for dental treatment. At
the time of the inspection specialist
was treating a sick prisoner.
wIMEN's DEPARTMENT.
This department is decidedly inferior 10
the one Just described, and it accommo-
dates possibly one-sixth SIS many patients.
1t was originally designed for only few
inmates and it is now necessary TO place
two persons in many of the cells. This re
suits in harmful overcrowdlng as the cells
are small for one person and II many cases
receive poor natural light.
The toilet accommodations are ample.
The prisoners may have a bath daily Il
they desire
There is no dining room and the meals
are served in the cell corridor, which is a
rad practice The food Is prepared IN the
men 5 kitchen.
The work room was designed for only &
few prisoners and at present Il Is greatly
overcrowded. The light. sir space and
ventilation are not sufficient for more
than one-Quarter Of the prisoners that are
obliged to work IN II
There is no hospital ward nor Is there
anv provision for isolatIng female tuber-
cuiosis patients that may be confined II
the institution.
The women's department is totally in
adequate.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The following recommends tiops arc
made:
/. That every inmate OF the institution
be gwen thorough physical examination,
: with special reference to tuberculosis and
venereal diseases, and that In the future
such examinations be made Immediately
upon admission.
2 That all tuberculosis patients be
kept apart from the other inmates, that
eating utensils used by them be thorough
" boiled after each use and kept separate
from the general supply. that clothing and
bedding be thoroughly dislnfected after
the discharge of the prisoner, that sOlled
clothing e disinfeeted before being wash