Library Collections: Document: Full Text

Recommendations.

From the brief period of observation of the special and pressing wants of the asylum that I have had, I would respectfully renew the recommendations made to you last year by my predecessor, Dr. Doren, and according to plans and estimates made under his direction regarding the erection of a new laundry building, and of certain desirable changes in the steam and water pipes throughout the central and north buildings. The laundry and bakery, now under one roof, were erected years ago before many of the later accommodations were provided or even contemplated. They are much too limited in size and capacity to permit the proper and regular performance of work, always of such absolute necessity to be performed promptly. The new cottage building, now in process of erection, and to be occupied with one hundred and sixty additional inmates during the coming season, will still more materially tend to embarrass the convenient performance of this very essential work. Besides, the walls of the present laundry are badly cracked, sprung outward, and only kept from tumbling down by props, stays and other extra support. Even with these precautions the absolute safety of the building is questionable. In my judgment a new laundry building and better equipments are among the first necessities of the institution to be considered.

The water and steam pipes of the central and north buildings were unfortunately originally placed within the partition walls, and under the cement floors of the basements. The main water supply pipes in these buildings are of iron, while many of the connections are of lead. The expansion and contraction of these metals are not always equal, and at their points of union are frequently springing a leak, causing not only damage and injury to the walls, but defacing them, and entailing upon the institution much expense and inconvenience. The steam pipes to the north wing extensious -sic- were laid ten or more years ago, many of them beneath the cement flooring or under the ground without sufficient protection from the elements, and in almost inaccessible places. They are becoming badly rusted, are constantly bursting, producing frequent and heavy expense for repairs, and oftentimes great discomfort while the repairs are being made. Careful estimates for their renewal and reconstruction have been prepared and are submitted.

In a large household like this, hospital facilities and conveniences are always needed. With the present arrangements of the house there is no convenient way of caring for the sick, or of entirely isolating them from those that are well. Fortunately, in the past, the asylum has been remarkably exempt from serious outbreaks of epidemic or contagious diseases. It would be pleasant to know that this condition of things might alwas -sic- continue. The history of other large institutions, however, would hardly Warrant us in entertaining a belief in such marked immunity for all future. If so, is it not wise and prudent for us to be prepared? As it is now, certain rooms in the house are set apart and occupied by a few sick and ailing ones, or held in reserve for those who may become so. With so many children and youth as are here provided for under one roof, we are particularly liable at any time to an outbreak of some form of epidemic or contagious disease, especially some one of those forms that so commonly prevail among children. In order to be prepared to meet such emergencies, and to provide at other times better and separate facilities for the care of the sick. I would recommend the erection of a small two-story and inexpensive frame building, at a proper, safe and convenient distance from the present buildings, to be used exclusively for hospital purposes. In our judgment this building should provide room for about twenty beds, ten of each sex, and be placed under the immediate charge of a trained nurse, who will reside in the building, and be on hand to give constant attendance. It is believed such a building would ordinarily, in the absence of any prevailing disease, relieve the asylum proper from all sick, feeble and helpless inmates, and at the same time permit the reception of quite an additional number of pupils into the parts of the house now necessarily used and reserved for hospital purposes.

At the present writing the following cases are cared for in four separate rooms, in which are sixteen beds; two cases of consumption, two helpless paralytics, two helpless epileptics, one case of scabies recently admitted, and one of typho-malarial fever, nine in all, three boys and six girls. In a small detached hospital these cases could all he better and more conveniently attended to by one nurse, and the sixteen beds in the four rooms now occupied by them would soon be taken by new pupils, who are now refused admission for want of sufficient accommodations. Plans and estimates for this building and other work recommended are herewith respectfully submitted for your inspection and approval.