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and management of the unfortunate class committed to his charge. He is a man of great energy, rare executive ability, and most excellent judgment.

The capacity of the Hospital, is for but three hundred and fifty patients, whereas, there are now five hundred and three confined therein. This is altogether too crowded a condition, for either the health or comfort of the patients and should be remedied. We found the patients well cared for, the wards clean, well warmed, and a part well ventilated. We find, upon examination, that the ventilation of some of the rooms is very deficient. The registers were improperly placed, so that the warm pure air is carried off, while the impure atmosphere remains in the rooms. This defect has heen remedied, in some respects in a part of the building, and we would recommend an appropriation of a sufficient sum to complete the needed changes in this department. The bedding and clothing of the patients, we found to be clean and in good condition.

Your committee would report that they found the building well provided with means of fire escape, so that the entire building could be cleared in a brief space of time and without creating any confusion. The fire-trap, in the shape of studded partition from the office floor to the cupola, has been removed, and in its place a solid brick wall built, separating the front center from the rotunda, and shutting off completely the wards where the patients are located, with fire-wall and iron doors, so that in case of fire in one section, or in the center building, it can progress no further. This wall has been plastered, the carpenter work done and painted, within the appropriation. We found everything connected with the patients and household, in good order and condition, showing that the Superintendent had given his personal attention to all things connected with the Hospital. The internal management which was also under the special supervision of Dr. Gilman, is deserving of high commendation. As an investigating committee, we would report as follows: First. The appropriations made by the last General Assembly have been wisely and economically expended.

Second. The appropriations have been expended for the objects for which they were appropriated.

Third. The acts of the Seventeenth General Assembly have been complied with, in not contracting indebtedness in excess of the appropriations.

Fourth. There has been no diversion of money from the specific purpose for which it was drawn out of the State treasury.

Fifth. Your committee herewith submit Exhibit "A," which contains the names of the persons employed in the Institution, for what purpose employed, and at what salary, and what has been received in addition to salary, in the way of board, rooms, lights, fuel, or clothing, or anything else at the expense of the State.

Sixth. That the sufficiency of the means of escape from fire are ample, but some additional protection against fire is required. Your committee would recommend the following appropriations: For renewing sub-basement walls......

For renewing heating surfaces.....

.$ 8.500.00

5,000.00

For changing the system of heating and ventilating the remainder of the wards..

5,000.00

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For sheds for cattle, piggery for swine and drying shed for lumber..

3.000.00

For repairs and contingent fund.....

10,000.00

For electric fire alarm and system of thermostats...

2.000.00

We have carefully examined the necessity for the several appropriations and repairs requested by the Trustees and Superintendent and believe that each request is an absolute necessity, therefore, we recommend as follows:

For renewing sub-basement walls, $8,500.

This wall, constructed of imperfect stone originally, has been partially renewed by former appropriations; however, about five or six hundred feet of the rotten foundation and sub-basement still remain, and this is constantly growing worse, so that now the walls of the building are badly cracked in places, and it is only a matter of time when they will fall down and some calamity result, unless renewed. They have been condemned by a competent builder. We recommend the above estimate, it being based upon the actual expense of that portion already renewed. This small expense will make the structure as substantial as any can be.

For renewing heating surfaces in the basement to the entire building, $5,000.

We have carefully examined sections of the steam coils now in use, and find they are badly eaten by rust and the action of chemicals found in water taken from an artesian well some years ago. They are constantly bursting during the winter, when the steam is turned on, and it is necessary to turn it off from the section where the damage occurs, thus leaving that portion of the building uncomfortable. We think this improvement and renewal can be wisely and economically done in the summer, when the steam heat is not needed in the wards, and that one half can be renewed in 1884 and the other in 1885; therefore we recommend the sum of $2,500 per annum.

For changing the system of heating and ventilating the remainder of the wards, $5,000.

The improvement made in the Hospital where this work has been accomplished is more marked than any of the repairs resulting from the appropriations made by the Nineteenth General Assembly; and the importance of perfect ventilation for the remainder of the building, where the patients are suffering from vitiated air, cannot be too strongly emphasized. The appropriation, for two sections of the east. wing, made by the last General Assembly, has been so economically expended that another section has been nearly completed. The Superintendent only asks for the same amount for the three sections of the west wing as was made for two sections of the east wing, by the Legislature two years ago, and we recommend the amount asked, which is $5,000.

For filter to purify at least 50,000 gallons of water per day, $5,000.

The water supply of this institution has been assured for all time during the past year, by making a contract with the Mount Pleasant water-works, at a less cost per annum than was formerly expended for fuel, repairs, boiler, pumping and wages of engineer engaged in pumping. It is well known that the supply in this portion of the country is surface water, which, after being pumped into reservoirs, holds in suspension a great deal of vegetable and animal impurity. By means of the filter proposed here this can be made absolutely pure. The plan recommended is a double filter, each portion 30 x 30 feet, excavation having been made about 7 feet deep, and composed of

solid clay impervious to water, which shall be covered with stone, brick and cement, with a wall of brick laid in cement between. A main drain will be laid the entire length of the bottom of bed, emptying into the clear water space, which shall be 20 x 20 feet, and also separated by solid brick and cement wall. Smaller drains will be laid every five or six feet, connecting with the main, then twelve inches of rock, broken four inches in diameter, will be placed in the bottom of the basin on top of these drains, then twelve inches of rock two inches in diameter, twelve inches of coarse gravel, twelve inches of charcoal, twelve inches of very coarse sand, and, finally, twelve inches of very fine sand. A perforated iron pipe will be placed in position across the top, fastened three or four inches above each of these filter beds. The water thus let in, percolates down through and empties into the clear water space, is pumped up into the Hospital and distributed for all purposes. It will be necessary to place over this filter a tight brick structure, ten feet high, covered by a roof to prevent freezing in winter. Believing, for the same reason that perfect ventilation should exist in every Hospital, that there should be an abundance of pure water, we recommend for the construction of this filter the sum of $5,000.

For renewing bedsteads and for wire mattresses, $2,000.

By observing the difference in the comfort and inducement to repose, so necessary to the recovery of this class of invalids, between the old wooden slats and straw beds and the new beds already provided, we feel that no delay should be permitted in refurnishing the remaining wards, and we recommend for that purpose $1,000 per annum for two years.

For washing machines, $2,500.

We examined the washing machines, and found one entirely disabled and beyond repair, and the others rotten and liable to fall in pieces at any time. Washing is done here for more than six hundred people, and many of the patients are exceedingly filthy. Your committee desire to recommend the estimate of the builders of these machines, which is $2,500.

For sheds for cattle, piggery for swine and drying shed for lumber, $3,000.

We find the cyclone of June, 1882, destroyed all the shelter for cattle and hogs, except the cow-barn; also that no place has ever been provided for storing lumber necessary for the constant repairs needed. To supply these needs we recommend an appropriation of $3,000.

For repair and contingent fund, $10,000.

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We find that the entire building, walls, ceiling and wood-work, has had no repairs, and has never been painted since its construction, nearly twenty-five years ago, until the work was commenced, about a year ago. The whole had become dingy, much of the plastering had fallen off, and the wood-work was split and defaced, so as to give to the institution a generally "run-down" appearance. In the eight wards of the east wing, where the work of repair has been carried on, everything looks bright and cheerful. The walls, ceiling and wood-work can now be constantly cleaned, and a much healthier condition be maintained than when the wall and wood-work were impregnated with poisonous emanations. We believe the remainder of the building should at once be repairied in like manner, for hygienic reasons, as well as the next important, cheerful surroundings, which are so necessary in the treatment of mental disease. The large kitchen needs overhauling and repairing throughout, and in the way of furniture, new tea and coffee urns and steam roasters. There is, of course, in a hospital of this character, need for a multitude of constantly occurring repairs, as a result of the destructive propensity of the insane. We recommend, to carry forward this very important work of renovating the remainder of the building, including kitchen, and as a contingent fund for this biennial period, the sum of $5,000. For electric fire alarm and system of thermostats, $2,000.

By the introduction of this apparatus, millions of property and thousands of lives have been saved, and we should deem it an act of negligence should we fail to recommend this protection to this unfortunate and helpless class of our fellow-citizens. We most emphatically indorse the recommendations of the Superintendent in this direction, and recommend the actual estimate of the Western Electric Co., which is $2,000.

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