IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE,

AT MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, October 1, 1881.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY, JOHN H. GEAR, Governor of the State of Iowa:

SIR-I have the honor herewith to transmit to you, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane at Mount Pleasant, their eleventh biennial report, together with the report of the Superintendent, and statistical and other exhibits, showing the operations of the period, and the present condition of the institution. I have the honor to be very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. H. KULP, Secretary.

TRUSTEES' REPORT.

IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE,
MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, October 5, 1881.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY, JOHN H. GEAR, Governor of Iowa:

THE Board of Trustees herewith present their eleventh biennial report in accordance with the laws of the State, accompanied by the biennial report of the Medical Superintendent, and also the exhibits of the Steward and Treasurer.

All the regular meetings of the Board have been held during the biennial period at the proper stated time, and some member of the visiting committee of the Board has, also, made regular monthly visits to the Hospital. These latter visits are made at no stated time, and always without any previous knowledge of the resident officers of the Hospital.

Whenever the Board held its regular quarterly meeting it would, in a body, not only visit all the wards, but also inspect the storeroom and the stores kept therein; also examined the food and the method of its preparation for the patients, visit the wards while the patients were at their meals, and have always found the food substantial, of a wholesome quality, and of sufficient quantity.

In view of the recent great and disastrous fires occurring in hospitals for the insane in different parts of the country, we have had under consideration the subject of making the Hospital more secure against the danger of fire. We find that it will probably be impossisible to make the front center building entirely fire-proof, as the rear center now is, owing to the weak condition of the outside and foundation walls. We fear they would not be sufficiently strong to carry the additional weight iron beams and brick arches would put upon them. The inner walls are strong enough of themselves, but they, like the outer walls, have no proper foundation to carry the increased weight involved in fire-proof structures.