TRUSTEES' REPORT.

IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE,

PITAL FORSTNE, INA 1897.}

To his Excellency, WILLIAM LARRABEE, Governor of the State of Iowa:

The Trustees of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant, respectfully submit this their fourteenth biennial report, accompanied by the report of the Superintendent and exhibits of the Steward and Treasurer.

The several meetings of the Board of Trustees during the period have been regularly held as required by law, also monthly visits through all the wards by one or more members of the Board. These visits made each month are at irregular periods, and a thorough inspection of each ward and all parts of the Hospital are made each time, and we are gratified to state that we have always found the patients well and kindly cared for, supplied with good wholesome food, with all their apartments neat and clean, and everything being done that is possible to make their surroundings bright and cheerful. We have also always found the patients receiving the best of medical care and attention, and those who were able, much out of door exercise whenever the weather would permit.

The Twenty-first General Assembly made an appropriation of $100,000, with which to build an additional wing of sufficient capacity for two hundred patients, and the necessary attendants and employes for their care, and to furnish, heat and light the same, to be com pleted by July 1, 1887.

The money was expended as directed under the supervision and direction of Dr. H. A. Gilman, Superintendent, and was completed, furnished, heated and lighted within the $100,000 appropriated, and was ready to receive patients by March 1, 1887, and is now almost filled, and has furnished great relief when it was so much needed.

The structure is built of stone, is of the most substantial charac

ter, and contains ample accommodations for two hundred patients and their attendants as provided in said act, and we have no hesitancy in saying that it is not only one of the best constructed buildings in the State, but that in point of economy in its erection, we will challenge comparison with any similar structure anywhere. This is due to the active vigilance and perfect knowledge of just what was needed, possessed by Superintendent Gilman, who had charge of its construction; and in employing, when it could be done, the labor of the patients, many of whom are physically able and willing to work, and who were much benefited thereby.

The Hospital, when it receives the necessary appropriations to make the additional improvements now absolutely demanded, and for which we ask in this report, will be, we believe, a model institution, and one in which every citizen of the State may feel a pride.

The improvements required and the estimated amounts necessary to make them are as follows, and all are urgent, and the necessities for the same are truthfully set out in the report of the Superintendent, to which we refer in this connection:

For five new boilers, boiler house, engine room and coal

1,500

For slaughter house and piggery.......

For improvement of grounds, summer houses, fences, etc... 2,000

Since our last report, the President of our Board, Timothy Whiting, of Mt. Pleasant, has been removed by death. His wide experience, well-known integrity and business ability eminently fitted him for the place he filled during the past eleven years as our presiding officer, and his death is not only a loss to us but also to the Hospital and the State.

We have also to report the death of Dr. Hiram M. Bassett, the First Assistant Physician of the Hospital, who died February 28, 1887. He had been connected with the Hospital as Assistant Physician for over twenty-one years, continuously, except for two short

intervals, when he was Acting Superintendent, and during all that time he discharged his duties with such marked skill and fidelity as to receive the highest commendation of every one connected with the Hospital. As a testimonial of their worth we print in this connection the resolutions adopted by us in regard to their deaths:

WHEREAS, The hand of death has removed from our number the late president of our board of trustees, Timothy Whiting, who for nearly eleven years so ably filled that position, and deeming it fitting that we should leave behind us some expression of our feelings at this great loss; therefore,

Resolved 1. That in his death the State has lost an honest, conscientious and public-spirited citizen, and an energetic, wise and devoted public servant. This Board has lost one who was always wise and foreseeing in counsel, just and upright in the administration of affairs, faithful and punctual to the attendance of all his duties, and kind and considerate in all his personal relations with all with whom he came in contact.

2. That his death came like a personal bereavement to each of us, and we cannot but realize that large and additional burdens and responsibilities are thrown on our shoulders, to carry forward the work entrusted to our charge without his further aid.

3. That we tender to his family our most earnest sympathy, and shall ever join with them in keeping alive in our hearts the pleasant memories with which his name will ever be associated, and direct that these resolutions be spread upon our records.

WHEREAS, Hiram Morton Bassett, the First Assistant Physician of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane, in our charge, has been suddenly removed by death, after having filled this position and others in connection with this Hospital for over twenty-one years, with that care, attention and success, which must call forth the warmest admiration of all who knew him; therefore,

Resolved 1. That in his death the State and this Hospital have lost an able, experienced and thoroughly devoted servant; one who sacrificed self wholly to the work entrusted to his care; one who for over twenty-one years has served us by day and night, quietly and unobtrusively, yet with a faithfulness, ability and devotion that only those who knew him best can appreciate, and his memory will be treasured as sacred in the hearts of many homes throughout our State, whose firesides have been brightened by the return of some loved member restored to renewed mental life by the skill of him who is now silent in death.

2. If his life be measured by years, he died in the prime and vigor of manhood, but if judged by the true test of good works done, his life was a full and complete one. We will ever cherish his skill, devotion and kindness of heart, as a bright and striking example worthy of imitation by all of

us.

3. That we tender his devoted wife and orphaned children our most earnest sympathy in their great loss, and direct that these resoutions be spread upon our records.

In closing this report, we desire to bear testimony to the able, vigilant and untiring work done by the Superintendent and all the resi dent officers of the Hospital, during the biennial period, in the discharge of their respective duties, and to them, more than to us, belongs the credit for the excellent condition in which we are able to report the Hospital at this time.

Respectfully submitted,

D. A. HURST,

J. H. KULP,

P. W. LEWELLEN,

G. W. CULLISON,

G. H. SPAHR,

Trustees.