Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

(Visited by the commissioner September 13, 1900.) This is quite an extensive building for a town the size of Kingston. The residence building is of brick, two stories high, with basement and attic. The central part contains the administration and work and service departments and rooms for men. The superintendent's quarters are in the wing to the east, and the women have dormitories upon the main floor of the western wing. The whole second floor in the main building and the western wing are used by the male inmates. Beside this main building there is a two-story detached house for tramps, and two small isolation wards.

At the time of

There have been no recent improvements. inspection the premises were found in good order, but the buildings not adequately protected from the danger of fire. There is neither fire hose nor connections. A city hydrant is 500 feet from the building, but the nearest engine house is one mile distant. There are one liquid and 25 dry chemical extinguishers.

As the precautions are not adequate, neither are the means of escape. There are two exits for men and women from the parts which they occupy, to the main floor. Upon the ends of the second floor occupied by men there are two winding stairways, which, by reason of their spiral form, are unsafe.

The second floor of the tramp house is used as a medical ward for repulsive or infectious male cases. There are also two pest

houses for contagious diseases. The other sick are cared for in the ordinary dormitories.

The house throughout was found clean and in excellent order; the food good, well prepared, and in sufficient variety.

[blocks in formation]

(Visited by the commissioner, September 5, 1901.) This almshouse affords shelter and support to a large number of able-bodied men who ought not to be retained in an almshouse. At the time of inspection the institution was found in fair order and in good repair. Recently an ice house was built, which contains a large cold storage room. This is of brick, and is connected with the kitchen by an inclosed passage.

Although located in the city of Troy, where there are ample facilities for electric lighting, the almshouse depends upon kerosene oil lamps for its light at night. This is one instance of failure to keep up with the times. Another instance is in the matter of laundry appliances. As has been stated before, although Troy is known all over the United States as the home of the steam laundry, this institution continues to do its laundry work by hand. Fortunately, wooden tubs were discarded long

ago, and stationary slate tubs introduced. It would be well for the institution were steam washers put in. There is a steam drying rack in use at the present time and also a soap caldron. It would cost comparatively little to equip the laundry in a proper manner.

THE CARE OF THE SICK.

At present the hospital accommodations are not sufficient to meet the needs of the institution. There are two small hospital additions connected with the dormitories. These are of brick and located at the extreme ends of the main building. The one for the men has two main wards, containing twenty-one beds, and one isolation ward containing four beds. Two rooms are also taken from the adjoining end of the main dormitory; these are used for convalescents and chronic cases, and in them are accommodations for thirteen more patients. The women's hospital has two wards, containing twenty beds, and a lying-in ward with two additional beds. As on the men's side, so here two rooms are set apart from the main dormitory for the overflow of the women's hospital. These are used for convalescent, chronic, and infectious cases, and have accommodations for twelve patients. The tax upon the hospital accommodations is so great that the patients are uncomfortably crowded together, and, as has been said, the hospital overflows into the main dormitory. The hospital should be enlarged and made separate, so that the ordinary dormitories might be relieved of all patients. The introduction of infectious cases into the main building, and the consequent endangerment to the general health, should be guarded against by a suitable provision in the way of an isolation ward.

At the time of inspection the food was examined and found to be good and served in abundance. The hospital, however, having so many patients, suffers from a lack of milk in sufficient quantity. This should be remedied.

The new ice house and cooler is a valuable improvement, and will prove economical. The old one was located in a dark cellar, and was small, inconvenient, and unsatisfactory.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

SCHOHARIE COUNTY ALMSHOUSE.
Middleburg, N. Y.

IRVIN SPICKERMAN, Superintendent.

(Visited by the commissioner, September 18, 1901.)

The farm connected with this almshouse contains sixty acres, and greatly assists in the support of the institution. The almshouse itself consists of a two-story brick building, with attic and basement, together with barns and necessary outbuildings. The buildings are in good repair and well appointed inside and outside. It is intended to have a new laundry and full equipment of machinery, including a mangle; and the supervisors are talking of putting in a shower bath also.

This is one of the almshouses in which acetylene gas is used for illuminating purposes, and it has been found to work satisfactorily. The heating is by hot water.

The one serious criticism to be made is that which concerns the accommodations for the sick. These consist of two rooms, one on each of the floors devoted to men and women, each room containing three beds. There are no means for isolating cancer

or tuberculosis cases, and, therefore, the hospital service should be improved. A small addition, properly arranged, connected with the main building by a corridor, would solve the problem

of providing for the sick.

On the whole, this institution is a good example of a well constructed and well administered rural almshouse.

[blocks in formation]

(Visited by the Commissioner September 19, 1901.) The buildings of this almshouse are constructed of wood, and have an estimated value of $10,000. They will accommodate 80 inmates. The women's building is three stories high, and, in addition to the dormitory, contains the keeper's quarters and the offices. The old building used for men is three stories high, built into a hillside. Lately the former asylum building was renovated and prepared for the use of the men; it is a twostory structure, with a cellar underneath. The building devoted to the women is in a bad state of repair, and the old one used by the men is also in great need of repairs. The newly renovated building for men is in excellent condition, although its walls should be painted. It is expected that the women's building will be repaired the coming spring, the water supply be extended to the women's building, and bath tubs and flush water closets installed.

The new building for men is heated by steam, but the other buildings depend upon hot air and stoves. The laundry equipment is dilapidated and should be improved.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »