The deaths have never been "innumerable." The death rate compares favorably with other institutions receiving all classes of patients, and the percentage is no greater than should be reasonably expected. A charge is made of a rat in the soup and a mouse in a pie.

This occurred once, and was undoubtedly the work of a mischievous

person.

The charge of speculation with the funds is without any foundation. A charge is made relating to the abuse of confidence by employes. This is liable to occur among so many attendants and patients. We find in this Hospital, as a general rule, a superior class of young men and women as attendants; their duties are very trying, but it is not often that acts of cruelty or inhumanity are perpetrated on any patient. The rule of the Superintendent is kindness to patients; and it is seldom violated. If an infraction of this rule occurs, the attendant is admonished, and, if the offense is repeated, discharged.

The charge that the Superintendent and other officers use wines, liquors, and cigars, supplied for Hospital use, we find untrue. One of the former clerks, named Macdonald, was claimed to have told the witness Madison that this was the case. In an affidavit sent the committee, Macdonald pronounces this statement false, and says he knew of no such doings of the officers and never told the witness any such thing.

The charge of "human remains" in the dust pile is admitted by the Superintendent, who states that it was simply thoughtlessness in his second assistant. The rule is to have every thing in the way of dissections done decently and in order.

Mr. Fenton testifies to seeing Mr. Munn, formerly drug clerk at the Hospital, and a medical student, and now a physician and acting assistant-surgeon in the United States army, throw human entrails and remains into the furnace; but Dr. Munn, in a recent communication, says that Mr. Fenton was mistaken, that they were only bloody rags, clots, etc.

In regard to the Courtney case, we do not find that there was anything unusual or suspicious about his death, but that it was due to his disease. Some patients in the same ward were reported as saying that Courtney was badly treated and neglected; but, when seen by the committee, they said they liad made no such statements, and according to their observations he had been well and kindly treated. At the "investigation," Mr. Courtney, father of the deceased patient, was present, heard Dr. Ranney's testimony, and expressed his satisfaction with the

explanation given, and then believed that his son had been well treated. In this investigation, when attendants were sworn, the question was invariably asked of each if they testified of their own free will, without being biased by the Hospital authorities in any manner, or if any attempt had been made to influence or control their testimony; and the answer in every case was that no attempt had been made to control or direct them, and no inquiry made as to what they would swear to.

Dr. Ranney's testimony was very full and complete, and covered almost, or quite, all points in Hospital management, giving those present a better insight into it than they had ever had before.

It was said that one D. E. Anden, of Mt. Vernon, Henry county, a patient in Hospital some years ago for about nine months, knew of some things bad in Hospital management, or of some abuses. He was not subpoenaed, and the chairman of the committee wrote to him, asking if he knew of any abuses in Hospital, or anything wrong there that the committee ought to be informed of. His reply is that he did not, and does not know of any such abuses. After having spent two weeks in their investigation, and made it as thorough as practicable, your committee have arrived at the conclusion that the charges of corruption and bad management, made against the authorities of the Hospital are not true, and that the weight of testimony shows good and competent management, and an honest and faithful endeavor to do the best that can be done by the unfortunate class under their care. The management of the Hospital do not claim that such an institution, having more than five hundred insane patients, can be carried on wholly without mistakes or accidents. We further state as our opinion, from the evidence taken at this investigation, also from close observation of the management of the Hospital, and an intimate acquaintance with its officers and attendants for the past seven years, acquired by a monthly inspection of said Hospital that the charges of mismanagement, etc., are without any just foundation, and are cruel and outrageous in causing great alarm among friends of patients who are there. for care and treatment.

THIRTEENTH BIENNIAL REPORT

OF THE

BOARD OF CURATORS

OF THE

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

AT IOWA CITY,

TO THE

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.

1881.

PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

DES MOINES:

F. M. MILLS, STATE PRINTER.

REPORT.

To His Excellency JOHN H. GEAR, Governor of the State of Iowa:

SIR:-The Board of Curators of the State Historical Society of Iowa, herewith beg leave to submit this, the thirteenth biennial report, as required by law. And in so doing, they first express the deep regret, which will be shared by all, that two of their most honored and valued members, one by death and the other by removal to another State, have severed their connections with the Society.

The Hon. Thomas Hughes, acting secretary for the past four years, has been called hence by death. The Hon. William G. Hammond who for many years has been an earnest and untiring worker in behalf of the State Historical Society, accepted the Deanship of the Washington University Law School at St. Louis, Missouri, and thus the Society loses one more of its strong supports.

The officers of the Society for the year 1879-80 were as follows: President of the Society and of the Board of Curators, Hon. William G. Hammond.

Members of the board by appointment of the Governor:

1st congressional district, C. W. Slagle, of Jefferson county. 2d congresssional district, D. N. Richardson, of Scott county. 3d congressional district, Henry C. Bulis, of Winneshiek county. 4th congressional district, A. T. Reeve, of Franklin county. 5th congressional district, J. W. Henderson, of Linn county. 6th congressional district, A. K. Campbell, of Jasper county. 7th congressional district, T. S. Parr, of Warren county. 8th congressional district, L. W. Ross, of Pottawattamie county. 9th congressional district, John F. Duncombe, of Webster county. Members of the board by election of the Society: William G. Hammond, M. W. Davis, Robert Hutchinson, James Lee, C. M. Hobby, Thomas Hughes, S. E. Paine, S. C. Trowbridge and J. L. Pickard, all of Johnson county.

Treasurer, D. W. C. Clapp, Iowa City.

Assistant Librarian, Col. S. C. Trowbridge, Iowa City.

Assistant Secretary, Hon. Thomas Hughes, Iowa City.