Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/408

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES of their keepers: some rtlurned in a few days a n d others made their way to their homes. T h e r e were 17 2 female inmates. T hey were tem porarily taken carc o f in the outbuildings u n til they were removed to the H arrisburg a n d W arren hospitals. T he sum o f $209,I i6 .o i was re a liz ^ from the insurance and at o n ce the work o f rebuilding w as commenced, important improvements and changes being introduced. Iron beams and brick arches w e re used fo r walls constructed between sec­ tion s, and the floor o f each section was fire­ p ro o f. bay windows were added to all the rebuilt wards. T h e entire center building was remodeled on a fireproof basis, somewhat less in depth than the old building, a one-story kitchen placed in the rear o f it. beyond which is con­ nected a two-story building containing store rooms and a sewing room. T h e first-floor section of the main hall of the wings occupied b y patients w*as made fireproof, as was the ceiling of the top story. T he entire center building was rebuilt from the foundation and greatly improved throughout, and w as ready f o r occupancy early in 1884. These structural alterations were not expensive, but added ^ e a t ly to the good purposes of the building itself. T he chapel is large and beautiful ana scats 600; it is also u s ^ as a lecture room and is furnished with a piano and organ. T h e building contains every department necessary to an institution where so many unfortunates find a home, offices, bathrooms, dining-rooms, kitchens, storerooms and many others. F o u r new buildings have been added from time to time, as legislative appropriations could be secured; an Acute building, contain­ ing a reception ward, connected with which is a complete hydrothcrapcutic department for the treatment o f disturbed or acute cases; a dormitory fo r the treatment o f epileptics; and an Infirm ary building to care fo r the sick, bedridden or more or less helpless cases; these buildings being fo r both sexes and about dottbling the original capacity of the institu­ tion. In connection with the female infirmary an up-to-date operating room, with necessary adjuncts, has been in.stallcd. T h e lavatory .system of the main building has been entirely renovated by the addition of four buildings, placed outside, but connected with the wards, thus giWng a complete sani­ tary system and increasing the capacity of this section 164 beds, at an actual cost of about $12,00 0 to the State. Other buildings necessary to the conduct o f (he institution,

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and gradually added, a re : A home for women nurses, a building containing four separate apartments fo r married heads o f de­ partments, and a building used as living rooms, containing forty-two beds, fo r the care of regularly employed male employees. T lic laundry has been extended from time to time and equipped with the most modem machinery. A new power house, fully equipped with boilers and necessary adjuncts fo r heating and power, has been installcil, changing the former gravity system o f beating to a low pressure vacuum system, and in connection with this building an electric light plant, sub­ stituting electricity fo r gas lighting, preN ’iously installed, A mechanical filter plant fo r the filtration of the drinking water, and a sewage disposal >lant for purification o f sewage, have also leen added. Without detracting an iota from the high character and eminent fitnc.ss o f those in charge o f this noble institution; those whose devotion and labor o f love can never be re­ warded by any financial remuneration; it is only fitting to say that, which everyone who knew the hospital and its development in its earlier d ^ 's will readily a.ssent to, this great and beneficent institution, with all hs mighty influences fo r good, and all its agencies for the alleviation o f mental suffering and its ministration to the "mind diseased,' is a fit­ ting monument and a lasting tribute to the ability, high Christian character, faithful de­ votion to duty, economy and se lf abnegation o f D r, S . S . Skhultz, its first superintendent. N ever was there a fitter selection or one more splendidly adapted to the delicate and difficult work required than that o f Dr. Schultz. He w as an eminent physician, and an earnest Christian man who carried his Christianity into all the daily duties o f life, as they re­ lated either to himself o r to his State. H e was particuUir and precise in all the details of building, and the administration o f his tru.st in every respect. H e was honest and consci­ entious to a penny in the use of the State's funds; and no g rafte r ever dared asked him, "W h at's in it fo r me?” W arm-hearted and sympathetic, while he felt the pulse o f a patient he also read the suffering and the intense longing and the con­ stantly changing desires of a clouded b rain; and with the drugs he prescribed he atso. with gentle hand and fitly chosen word.ft and equally refined manner, touched a spot that all the apothecary’s art could never reach.