1915 Annual Report Narrative and Census

1915 Annual Report Narrative and Census

Annual report

Asylum for Insane Indians, Annual Report, submitted to The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, July 20, 1915.

Harry R. Hummer; Hummer, Harry R.

State Archives of the South Dakota State Historical Society

Copy from The National Archives

7-20-1915

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D. C., E.B. Meritt

government records, public domain

Ed-H
Annual report.
AJW

SEP - 3 1915


Dr. H: R. Hummer,
Supt. Canton Insane Asylum.
My dear Dr. Hummer:
Referring to your annual report for the fiscal year 1915 it is noted you call attention to the fact that the Canton Asylum closes the year with 48 patients.
You further state that the hospital building has been completed, with the exception of the installation of the plumbing fixtures and will serve to take care of a number of those whose admission is desired,but will be full in a short time.
Please state what your present capacity is, and how many patients there are at Canton at this time. Also state how many further patients may be taken care of now that the hospital building is completed. Your reports tends to show that it is your practice to accept cases without authorization by the Office. Is this the case?
Very truly yours,
(Signed) E.B. Meritt

9-FLD-2
Assistant Commissioner.
Ed J-Statistics.
AH
Circular No. 978.
Annual report 1915.
Department of the Interior
United States Indian Service
Asylum for Insane Indians,
Canton, South Dakota, July 20, 1915
NARRATIVE

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Washington, D.C.

Sir:-

In compliance with instructions contained in Office letter dated May 6, 1915, I have the honor to submit the annual report of this Asylum for the fiscal year 1915, covering the period from July 1, 1914 to June 30, 1915, both inclusive?

Officers of the institution.
Name, Position. Salary.
H.R. Hummer, M.D., Supt. & S.D. Agent, $2,500.00 no board.
(Vacant), Phys. & Asst. Supt., 1,300.00 no board.
Thos. T. Smith, Financial Clerk, 960.00 & board.
(Vacant), Engineer, 720.00 & board.
Randy J. Hendricks, Matron, 660.00 & board.

The position of physician and assistant superintendent has been vacant throughout the year, the duties of this position having been performed by the Superintendent without extra compensation.

The plant consists of about one hundred acres, beautifully situated on a commanding knoll about two miles east of the town of Canton, with which we have telephonic communication, and about one mile west of the Big Sioux river, which, at this point, forms the boundary line between Iowa and South Dakota. We may be reached by telegraph over the Western Wires

Annual report, 1915----2.

or Postal. The plant consists of nineteen buildings, whose estimated value is $96,340.25. The popularity of the Asylum as a point of interest is attested by the fact that we have escorted six hundred and fifty-nine registered visitors through the wards during the year, besides refusing several hundred who came at times other than visiting days.

The re-organization of the working force has been furthered whereverepossible and the general cleaning up continues without abatement. The dietary continues quite satisfactery. The records, though not complete, are as far advanced as the limited time at my disposal will permit. A persistent effort has been made throughout the year to limit the overcrowding with the result that we closed the year with forty-eight patients, as opposed to fifty for the fiscal year 1914. This is the first time during my incumbency that we have succeeded in keeping the number of patients down to our capacity. Application for the admission of new cases continue to reach me, with strong pleas for immediate section, but whenever possible to arrange for the care of these unfortunates in other institutions, these are declined.

I believe that insanity among the Indians is increasing very materially and will continue to do so. I believe aslo, that this institution is not fully serving its purpose without taking in all of these cases, above referred to, those domiciled in State Asylums, those in the care of friends and relatives and the large number of idiots, imbeciles and “feeble-minded” Indians, living on the different reservations.

Annual report, 1915----3.

The epileptics, (there are sixteen here), should by all means be segregated and this can only be done by erecting a cottage for this class. The employees should have a desirable home at the earliest possible moment. Work has begun on the Superintendent’s residence. A Chapel and amusement hall should be constructed for the benefit of the patients, who have very few opportunities for recreation and amusement. The installation of some playground apparatus, the purchase of a twelve-passenger motor-bus, fishing parties, circuses and fireworks have somewhat reduced the monotony of their existence during the year. The hospital building has been completed, with the excpetion of the installation of the plumbing fixtures and will serve to take care of a number of those whose admission is desired, but this will be filled in a very short time and should be supplemented by the construction of the afore mentioned buildings at the earliest possible moment.

The general health conditions have been very satisfactory, no epidemic disease having visited us. This speaks well for the hygienic and sanitary condition of the premises, as many epidemic diseases have occurred in the adjacent town and country. Six deaths occurred during the year, four of which were due to pulmonary tuberculosis.

The sewer extension has been giving satisfaction during the year, not having become clogged once. Work on the road-grading over this sewer was pushed forward until June 30, 1916, when we were compelled to desist, the fiscal year closing, leaving this road in an unfinished condition, but greatly improved.

Annual report, 1915----4.

A request for authority to complete this road work will be sent to your Office at an early date.

No escapee or serious accidents occurred during the year.

Am attaching a few tables with the request that these be made an integral part of this report.
I desire to extend my sincere thanks to the employees for their support and co-operation.

To the Commissioner and his assistants, I beg to state that I am appreciative of their aid, which I hope to continue to merit.

Very respectfully,
H.R. Hummer, M.D.,
Supt. & Spl. Disb. Agent.

HRH/HRH

Annual report, 1915----5.

Table 1. Population by tribes.
Tribe. Here 6/30/15. Since opening.
Apache, 1 5
Arapaho 1 1
Ariskaree, 1 2
Bannock, 0 3
Blackfeet, 1 3
Caddo, 2 2
Cherokee, 2 5
Cheyenne, 0 1
Chickasaw, 1 2
Chippewa, 9 21
Choctaw, 0 3
Cree, 1 1
Creek, 0 3
Crow, 0 1
Flathead, 0 2
Gros Ventres, 1 1
Hopi, 1 1
Kickapoo, 1 1
Klamath, 0 1
Mennominee, 2 5
Mesa Grande, 0 1
Modoc, 0 1
Moqui, 1 1
Navajo, 2 9
Osage, 1 4
Papago, 0 1
Pawnee, 0 1
Piegan, 0 1
Pima, 0 2
Piute, 1 4
Potawatomi, 2 3
Puyallup, 0 1
Pueblo, 1 4
Quapaw, 1 1
Sac and Fox, (Ok.), 1 2
Seminole, 0 2
Shawnee, 0 1
Shoshone, 1 2
Sioux, 11 31
Umatilla, 0 1
Ute, 1 3
Unknown, 0 1
Winnebago, 0 3
Wyandette, 1 1
48 145

Annual report, 1915----6.

Table 2. Population by sex.
Sex. In Asylum 6/30/15. Since opening.
Male, 24 80
Female, 24 65
Totals, 48 145

Table 3. Population by degree of Indian blood.
Degree, In Asylum 6/30/15. Since opening
Full, 27 98
Half and over, 17 40
Less than half, 3 5
Unknown, 1 2
Totals, 48 145

Table 4. Number of admissions divided into yearly periods.
Fiscal year, Number.
1903, 15
1904, 11
1905, 24
1906, 22
1907, 19
1908, 13
1909, 9
1910, 9
1911, 4
1912, 3
1913, 7
1914, 5
1915, 4
Total, 145

Table 5. Number of discharges divided into yearly periods.
Fiscal year. Deaths, Recoveries, Improved or unimp. Escapes.
1903, 1 0 0 0
1904, 1 0 0 0
1905, 5 2 1 0
1906, 6 1 1 0
1907, 4 4 2 1
1908, 5 4 2 1
1909, 7 4 2 0
1910, 6 1 0 0
1911, 6 0 1 0
1912, 5 1 1 1
1913, 5 1 2 0
1914, 5 1 0 0
1915, 6 0 0 0
Totals, 63 19 12 3
Annual report, 1915----7.

Table--5. Causes of death since opening.
Diseases of respiratory system:
Tuberculosis, pulmonary, 28
Pneumonia, croupous, 6
Pneumonia, catarrhal, 1
Bronchitis, capillarry, 1
Total, 36 36.

Diseases of circulatory system:
Failure of compensation, 2
Total, 2 2.

Diseases of digestive system:
Entero-colitis, 1
Gangrenous colitis, 1
Cirrhosis of liver, 1
Ulcerative biliary calculi, 1
Total, 4 4.

Diseases of osseous system:
Tuberculosis of bones, 1
Total, 1 1.

Diseases of nervous system:
Status epilepticus, 2
Epileptic convulsions, 2
Exhaustion after convulsions, 1
General paralysis of the insane, 4
Total, 9 9.

Miscellaneous diseases:
Syphilis, 3
Senile debility, 5
Senility and fractured femur, 1
Double mastoid disease, 1
Peritonitis, 1
Total, 11 11.
Grand total, 63.

Table 7. Form of mental disease.
Form of mental disease. In Asylum 6/30/15. Since opening.
The epilepsies, 15 29
Dementia praecox, 9 17
Imbecility, congenital, 9 26
Manic-depressive, 4 28
Intoxication psychoses, 6 13
Senile psychoses, 1 12
Arterio-sclerotic dementia, 1 2
Hysteria, 1 1
Paranoia, 1 1
Idiocy, 1 1
Paranoid state, 0 1
Paresia, 0 3
Cretinism, sporadic, 0 1
Dementia, traumatic, 0 1
Dementia, organic, 0 1
Neardethenis, 0 1
Unclassified, 0 7
Totals, 48 145


Annual report, 1915----8.

Table 8. Age of patients.
Age, In Asylum, 6/30/15. Since opening.
Under 10, 0 3
10 to 20, 3 20
20 to 30, 17 33
30 to 40 14 42
40 to 50 8 18
50 to 60, 2 11
60 to 70, 2 7
70 to 80, 2 8
80 and over, 0 3
Totals, 48 145

Table 9. Marital condition of patients in Asylum 6/30/15.
Single, 23
Married, 21
Widowed, 21
Widowed, 1
Divorced, 1
Unknown, 2
Total, 48

Table 10. States from which patients were admitted.
Arizona, 13.
California, 1.
Colorado, 2.
Dist. of Columbia, 2.
Idaho, 3.
Kansas, 5.
Minnesota, 16.
Montana, 7.
Nebraska, 3.
Nevada, 2.
New Mexico, 10.
North Dakota, 10.
Oklahoma, 27.
Oregon, 3.
South Dakota, 28.
Washington, 1.
Wisconsin, 9.
Wyoming, 3.
Total, 145.