) Indiana Medical History Quarterly
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) INDIANA MEDICAL HISTORY QUARTERLY INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Volume VII Number 1 March, 1981 R131 A1 15 V7 NOI 001 The Indiana Medical History Quarterly is published by the Medical History Section of the Indiana Historical Society, 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. MEDICAL HISTORY SECTION COMMITTEE CHARLES A. BONSETT, M.D. Chairman and Editor 6133 East 54th Place Indianapolis, Indiana 46226 ANN G. CARMICHAEL, M.D. Ph.D. Asst. Editor 130 Goodbody Hall Bloomington, Indiana 47401 JOHN U. KEATING, M.D. 8415 Washington Blvd. Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 KENNETH G. KOHLSTAEDT, M.D. 645 East 80th Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 BERNARD ROSENAK, M.D. 5405 Greenwillow Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46226 DWIGHT SCHUSTER, M.D. 6510 N. Chester Ave. Indianapolis, Indiana 46220 W ILLIAM M. SHOLTY, M.D. 1831 Lilly Road Lafayette, Indiana 47905 W. D. SNIVELY, J R , M.D. R. R. 1, Box 277 Evansville, Indiana 47712 MRS. DONALD J. WHITE 7218 Sylvan Ridge Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 The Committee invites the contribution o f mansucript material relating to the practice o f medicine in Indiana — letters from or to physicians, diaries, case books, etc. Identified pictures of 19th century Hoosier doctors or medical meetings are also being sought. Objects relating to medical practice are desired for the Museum. Please write to Dr. Charles A. Bonsett, Chairman, Medical History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 350 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis 46202. Copyright 1980 by the Indiana Historical Society Cover: Central Indiana Hospital for Insane. The hospital building became known as Department for Men in the 1870’s. R131 A1 15 V7 NOI 002 IN THIS ISSUE The compiler o f this issue o f the Quarterly, Dr. Charles Hazelrigg, received the D.D.S. degree in 1970 from Indiana University School o f Dentistry. His under graduate degree (B.S.) in pharmacy was obtained from Butler University in 1963. Since 1970 Dr. Hazelrigg has been on the staff at Central State Hospital, initially in a dental capacity, but since 1977 as Chief o f Services Bahr Treatment Center. Dr. Hazelrigg has been collecting the history o f the hospital over the past ten years in terms o f photographs, documents, newspaper articles, and interviews with former patients and employees, in addition to abstracting that information recorded in journals, books, and annual reports. This issue o f the Quarterly presents a part of that history, pictorially. Many o f the photographs are being published here for the first time. CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL Although the state o f Indiana set aside land to be used as an insane asylum on January 26, 1827, not until 1843 did the actual movement toward the development o f a hospital for the insane begin. Most noteworthy in this movement was Dr. John Evans, who had established his first regular practice in Attica, Indiana. He became appalled at the treatment o f the insane in the state and led a campaign for a hospital. At this time, it became evident that the land bounded by Alabama, New Jersey, Vermont, and New York Streets, denoted as Square 22 in Indianapolis, was too small and improperly placed as a hospital site. On August 28, 1845, after much investigation by Dr. Evans, the 160 acres belonging to Nathaniel and Sarah T. Bolton lying two miles west of Indianapolis was purchased by the State o f Indiana for $33.12l/2 per acre. Construction began May 5, 1846, and for the most part the general plan submitted by Dr. Evans was followed, and before the winter o f 1846 the building had been constructed up to the top o f the basement story in time to be secured from the weather. Finally, on November 21, 1848, the Indiana Hospital for the Insane opened its doors to receive the first five patients. Dr. Richard Patterson served as the Superintendent and Dr. J. Nutt was the assistant physician. The hospital remained in a growing state until April 3, 1857, when the un expected happened; the General Assembly failed to make the necessary appropri ations. The Superintendent, Dr. James Athon, had no alternative but to discharge the 303 patients from the hospital. On October 5, 1857, the Hospital was given the assurance that the money could be drawn from the treasury for the support o f the hospital until the meeting o f the Legislature. This enabled Dr. Athon to reopen the hospital for admissions, and it has remained open ever since. The hospital continued to grow in number o f buildings and number o f patients during the following years. Construction o f a new patients’ building was started in 1875 and finished in 1879. This building was known and used solely as the depart ment for women. The original hospital building bcame known as the department for men. 3 R131 A1 15 V7 NOI 002 4 INDIANA MEDICAL HISTORY QUARTERLY The few following statistics pertaining to the department o f women may be o f interest: Area o f roof 109,700 square feet (2.7 acres) Area o f each floor 58,900 square feet (1.5 acres) Heating pipes 65 miles Number o f rooms 1,124 Plumbers and gas pipes 10 miles Height o f large towers 120 feet Height o f small towers 88 feet Number of windows 1,957 Number o f panes 78,000 Cost $650,000 Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Rogers, in his annual report to Governor James D. Williams gave the following descriptions: “ This structure is admirably adapted to give every comfort to patients. It has every possible facility for light, warmth and ventilation. Food, prepared in the most approved apparatus, can be readily delivered by hydraulic elevators to the dining-rooms, o f which each ward has its own, where it can be kept warm indefinitely by being placed on steam tables. The table service is strong and plain, but neat. The tables, o f ash, with polished walnut tops, are rubbed at short intervals with shellac and oil, and the native beauty o f the wood is substituted for the products o f the weaver’s art in most wards. A china closet and scullery, with hot and cold water, complete the conveniences here. A shute for soiled clothing and another for dust carry these materials to the basement into locked rooms. Each ward has one or more bath-rooms, lavatories and water closets, supplied with hot and cold water. Each bedroom contains one or more heavy ash bedsteads, made by our own mechanics at the hospital wood factory; these are each supplied with heavy husk and hair mattresses, one o f each, a liberal supply o f blankets and a Marseilles quilt, with necessary changes. The wall halls are furnished with ornamental wooden settees and comfortable lounges, covered with brown all-wool terry, a pleasant resting place for feeble patients in the day time, during which all patients are locked out o f their room and kept in the hall for more perfect care and observation.” For over 80 years, thousands o f female patients, female employees, and seven superintendents resided in the Women’s Building. Then, in 1968, male and female patients were integrated for the first time and the building became known as “ Old Main.” Dr. George Edenharter became the Superintendent in 1893 where he remained until his death in December o f 1923. During that period o f time, he made numerous changes at the hospital. In the first year o f his administration, cement walks were placed on the grounds, an iron fence was placed at Washington St., old wooden shops were demolished, 125 trees were planted, new steps were placed at the Women’s Building, a new carpenter’s shop was built, and a new wooden fence was placed along Vermont Street. Many other improvements would follow. Because o f the total destruction o f the laundry on June 16, 1894, by a severe thunderstorm, a new “ fire proof” laundry was immediately begun and completed within months. This structure was equipped with the most modern machinery o f R131 A1 15 V7 NOI 004 ) CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL 5 the time and was totally supplied by electricity at a cost o f $35,000. On the evening o f December 18, 1896, the newly constructed Pathological Building was dedicated. The cost o f the building was $12,000 and is recognized by the U.S. Department o f the Interior’s National Register o f Historic Places. The General Assembly of 1899 appropriated $110,000 for the erection o f a hospital building. This unique structure contained wards for the physically sick men and women, medical offices, surgical wards, operating rooms, and employee living quarters. The building was completed in 1901. Under a resolution o f the Board o f Trustees adopted May 16, 1911, in recog nition o f the faithful services of the secretary o f the hospital, Mr. Cornelius Mayer, the Chapel-Amusement building was named Cornelius Mayer Hall and was so dedi cated. This building seated 600 people for Sunday services, programs and other activities. The basement contained a bowling alley. Dr. Edenharter continued his policy of adding trees and shrubs to beautify the grounds. Other structures built included a new bakery, dining rooms, conservatory, upholstery shop and a new kitchen for the department o f men. Although new buildings were added following Dr. Edenharter’s administration, the hospital was now on a solid foundation and no longer in danger o f extinction. Further construction was necessary to accomodate the hospital’s growing population and to replace antiquated buildings, but the direction o f Central State Hospital’s growth was fixed during Dr.