The Texas Confederate Home. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT. The State Board of Control, Austin, Texas. GENTLEMEN: I submit herewith report of the condition and management of the Confederate Home for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1920. Considering the fact that the average age of the inmates is 81 years, health conditions have been good, the number of deaths being mainly due to advancing age and its resultant infirmities. The report of the surgeon in charge, Dr. T. C. Hairston, will show detailed and interesting conditions in the hospital, which, under his care and that of his assistants, is ably managed, and which must, in coming years, care for the greater number of veterans who enter the Home. The grounds and buildings have been kept in repair at a minimum cost compared to their actual needs, and it is contemplated in the coming year to make many repairs which will become urgent, the board having in mind that some changes should be made of a permanent nature by reason of the fact that, "the buildings erected at different periods as needed, and machinery installed in like manner, with pipesunderground for steam, electricity, gas, water and sewerage, are old and necessarily worn, and much of the State's appropriation will most probably be needed during the coming year for their general maintenance and repair." There are but few complaints heard from any source within the Home, from which it is inferred that the men are satisfied with existing conditions. Such as do come to the attention of the board, or the officers, are, if possible, promptly remedied. The inmates of the Home have been well fed with good and wholesome food, their diet being generous and abundant. We have a splendid baker and a good cook, who cook their food and serve it in a well ventilated and lighted dining room which is kept clean and sanitary, and, at all times, by a full corps of female waiters who are attentive in seeing that every inmate is properly served morning, noon, and evening. The living rooms occupied by the inmates are well ventilated, and all openings are properly screened. All the rooms are warmed with steam heat from a central steam heating plant. The sheets and bed linen are laundered regularly as well as the blankets when it is deemed necessary. A sufficient number of janitors are constantly employed to clean and disinfect the rooms and bedding and to destroy the bed bugs, so that there is no necessity now, if any excuse, for a dirty room or for having bed bugs. We have six bath tubs and shower baths for the men in the barracks, with hot and cold water, and the rules in the Home require that inmates bathe twice a week in warm weather and once a week during the winter, so that every necessary facility is furnished for personal cleanliness. The applications for admission are greater in number than in former years, and are sufficient to fill the Home nearly to the number, originally contemplated, of four hundred, and therefore, it may be assumed that the necessity for its continuation as a refuge for helpless and dependent ex-Confederate soldiers is even greater than before. This year many of the veterans admitted to the Home were very feeble and helpless, and came directly to the hospital. Not a few of these are actual invalids who remain constantly in bed, and, therefore, require an unusual amount of attention. Approximately 60 per cent of our patients are unable to go to the hospital dining room for meals, which means that more than 150 meals per day must be served at the bedside. Many of our patients, being unable to feed themselves, require the services of a nurse or orderly at meal times, all of which means that to look after the needs of our feeble veterans properly a great deal of hospital help is necessary in the person of nurses and orderlies. The increasing feebleness of the inmates of the Home will soon materially increase the number of hospital patients, and this will necessitate the employment of additional nurses and orderlies. The cost of running the hospital in the coming years must, of necessity, show a sharp increase, which must be provided for. In this report attention is invited to the efficient, continuous care and attention by the State Board of Control, its officers and employes, in making the Texas Confederate Home the "Haven of Rest" for which it was intended. Very respectfully submitted, REPORT OF SURGEON. E. WINFREE, Hon. E. Winfree, Superintendent Texas Confederate Home. DEAR SIR: I hereby submit my report for the year ending August 31, 1920. At present I have ninety-two men in the hospital, forty of whom are able to go to the dining room for meals. The others have to be served with trays. The bed-ridden average about thirty-five men. There are five or six men in the hospital who could be better cared for in the State hospitals for the insane, as we are not at all prepared to care for them. There has been no epidemic, and but few cases of preventable diseases. Most of the deaths were from, and most of the sickness has been, chronic diseases incident to old age. Each year a greater percentage of the inmates will need the care of the hospital, and in my opinion, in a few years the Home will have to be run on a hospital basis. Judge Winfree, the superintendent, who is constantly at his post of duty, has made marked improvements in the grounds and the sanitary condition of the Home, and my association with him has been very pleasant, indeed. The employes at the hospital are very efficient in their work, and are ready at all times to serve the old soldiers. Respectfully submitted, T. C. HAIRSTON, M. D., Surgeon. REPORT OF OCULIST AND AURIST. Hon. E. Winfree, Superintendent Texas Confederate Home, Austin, Texas. DEAR SIR: I take pleasure in presenting annual report of oculist and aurist department for the year ending August 31, 1920. I visit the hospital weekly on Wednesday morning, and oftener if necessary. The head nurse carries out instructions in regard to treatment during the interim of my visits. I also examine and treat those who come to my private office. So far as I can ascertain, the results of our efforts have been reasonably satisfactory, especially when it is taken into consideration that practically all of the ex-Confederate soldiers are past seventy years of age. It has been my observation that they appreciate the attention and service given, which spurs us on to put forth our best efforts, being patient and courteous at all times. I have been connected with the Texas Confederate Home for a number of years in the capacity of visiting oculist and aurist. It is my experience that the number of ear, eye, nose and throat cases examined does not vary to any marked degree from that of previous years. The greater per cent of the diseased conditions involves the eyelids. As usual, it is necessary to examine the eyes for glasses and fill prescriptions from stock on hand, which, I must say, is not always satisfactory. It is important that the frame be fitted to the face and lenses properly adjusted in order to secure comfort to the wearer. Therefore, I recommend an appropriation of two hundred dollars to fill prescriptions of oculist by a competent optician who has the contract to do this mechanical work. An ill-fitting frame, and lenses out of line, will certainly cause the wearer to complain and censure the oculist. Of course, there are residents of the Home who will not accept any variety of glasses, due to existing pathological conditions. In conclusion, desire to call your attention to the co-operation of Dr. T. C. Hairston who has cheerfully looked after the necessities of the department. Since your incumbency as Superintendent of the Texas Confederate Home, I have been impressed with the contentment of the residents of the Home, and it is a source of much gratification to hear favorable comment on your management. Respectfully, J. R. NICHOLS, M. D., Confederate Woman's Home. MRS. S. J. THOMAS, SUPERINTENDENT. The Thirty-first Legislature in 1909 submitted to the voters of Texas for their adoption a proposed amendment to the State Constitution, empowering the Legislature to provide a Home for dependent wives and widows of ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors. This amendment was adopted at the general State election in November, 1910, and the Thirty-second Legislature, by Chapter 36 of the General Laws of 1911, put this Constitutional provision into effect, and established the Confederate Woman's Home. The Daughters of the Confederacy of the State of Texas had, by private enterprise, laid a very substantial foundation for this kind of an institution, and opened its doors to a small number of women on June 3, 1908. By the Act of 1911, the State took over the property thus acquired by the Daughters of the Confederacy, and made the first appropriation of State funds for the establishment and maintenance of the Confederate Woman's Home. The grounds of this Institution embrace only one-half of a city block. There are four institutional buildings, and also a barn, a garage and a buggy house. The Home is located in a good community in the northern part of the city of Austin, about three-quarters of a mile north of the University of Texas. Number of women in the Home during the fiscal year ending Number of applications for admission pending at end of year.... 1883 102 63 |