As a consulting staff, we have twelve physicians, surgeons and specialists, who are actively engaged in the work of the department, visiting the institution at least once a week, and oftener as required.
The entire staff consists of nineteen, who are experts in their profession, find an abundance of work that, in doing, is in most cases a direct benefit to the community, as well as to the individual treated, as the delinquency of many can be traced to their physical ailments.
As a typical case, I might relate the story of a man that had been a delinquent or criminal (so called) for several years, during which time he had been estranged from family and relatives, who did not want to be identified with one of his reputation. He had for a long time been suffering from a rupture, and used this fact as an excuse for not applying himself to ordinary labor, and claimed he could not earn a living otherwise, so had drifted into criminal ways. When committed to the House of Correction and opportunity given him to be treated for his trouble, he gladly accepted; an operation was successful, and while convalescing he realized an obligation for having received, while under the bane of the Law, that which he had for years so badly needed.
The return to normal physical condition brought to him a desire to discharge that obligation. Upon the advice of the General Superintendent, he communicated for the first time in years with his family, and satisfied them that he was determined to no longer disgrace them, whereupon, with their moral support, he did renounce his vicious way, and has been in no further trouble with the law.
In other ways the Medical Department is of great assistance to the management of the institution, especially in furnishing to it reports of findings in individual cases of limited mental or physical capacity, so that the facts contained in the report may be considered in making assignments to work. Everyone, especially prison wardens, can readily see the advantage of this.
Not long ago, one of the boys in the School Department was reported to the management for apparently making no effort, particularly in his physical training exercises, to develop with the class, and was indolent in other studies. He was sent to the doctors for examination, and they learned by applying the X-Ray that he was suffering from tuberculosis of the shoulder joint. It is needless to say that the boy did not merit punishment under the circumstances.
Out of the fourteen thousand commitments to the Chicago House of Correction last year, three thousand three hundred and seventy-two were treated in the hospital, besides those who were prescribed for in the cell house, whose ailments did not require hospital care. Two hundred and fifteen were major surgical operations.
The results obtained in this work have attracted the attention and commendation of all who have observed them, especially judges of the courts, and captains of the police department, who could see an opportunity for great good to come to many individuals, their own work facilitated and simplified, if treatment could be given and observation made before the cases were disposed of in court.
In order to do this and prevent legal technicalities from arising by receiving patients before commitment by the courts, the House of Correction Hospital was organized by the executive officers of the institution as individuals, and is operated under a license granted by the city, under the name of the Sceleth Hospital. In one section of it, regularly committed sick prisoners to the House of Correction are kept, and in another section those under arrest, and cases pending in the courts, are brought by the police, placed under treatment and observation, and when able are taken to court with a statement from the physicians as to mental and physical conditions, so that the court can more intelligently dispose of them. Some are returned for further treatment and confinement under fine or sentence; others may be held to await the action of the grand jury on more serious charges; while others who had been treated for alcoholism, and for the first time in years were free from the effects of liquor, physically able and willing to support their families as they should, would be allowed to go home, with no record of fine or imprisonment against them.
The courts, and especially the court of domestic relations, finds that the hospital is a great aid in solving some of the problems submitted to them by families whose breadwinners have become neglectful or abusive, as a result of excessive drinking. In such cases, a sentence may be imposed, which carries with it a recommendation for such treatment as the defendant may need. When he has responded to treatment, and the proper disposition is shown toward his family, the court is made aware of the fact, and he is released. In a normal physical condition, he is very apt to realize his possibilities as the head of a family and avoid the courts in the future. I can best describe the different classes of cases brought to the Sceleth Hospital by using the words of the Medical Superintendent, in a report made to me by him, which is as follows: