with the great after depression common to all of the cases was the most persistent and troublesome feature of the disease in the majority of the cases. In not more than 5 per cent. of the cases was there any involve ment of the nasal or pharyngeal mucous membrane. In about 15 per cent. the whole force of the disease seemed to expend itself upon the nervous system, the headache and pain in the back often being intense, and accompanied with high fever. Two of these patients suffered from paralysis. In one the muscles of the left side of the face and larynx were affected, rendering distinct articulation impossible, and in the other partial paraplegia existed for about two weeks. Both patients recovered from these symptoms.

There was one case of acute maniacal delirium lasting two weeks, with complete recovery. In a few cases intestinal colic with diarrhea was a complication. Four cases of pneumonia resulted from the disease, of which one, was fatal. This was the only death in which la grippe was the sole cause. Two phthisical cases, and two cases of or ganic heart disease, in which death was imminent, were suddenly terminated by the onset of the disease. Many of the patients were left in a feeble and debilitated condition, and it is evident that the mortality for the year will be appreciably increased as a result of la grippe. Date of last case, February 20, 1890.

MARION BRANCH NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS, NOVEMBER 8, 1890.

LOCAL MANAGER.

General J. C. BLACK, Chicago, Ill.

OFFICERS.

General ARTHUR T. DEVEREUX, Acting Governor.

Capt. JUSTIN H. CHAPMAN, Treasurer.

Dr. ABNER B. KIMBALL, Surgeon.

Mrs. MARY E. HAMSKER, Matron.

This new branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the latest established, is building upon an old farm of 220 acres, situate on the Jonesborough and Marion turnpike, 3 miles south of the city of Marion. A horse railway has been constructed from the town to the Home, and sidings of a passing railway extend into the grounds, whereby materials for the construction of the Home and supplies for its occupants are conveniently delivered. The broad landscape is gently rol ling, diversified with fine woodlands and large cultivated farms, through which the winding Mississinewa River finds its way, and lends the most pleasing feature to the surroundings of the Home where it bounds its grounds on the south side.

The plan of construction of this Home contemplated twelve barrack quarters, a hospital, dining hall, and the other buildings essential to a Soldiers' Home. Six of the barracks have been finished, and in their commodious dimensions, their admirable arrangements for light, heat, cleanliness, dormitory comfort, and convenient administration, approach a perfection of improvements dictated by long experience. These buildings are only two stories in height, with an attic, stone basements, with deep, dry cellars; upper structure of brick, trimmed with stone, with slate roofs. Each barrack is 178 feet in length, 52 feet wide in main or center section, and 27 feet outside measurement in the wings, which extend 34 feet from center section. Piazzas 10 feet wide extend along the front and around each end. The windows are large and well placed. Each wing has an upper and lower barrack room, holding 25 beds or quarters for 100 members in each building. There are 16 fireplaces in each barrack, 4 in the central or administration part, and 3 in each room. There is also one special ventilator in each room. Stoves are used in wash rooms. There are two Mott bath tubs, porcelain lined, in each barrack. Hot water is now furnished to barracks only two days in each week, but is believed sufficient to afford a bath to each member once a week. It was noticed that the sergeants of companies kept no bathing roster by which they might be assured of the regular bathing of the members.

The water supply is obtained from one driven well, 78 feet deep, over which, and 50 feet above the ground, stands a reservoir of 300 barrels capacity, into which it is pumped. Two additional wells are under contract to be driven, and connected with the reservoir. The water is considered good for all purposes, although impregnated with iron and sulphur. The clean slate roofs of the barracks present vast surfaces, untouched by smoke, and no means have been adopted for the collection and use of the rainfall upon them. The drainage of the Home, both surface and interior, is well established.

The fuel and lighting are supplied from a natural gas well on the grounds, free of cost to the Home, which was the chief consideration that led to its establishment here. The well, completed and furnished with a lock-valve, was presented to the Home by the citizens of Marion at a cost to the town of $1,400. It is 920 feet in depth-the first 220 feet were bored through drift, the next 300 feet through limestone, then 360 feet through shale and slate, and the last 20 feet into the Trenton limestone. The capacity of the well is 7,000,000 feet of gas daily. Its full pressure is 325 pounds per square inch, which in use for heating and lighting is reduced by gauges to 8 ounces per square inch. Fortunately, it is not odorless, but can be easily detected when escaping. No accidents or difficulties with it have been thus far experienced. Through ordinary burners for lighting, the flame flickers so as to make it trying to the eyes. One Wellsbach burner, however, furnished satisfactory light to a large room in the treasurer's offices.

For warming the barracks the three fireplaces in each room have been found sufficient. It is necessary to have a vessel partially filled with water near each fireplace, in order by evaporation to maintain the nor mal humidity of the air at the temperature of the room; otherwise the throat and lungs of the occupants become irritated, and wooden furni ture shrinks.

From lack of proper offices, quarters, and buildings, the administra tion of the Home and its quartermaster, commissary, and medical de-partments are all suffering considerable embarrassment and discomfort. A small old farmhouse, found on the place, affords totally inadequate residence and offices for the governor.

QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY.

These departments are now compelled to use the cellars and attics of the barracks for storage.

A storehouse is contracted for at a cost of $9,057.76, to be done on or before September 15, 1891, for which excavation for foundation was already begun. The members were well clothed, and no complaint was heard, except a want of socks.

The contract for the building of a kitchen had also been made, to be done March 15, 1891, at a cost of $13,640.85. Its cellar walls and foundation were completed and the laying of brick begun. The appropriation, $15,000, had not been sufficient to build a mess hall also, which is imperatively needed. The members now dine in a rough shelter of boards and canvas, with a kitchen improvised largely with secondhand utensils, kettles, and range. The food was good and bountiful. The bread was made in Marion from flour made from wheat grown on the Home farm. In this eating place only 288 members can be seated at one time, and is remindful of a shelter in winter camp during the war. In the household there was a lack of bedsteads, 78 men now sleeping on the floor. They had been ordered from the manufactory on October 15,

ultimo, but had not yet been received. There was also a want of indi vidual lockers in barracks, and extra clothing was stored in the attic in bundles and under the bedding. These had been ordered in Marion at $1.47 each, but no funds were yet provided for their purchase. There was nothing but a makeshift for a laundry. The building of one had been contracted for, to be done November 15, 1891, at a cost of $5,285.17, and the site had been selected.

Two additional barracks are under contract for building, at a cost of $44,599.99, to be completed, one on May 15, and the other on July 15, 1891. Excavation for foundations of one was completed, and the site for the other selected.

HOSPITAL.

One of the barracks is now occupied as a hospital, and had within it 56 sick.

The surgeon had no regular record books, although he reports they were ordered six months ago; that requisitions had been made and were recently repeated. Records of admissions and readmissions were made on improvised forms, from which transfers could be easily made to regular books when received, but there was accumulating embarrassment with his case book and other records. The building of a hospital is under contract, to be completed June 15, 1891, at a cost of $2,885.86.

FARM.

There are 160 acres tilled, upon which was raised this year 400 bushels of wheat, 1,200 bushels, by weight, of shelled corn, 600 bushels of potatoes, which were scarce in market at $1.17, 19,000 heads of cabbage, and a considerable quantity of small vegetables, and a plenty of cucumbers and lettuce. The farm turned into the commissary $400 worth of hogs.

This branch of the National Home was opened April 3, 1890. According to the morning report of the day of my inspection there were:

There were employed, under the various heads, as follows, viz:

* Which number does not agree with morning report of number on extra duty.

Amount appropriated by Board of Managers for quarter ending December 31, 1890, Ma

The condition of the funds under the various heads was reported by the treasurer as follows, viz :

The treasurer's books, Marion Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, show a balance on hand at the close of business November 8, 1890, as follows:

General funds..

Pension fund

$26, 944. 21

Post fund.......

Posthumous fund

Bank, a United States depository..

Cash in the hands of the treasurer.

Total...

Of the pension fund there was deposited in Indianapolis bank..
Post fund, cash on hand..

Posthumous fund.......

198.38

73.40

47.48

Of the general fund there was deposited in the Indianapolis National

26,529.49

414.72

26, 944. 21

198.38

73.40

Amount appropriated by the Board of Managers from general fund, quarter ending December 31..

Amount appropriated by the Board of Managers from general fund, quarter ending September 20

47.48

46,500.00

The above includes $18,000 for new buildings.

47,576.67

A large amount of grading has been done on the grounds of the Home, and a driveway 70 feet wide and 1,500 feet in length has been graded but not yet graveled from the turnpike to the Home buildings, and a fine contour topographical map made of the Home grounds from an instrumental survey.