Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-02-03
Maine Insane Hospital,

| HNAN'1
cnt Of the Maine Insane hospital, and as
they contain matter Of public Importance,
We condense for cur readers some of the
topics presented.
A year ago there were in the Hospital
2G5 pateuts-l2S males and 1877 females );
0 males AMI II females were rec&vcd
duringa the year; 50 males and 50
females were discharged, leaving 128
males and l26 females in the Hospital u,
the close # Tie year. OF the discharge
ei, 40 had recovered, % improved. and
IL uninproved. OF those admitted dur
ing the year, 81 males . females were
married f; rs males and II females were
single; were widowcrs. I were widows.
OF the causes assigned i'll those admitted
during the ycar, We notice Ill health, 26 !;
intcnqerancc, Il; over e:1crtion, 8 !;
mastu,batlon, s; domestic atiiction, s.
This institution has now been in operation
fourteen years, and we cannot doubt lis
beneficial elects. Many Of its inmates
have been thoroughly healed, others parti-
ally benefited, though i'll this respect
thcir condition has been better than
though they had continued in society,
whi.o Others If not benefited in their
mind, have found homo within its walls,
with wholesome iood, comfortable beds,
Kind atteHdants, aud i'll every respect
their situation has been vastly better
than it could have been outside.
During these fourteen years 2,737
! patients have been admitted, aut 2,5l3
discharged, nearly ouc.hal. Of whom had
recovered.
Tne manner in which tie Insane are re-
sard4d and treaesd by tac officers Of the
Institution is werthy Of notice, and we
! quote fsom the report OF Dr.. Harlow,
the excellent Superintendent. He says:
"ir the moral treatment OF those
placed uuler our care, it is always our
alta list to secure thelT confidence. This
can be dgae in the sane manner as We
wou.l gain sao conIl1Hce of any one
else, by pain, honest, truthful dealing at
all times aad under al, eircamstances.-
Nothing mas more gegn:oious effect upon
taa insane taan to PRACTICE "a system o.,
.yjn5 aaI deception with them. Many
consider it perfectly lau liable and proper
to deceive the Insane. They thin, the
Difference viii never be noticed by them
X the ai9st pa,9ab,e rals4hool i told +.
When, ia fact, taoy arc often most keen
and sensitiye-most fully alive to what i,
truthful and honest. Tney can discern a
ouib5lo as quickly as many who are more
fortunate. Like children, they ALWAYS
reolirc the truth in their management.
No one. We believe, can afford. or OUGHT
to afford, 10 ia!sily his word 10 anv in.
diyiaual, much less an insane person.
Ne Jeprecate the too common practice
Of decentiou which is so often einoloyea
in br.nsin. friends to the iIos2it.l. The
evil e,,sct is sometimes observed for weeks
and .aouths. 1t neutgaIizes not Il lt,ld
the motal power enDloreu in their treat.
ment. ana. PERHAPS. Drolonas the ma!adv
!Iayin. been deceived bY their best
friends, in whom thew always placed the
most Implicit confidence, and from whom
they had never before received anything
but the open truta, their confidence in
every body is shaken, and thew bssin to
doubt and distrust all who have to do
with tl,eal."
There is connected with the Institution
two !.5raric. TO which the inmates have
access, and these have an excellent salu-
tary iulIuenoe, many Publishers furnish
the institution With their papers, and