The Portland daily press., 1869-12-20

The MAINE INSANE HosPIrAL.-The sum-
married. sanitary statistics contained in the
forthcoming report Of the Trustees are as fol-
lows:
Number OF patients Nov. 80, 1868. $3.50
Admissions for year 1862 100
Whole number. ......................... .4s9
D,scnarseo.. 1852
Dieu '''''.''. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. az
Number in the Institution Nov. 80, 1869. ... 1877
Of those who havedied, one had passed four
score years; five were seventy and upwards,
and sixteen were at least 60 years of age. The
report says:
Some had carried the weight of their disease
many years. One quite remarkable case,
female, whose earthly life was more than sew
enty years, went under the cloud in early
Womanhood. She struggled with the monster
disease more than fifty years, nearly score OF
wnlch she was confued in an out-building,
chained by her ankle TO the floor, with little or
no covering but straw upon which she rested
and without the comfort of fire in the coolest
weather. For eighteen mortal years she wore
me clanklog chain which bound her to the
1oor, and IL was only removed when 1857 she
was committed to this Institution. Here. by
the benevolence apd kindness of the munich
pal officers OF the town, she was permitted to
spend the evening of her life III compai alive
comfort and happiness,
Forty-three of The patients now in the Hos
pltai are entirely, and two hundred and thirty
seven are partially supported by the State
The whole number of admissions to the Insti-
tutioo during the twenty nine years of its ex-
!stence, is $500; of 1441 have entirely recovered
Tue products of tbs farm amounted to SlO,-
oS5 ", which compares favorably with that OF
prsyious years.
The Hospital domain has been enlarged BY
the purchase of si1ty-fve acres on the south
side, Which makes the total area of the farm
90 acres The pew wings, Tor which an ap-
preparation of $4,000 was made by the Legis-
lature, is now completed so far as was contern--
prated rue present. season. The walls are up
and the roof On, and the expense has exceeded
the appropriation by. about $4,000. Tue Trus.
tees ask further appropriation of $4,000 to
fnish and furnish the building In this con-
necrion the Report says:
When this wing Is completed the Hosptal
building viii be finished according to the orig
ina design, and will be large as is prof table
under one management But it will be seen
ny tns report OF the Superintendent that when
this Hospital is f1nished 1t Will not be of safic-
lent capacity Tor the present wants of the
state, so, II tha preselt system of treating the
Insane il cont, ued, and we believe there is
none BETTER the Legislature will early be
called upon to consider the exped;ency of
erecting another Hospital, probably in some
other section of the State.
1t NAV be deemed advisable whenever an
otner Hospital tor the insane shall BE- estao-
hshed In the State, to have it designed for the
accommodation OF one sex OF patients alone
Inere are SOME advantages in having the two
sexes provided for in separate institutions ard
there are as am aware no objections 10 it
S1ch an arrangement is now in practical oner-
alton at the Pennsylvania Hospital for the in
sane, In Philadelphia, under tue charge of Dr.
hlrkbrldge. The two hospitals, one for males
and one for females, are located within three
fourths oil a mile of each other, surrounded by
ample and spacious grounds. A similar ar
rangement has recently been inauourated at
the State u Asni.al fes ti>~ i-e.av 40 Trrutuu
New Jersey.
a communication from Robert Morris Cone
land, landscape gardener of Boston, descrip.
tive of his proposed improvement of the Hospi |
tai grounds, is appended to the Report The |
plan is quite extensive and will require wears |
70 orlpg to perfection; yet it meets the appro-
oa'ion OF the Trustees, who refer to the fine To-
caton OF the Institution and suggest system
ny ~nicn It's attractions may be heightened.
anu i's sanitary effects upon the patients in
creased. 80
The expenses of the Hospital for the rear
have been $79, 1854, and S2ss7 % over tho "a.
caipts aud balance of resources over 1iahil,tia.
The provisions and personal property on h.nd
are appraised at 81, 54o.05.
The substance of the reports of the subordi-
nate officers, which are quite satisfactory of
themselves, are embraced in that OF the Super
lntendent. The report of the committee OF the |
Maine Medical Society in regard to the method |
OF treatment, condition Of buildings and gener.
al system of management, is highly favorable
to all concerned.
we are indebted to DR.. Lapham, chairman of
the Trustees, for an advance copy of the Re.
port