The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-29
Report Of Trustees and Officers of the
Insane Hospital.

The Trustees of the Insane Hospital say in
their annual report:
The house of last winter gives the Trustees
power to appoint Superintendent and Treas
urer, subject to approval of Governor and
Council, but confers no power of removal. The
Trustees anticipate no difficulty on this ac-
count however. Their review of the workings
of the institution covers the same ground es-
sentially as the report of the Superintendent,
heartily endorsing his suggestion for new
building for kitchen, amusement hall, etc. The
present chapel room is only II x SO feet, and
from 200 to go are DESTROYS to attend religious
services. 1t is estimated that suitable brick
building finished and ready for occupancy, in
Guiding removal of fixtures from the present
kitchen will not exceed $4,000. An additional
boiler for heating purposes is recommended at
an estimated cost of $1,000. An appropriation
will be asked to provide furniture for the rooms
in the chapel building to be occupied by pa
tients whose diseases are of mild type. This
will only afford temporary relief to the crowd
ed condition of the wards of the institution.
The average increase of patients for the past
five years has been 15 per year, and notwith-
standing the removal of AZ patients by law the
average number for 1874 SIC more than for
1873. The discharge Of imbecile patients does
not meet with favor. Numerous protests were
subject of a new hospital building will receive
early and favorable action of the Legislature.
Superintendent III. M. Harlow reports to the
Trustees that there were AL patients at begin
ming of the year, 205 men, 206 women; received
since 1886 men and SO women, making whole
,born md troot v,oor Qxun.
men; 207 have been discharged-109 men, SO
women; leaving in hospital Nov. 30, 1874, 393-
194 men and 1879 women. The condition of
those discharged were as follows: Recovered 81
men and 30 women; Improved IA men and 10
women; unimproved 30 men and 81 women; "a
men and IS women have died. Daily average
number of patients have been 406. The aver
age age of those who died was about 80 years.
Causes of death were: General paralysis IL,
exhaustion of chronic insanity 8. consumption
z, epilepsy 4, apoplexy 4, paralysis 8, exhaus-
tive mania g. senile insanity 3, INFLAMMATION of
the bowels 2, dysentery /, chronic diarrhea l,
suicide 1, general dropsy 1, gangrene l, heart
disease 1. General paralysis for the last ten or
alarmingly. Twenty-Five years ago it was rare
to receive patient suffering from paralysis; it
is now the most common occurrence. The ex-
citing cause of the major part of these cases
may be traced to the excuses of life. OF those
admitted the past year the assigned cause OF
domestic affection 16, overexertion IA, critical
period of life 13,puerperal8, masturbation G, dis
appointed affection 8, general paralysis D, lnJu-
ry of head 4, epilepsy 4, loss of property B. par
alysis 2; decay of old age 2, exposure to cold
2, spiritualism 2, religious excitement 2, fright
1, suppressed discharge from ear l.. healing of
ulcer 1, venery 1, sunstroke 1, embarrassment
in business l, excessive use OF opium L, I'M
known IS. OF those admitted during the year,
40 males and AZ females were married; 43 males
Co CO. rIn "A vvIG IN
and IL widows
The hospital was first opened for reception
of patients in October, 1S40 since which time
4404 have been admitted for treatment; of these
4O11 have been discharged, of whom ITO re-
covered, 767 improved, 675 unimproved 799
have died.
Under the law of last winter 81 demented
patients were designated for discharge by the
trustees; of these 81 were sent from the hospital
and died pending the order for removal, and
the orders for discharge of were recOnsdered;
of those discharged have been returned as un-
safe to 60 at large; most are in almshOuse,
some in private families and hospitals in other
states, and some travelling around from place
to place, sleeping in barns and outbuildiDgs
when Eight OvertakeS them.
The chapel building lately fitted up for pa
tients will accommodate 10 of each sex, the
lower story for men and upper for women.
This will provide for the reception of all APP
plicants for the coming year, but will not re-
leVo Gne CROWDED COuultlOu OI tne WdruS, Lie
last moment for delay for commencing new
hospital has been reached A chapel, lecture
room, or amusement hall is an essential APP
partment to every hospital. Since the diversion
of the chapel building to q purpose different
from its original design it becomes an impor-
tant question whether something ought not to
be done to supply this need. The kitchen as at
present located in the basement of the centre
building, is very unsatisfactory. There is
pressing necessity for rooms to accommodate
e.
and three stories high, is recommended, the
first floor to be occupied as a kitchen and store
room, the second to be finished as an amuse-
ment hall, and the third for dormitories for as