The Portland daily press., 1878-01-07
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
Report of the .Trastees and superiH ten.
dent.

The Trustees of the Insane Hospital say 10
their report that the various permanent improve
meats commenced have been carried forward to
| completion, and the water works and ventila-
tion of the hospital are finished, and are giving
| the utmost satisfaction The laundry has been
rebuilt and refurnished. The aggregate cost of
the important improvements in the years 1876
ard 1877, has been in cash S22,63O.23, all of
| which has been paid from the income of the
| hospital, no appropriation having been made
| by the Legislature for these purposes. Besides
| the cash paid out, great amount of labor has
been performed upon them by the regular
| employees and the teams of the institution,
| and many patients have willingly aided in their
execution. Improvements of radical charac-
| ter have also been carried forward on the farm.
such as underdrsining, grading, Sc The ag-
gregate productions of the farm have been very
large; some 273 tons Of hay were secured the
past season. the stock of cows has been i'm
proved. The cash sales OF young pigs alone
amounted to 81, 279 81, while the production of
pork not only supplied the wants of the insti.
tuition but considerable quantity was sold.
The patients have been well cared for, and
the finances of the institution carefully looked
after, the latter interests being in charge of Mr.
G. B. Lakin, the Steward and Treasurer, who
probably has no equal in that capacity. The
price Of board. heretofore 81 per week, has
been reduced to So 70. The Trustees are e. N.
Pattangall, ID. A. Shorey, Il. w. Woodbury.,
John I. Gilman, e. Il. Richards and +. s.
Cushing
The veteran Superintendent, Dr. q. M. Har-
low, in his report. reports that at no period
since the Institution was opened has it been in
more prosperous and satisfactory condition
than at the present time. In all the work of the
IL - L
best can toe condition of those placed in the
hospital be restored, improved or ameliorated
On the LIST of December, 1876. the year was
commenced with 405 patients-206 males and
1879 females. There have been admitted since
194-12l males and 70 females, making the
whole number under treatment 599-327 males
and 272 females. The number discharged dur
ing the year is 1911 males and ~ females
OF those discharged 70 had recovered-41
males and 81 females; 50 were improved-19
males and 16 females; IS were unmproved-lS
males and 10 females; 30 males and 10 females
have died. Two were not insane when admit
ted, having been committed by order of court.
The daily average number OF patients during
the gear has been fraction over Ali, an ex-
cess of 10 over that Of last year The per cent.
of recoveries is larger than in previous years,
being over 81 and per cent. on the number |
of admissions, and on the whole number under
treatment fraction over II per cent. The
longest time any one was under treatment who
recovered was Ala weeks, the SHORTEST time two
weeks, and the average time about 30 weeks. |
The average age OF those who died during the |
year was so, the youngest was % and the old |
est 81. -Four were so and over, 2 were between |
70 and so, II were between 60 and70, between |
so and 60, Z between 40 and 3d. II between 80 |
and 40, between 20 and 80.
The following were the causes of death: |
General paralysis ii, consumption 8, exhaust |
i've mania 7. chronic insanity 5, old age l. cpl
lepsy 3, darrhea 2, dropsy 1aceidental drown |
ing l, paralysis l, marasmus l, and two died |
by their own hands
The assigned causes of insanity in those ad- |
mitted during the year are as follows; Ill |
health Al, intemperance 81 critical period of /
life 8, masturbation 6. over-exertion 5, injury |
of head 5, epilepsy 5, domestic aff1iction 5, |
puerperal 4, general paralysis 4, domestic trou-
Bile d. infirmities of old age 4, loss of property
3, sun stroke 8, abuse of husband 2, severe ca /
tarrh 2, religious excitement embarrassment |
in business 2, apoplexy l. spiritualism 1, injury
of spine l. disappointed affection 1, paralysis 1,
syphilis l, lead poison l, seduction 1, unknown |
3d. Following was the civil condition OF those |
admitted during the year: 46 males and Sc fe- |
males were married, 63 males and q females \
were single, IL were widowers and 10 widows. /
1t was 81 years ago the 14th day of October |
last, that the Hospital was opened for the re- /
present date, 1875 have been admitted, 4556 |
have been discharged. Of these 1879 had re- /
covered, 876 were improved, 761 were unim |
proved and 949 died.
nually, and the number of patients would be /
lessened if due care were given to the physical |
health, prior to reaching what the old philoso- /
piers term the grand climactere-the age of 63 |
in men and AZ or 80 in women Seeds of i'll |
sown in youth may lie dormant until developed |
by the weakness of age. Over Indulgence in |
eating or drinking, chewing or snuffing to- |
bacco excuses of any kind from 10 to 100, will |
be felt from 40 to CO. The point of invasion |
may be in any organ Of the body, but more
generally the heart, lungs or brain, the latter
taking on that condition which may end in |
softening, or in fit of apoplexy with paralysis |
following. In the heart, disease iwork insidi- |
ously, and suddenly arrests the great organ of |
circulation, causing the life-giving fluid to |
cease to flow, and death ensues without warn |
ing.
In the medical treatment of patients great |
discrimination has been exercised in the selec- |
ton of proper remedies, adapted to the coudi- /
tien of each patient. Great attention has been /
given to cleanliness and diet. Scarcely second |
to the medical is the moral treatment which |
begins as soon as the patient enter the hospital,
by gentle restraint, jndicious discipline, kind |
words, useful employment, amusements, and |
recreation, added to which are religious SER /
vices on Sunday and an abundance OF good read
ing at ell times.
To carry out the treatment, the institution |
has good corps Of assistants as can be found /
in any community or in any similar institution
They are young men and women from good |
families intelligen and Industrious, such as no
one would object to having in we'll regulated /
household.
When employed out of the wards the patients
are in the care of men and women of Judgment |
and discretion, who see that they do not over
work.
The suggestion is renewed that new brick /
building be erected east of the third wing of /
the hospital, for the use of female patients.
Other improvements are also suggested.