Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-28
NEARING THE END.
Another Afternoons Session of the Hos
pital Investigating Committee.
STORIES OF ABUSE REFUTED.
More Testimony in Favor Of the Insane
Hospital.

The Committee on Insane Hospital held
their session in the Senate Chamber SatAr-
day afternoon. There was the usual large
audience present.
DR.. Butler re-called.-On a visit TO the
Hospital, | once heard a scream of agony
which thought came from lady friend of
mine. | obeyed my impulses and rushed up
into tie female wards. | found my friend
comfortable. and turned around and came
out There were various occasions in which
took the KEYS, and visited my friends
apartment. without being accom-
panied by an attendant. Have an
opinion that a man of great executive
ability as superintendent is better than a
mere physician. There should be three
skilled physicians 10 have medical charge of
the patients. Know one case in which
think DIR. Harlow was deficient. A friend of
mine at the Hospital. was suffering from the
very common complaint of constipation
Called DIR. Harlow's attention to the case.
Some ten days later, called again and found
that my friend was still suffering from this
cause, and, that DIR. Harlow had done moth
ing to correct it. Upon speaking TO him
about it, he said that the patient was very low
and didn't like 20 take medicine, and he
didn't know what he could do. | went to Dr.
Hill over in town and got a prescription.
After while induced my friend to take the
remedy. Have been in the habit of frequent
ly talking with DIR. Neal about things at the
Hospital. A few days before the investiga-
|.
pontment. and had an interview with him
in regard to the interior management of the
Asylum. Had some correspondence with DR..
Neal before this. He was in favor OF an in
vestigation. Most of my illnesses have vol
unteered their testimony, and DR.. Neal gave
me what names he had. Saw the article in
the Boston Globe of February 23d about the
Hospital, and read it.
By Nr. Baker.-"Does that article, with
its head lines, express your sentiments:'
4nsrer.-''Not in every particular
By M. Baker.-"Does not that article
grossly pervert the facts brought out by this
examinaton:'
AasTer.-'.The reporter or correspondent
may have misund erstood the case
By DR.. Butier.-''Did you ever the
article before it was published:'
Insrer.-''No, sir
C'o'S eH"""eo' law 'heoiy 'h"t 'ie
superintendent OF an insane Hospltal need
not necessarily be a physician. The ply
sicians should have charge of the medical
care of the patients. Had as much, if not
more, to do with starting this investigation
than any one else. DIR. Neal advised me not
to begin it.
Re-direct-Mr. Baker called Dr. Buffers
attention to paragraph In the Boston Globe
article under the sub-head OF 'scrupulous
care, and asked him II he did not consider
1t gross perverslon OF ms statement OF the
ahalr. Dr. butler stated that IL was moor
rect, ana that the writer was MISTAKEN
Miss CARA >. "mte called am an at
tendant AT the Asylum; nave oeen 'here
nearly SIX years Az one time the iady 10
whom Dr. Butter referred was unuer my
charge. This lady was very dlfiicult patient
to take care OF: She would irritate ana pro
woke other patients 10 Vloiehce' ana on thal
account we 'lau W heeP nei iocAeu /" "ei
room great deal hememoer the case "neh
TINS iady got INTO quarrei WIN aho'''er
Patie"'' anu was sun, "'. Vi uis.u ~ ""'
at ulnher titiie' anu 'iie a''emua'''s were pun
ting 1000 upon tne taoie. ms taxes ABOUT
ten minutes. HIS acc'iei. occurred "'i'e
| was IN the dining room. n patent named
Randall struck tins lady with slipper me
apuseu patieh. ofhleu 'he a.'ei'uai'' Vi 'ne
occurrence one atI n.i u','i'ei as usu ui
anu 'here were no NAN upon ne ~ on.
was also III 'ea, anu at ureahiaS' Tue mex,
morning. her lace was tneh oiack aruunu
her eyes, ana TINS dlscoloration continued LOT
several weeks IL Is not true tna' the Pa'leh'
VINO was struck ran at oi,ce 10 "er owl iooii'
ana remaineu ''e'e u"'ii ',ie "eA' '''o' mug
l kno" 1,iis Vi NY pe,so !,H Ano" .:eS
MISS h'i,,''a o" ,Il:.aI
peeh d" "''e"''"". ~ ne ,,osp'', io' w
TWO years. "''i ''e i"y P"' "'''
daht. At the 'i'i'e Vi ''ie "c.i'e"' vas II,
the dlnihg rooni' nav " oe 'here ioi aop pu'
ten mihntes Deiore ullneI' 10 9e' '''e 'aole
ready, D!. nu''el l'.y "ien' ,, ""s a. a oi
her IL" minutes ".'e. ''iI L. anu al
d. Yea "oon a,.ei pu. -. :,
mere was ho'hihs "uou' "ei " .i,'io"o. ~,
jury Is io' true MA Ia, s"e ''P' 'i"' "'S"'
win her c,o'nes oi NJ n.y. -, uoi ~ ni"s ~ ',l
race Mas 1'"' "e"e' '0 ''
recognized
ny NJ o"Ne''- 81 ~ . III, va. ',lls 'i:.s
remained from noon uh'i' 'ne hen. '"or"ihe
without any at,e.oan. seeing hei'
dnsre''- 1t Is ho' tue'
Dr. Harlow was questioned on inns point
ne dlscoNereu lne conuit.on Vi ~ nuelel
lady friena tle heH' MOI "i' :, II Yer! oi.e"
happens that pioW Is ioiio"eu U! no i'ii
media'e result, ou' III IL" no'iS 'ne o;oou
settles ana oiack sPot appears. eAa'''neu
INTO the case ana iounu 'na ,, no one ~as 70
blame. | examined INTO Inc Hill case WHICH