Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-12-13
THE MAINE INSANE HOSPITAL.


A distinguished Portland physician In
a recent letter to the Boston Medical Jour-
nal, in general review OF medical mat
tiers in Maine, says the following with re-
gard to the inquiry into the management
OF the Maine Insane Hospital by q commit
tee of the last Legislature, and also with
regard to affairs at the Hospital as they
appear from the stand point Of Maine ply
sicians generally:
"Another piece OF legislative work In
which the medical profession, as well as
the community generally, took good
deal of interest, was the investigation oil
the Maine Insane Hospital. For some
time rumors had been circulated TO the ell
feet that serious abuses were allowed In
the institution, and the trustees requested
an official investigation. A committee oi
the legislature held sessions on twenty
different occasions, inviting testimony
from al concerned; few direct anu spec
inc charges OF mismangement were maoe
and patiently Investigated, and the COM
mittee presented three reports. That OF
the majority Is an eager and iulsome exeui-
patton of the officers, and represents the
hospital TO ''be fully up TO the highest
standard of efficiency in all its depart
ments." one OF the minority reports
arrees in most points with that of the ma.
iori,y. INIT recommends that all additions
IN the hospital shall be on the cottage
Man. and that a female physician be en-
ployed. The second minority report, pre-
sen,cd by homeopathic physician, repre-
SCENTS that abuses have occurred, aud makes
various suggestions, some OF them very
sensible. looking TO the Improvement oil
the management. Naturally there are d.
verse opinious in the profession about the
matters involved in the controversy; but
nrohablv the large majority of physicians
who have taken the pains to look into them
would agree substantially that 1t Is untort-
innate that party politics should influence
the appointment and tenure OF the trustees
as NJ present: that these officers ought 10
he selected solely with reference 20 their
peculiar fitness for the position; that four
hundred and dry insane people are too
many 10 be treated with the best results In
one Institution; that, If this number Is TO
be congregated in one place, more than
three physicians are required TO minister
20 their medical wants and there Is room
for very decided Improvement in the pres
ept superiutendency. This last point, as
+, well known, has been discussed for
wears In the board OF trustees and In the
governors council, with very general
agreement OF opinion. Nobody considers
the superintendent bad, dishonest, IN
active. or cruel man; his personal char-
scter has never been asSailed; but he has
reached an age when a certain rigidiiy OF
mental structure renders most men inca
pable OF adopting new methods, aud, In
addition, has a physical inhrmity which
must seriously diminish his capacity Tor
usefulness 10 this position. There Is need
or new blood in the place, and unless a
change Is made before long u will take
more than the uugGcnt OF a catering leg
| islStive report 10 soothe the dissatisfaction
which i constantly growing among those
who have occasion TO be especially inter
ested In the institution. IL Is not believed
that the hospital is In particularly bad
condition; but IL would be matter OF hu-
manity and OF State pride TO have 1t
corspicuously good one. There Is no rea-
son why the most approved methods OF
treatment should not be pursued here a.
well - elsewhere. IL is quite as possible
for Maine 10 make valuable contributions
10 the scientific study OF insanity a. for
most other States but we look IN vain 10
Augusta for light on the subject.