Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-01
the INSANE HOSPITAL
"A forenoon OF Investigation.
a Delicate Case, in which Dr.. HarIow,s Sill,
as Physician was Questioned
SHOWN to be Scientifically and pro,.
erly Treated.
The Hospital Making a Strong D.,

u strong Defense.
Inc committee on Insane ASYLUM me, in
'he senate Chamber Monday mornino NJ
naker appeared for the Hospital, bnt Mr.
raii, counsel for the investigation w.so a.
SENT Business in Boston demanded his
presence IN that city. Testimony was intro.
ouced In the case of premature childbirth IN
winch Mrs. Motherwill, former attendan,
testined that DR.. Harlow was called in o,a
pronounced III case of excessive fiowage
anu said that If the patient was bandaged sb,.
would be all right. DIR. Harlow stated tho,
the patient was admitted about the first of
April, 1876. The last of July the attendant
came to me and | went up. The attenda -.
remained outside, and | went into the room
found good deal of fowage. and went ON,
ana called Miss Ham, as she has had good
deal Of experience in the lying-in of women
was only In the room few minutes. with.
OUT making any examination of the BODY.
Miss Ham and put the patient to bed and
removed the f9tus. and all the appendaoes
with it. There was no difficulty, and we i'm.
mediately removed her to the sick rom
where she was properly cared for noti-
ned the husband, who visited her at the Hos
pltai in August also told Mrs Quinby and
the board of trustees. The husband express
ed himself as entirely satisfied. The lady
had kind of intermittent insanity. After
her delivery she frightened up somewhat
but did not recover her reason. She is now
in demented state
Cross eIamiaed.-IIaven no recollection of
saying That 1t was case of excessive fowage
and If the patient was bandaged she would be
all right Am sure that gave no direction
about bandaging until | had examined the
patient in company with Miss Ham,
Hannah W. Ham, supervisor on the female
side for seven years and for five years prior
to that an attendant, called. Remember the
case referred to. There was nothing about
the lady TO indicate her condition. DIR. Har-
low asked me to examine the woman. did
so and at once informed Dr. Harlow of what
| found. The Doctor directly went with
me into the room where she was and per-
formed the operation. 1t was successful
and the patient was removed to the sick room
and properly cared for. She stayed there
some three weeks. Before her delivery, at
times she would be violent and at times quiet.
After her return from the sick room she soon
relapsed into her former condition. She is
now demented When DIR. Harlow went in
to see the patient the flowage was excess
sive.
DIR. Harlow recalled. A case of childbirth
can change its features in minute. A very
short time before the fGtus was expelled it
would have taken careful personal examin-
alton to determine her exact condition.
Should Judge that the fptus was about four
or five months along.
DR.. SanbOrn was examined on the same
witnesses. Moreover he produced the lease
book of Hospital. in which a record of the
case had been made. 1t showed that the lady
had beer properly treated and cared for.
One of the witnesses against the Hospital
Motherwill, stated that Il private patient I'M
der his charge. a Mr.. Peabody, had been sick
an entire fortnight in which DR. Harlow did
not see him. Dr. Harlow denied this IN toto.
Peabody's case did not change much from
dav to-day, but he visited him nearly every
day.
DIR. Cakes was called, and stated that at
certain periods of miscarriage, 1t would be
difficult to decide without critical examna-
ton, whether a woman was to be delivered
of child or not. Have practiced medicine %
wears From my experience l should Judge
that it would take an examination to deter
mine whether the woman was in child bed or
not. And vet, in few minutes later, the
condition of the patient might be entirely
obvious.
A lady who has mad son in the private
wards appeared before the Committee AT
her personal request her name is withheld.
Motherwill stated that her son was
once taken down and ''churned' by the at
tendants The lady investigated the case
and came to the conclusion that there
were times when it was necessary to take MN
from the general wards into room by HIM
s.If IN prevent him from injuring other
natients. She was convinced that he was
never handled with undue violence. II ne
was she would not allow him to remain at
the Hospital single hour
Mr.. Baker stated that letter had been
received from party in Boston, certain
II. G. Cole, making a serious charge against
the Hospital. alleging that the son OF the
writer had been murdered at the Asylum
The author was requested to appear before
tho Committee and substantate his charges
He said he would do so if money was Sent
him to come. He promised to come but at
Ienytb refused wholly to do so. DIR. Butler
,hougbt that Cole was a confidence man. ana
had taken this method to raise a little money
trom the Committee. DIR. Neal said that ne
u,ool,acte5 the case. and that the allegations
,,ode in the letter were unfounded 1t was
vo,ed to let the matter lie on the table uh''i
.o-dax when it will be thoroughly discussed
Can,.;n Lakin was called in regard to the
,,;,G of the "lodges." He explained the
S'-s,em in an able and satisfactory manner;
y W. that 1t WOuiu