Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-04

INSANE Hospital In.
vestiEation.
some Important Testimony FROM
prominent Persons.
rhe Hospitals Side of the Case

"ooh' and resumed their labors.
A. U. wakefield. Esq, of Bangor. LAWYER
IN that city, called. Was one of tho t-,s,ao.
OF the Asylum for eight years-from 1869 to
1871. Was president Of the board for two
year. Made frequent visits to the Hosn;,a,
gong nve or six times year. made a
STUDY OF hospital management. and visited in.
s.i'u'lon' for the insane in New Hampshire.
''assachusetts, and Rhode Island. Also
tried to find out about the ;n,e-n.,
workings of the Maine Asylum. Ineyer
was able to find case of abuse. al,borob
There were cases where patients would yet in
10 difficulties among themselves. The gen.
erai treatment of patients by attendants was
very good. There was a rule that any abuse
OF patients by attendants should be follow cd
oy the discharge of the latter During the
eight years IN which was on the board, l
never knew or heard of an attendant being
employed on account of his politics. The
superintendent exercised all the care and
discretion possible in selecting employees. to
get good men. always regarded
Dr. Harlow as the head of the institution.
There are really two departments at the
hospital-the internal and the external The
Doctor would be likely to pay more attention
to the inside management, especially if he
had man on whom he could rely. think
the financial management of the Insane Hos
pltal will compare favorably with that of
any hospital in the country In my readings
never found but one hospital in which the
charges were as low as they are in
Maine. Previous to 1871 or 1872, there
an annual deficiency of several thousand
dollars. Since then there has been
very large surplus each year, and MANY
Improvements have been made annually
without calling upon the State for all The
price of board has also been reduced In the
eight years in which | was on the board of
trustees, large number of important I'M
prOvements were made. Iexamined into the
books and accounts of Mr.. Leighton, the
previous steward and treasurer There was
no defalcatiOn, but some irregularities which
ought not to have been. He used some Hos
deposit in the savings bank which he did not
wish to disturb, as he would thereby forfeit
his dividends. There was no loss to the Hos
pital. The trustees investigated this rregu-
larity also committee from the Executive
Council. There was no evidence that
Dr. Harlow had any guilty knowledge of ir-
regularities. Am very confident that NJ. B.
V. Chase of Augusta, who was at that time
a member of the Council, signed the report
of the Council. After Leighton left the en-
ploy of the Hospital. DIR. Harlow offciated
as steward and treasurer for several months
until Captain Lakin came. The trustees did
not require him to give bonds.
Cross eramtned.- that our hospital
cured as large percentage of patients as
other hospitals. Did not see Mr.. Chase sign
the Council report, but know that his name
was appended to the same.
Hon. Fred f. Richards of Camden, bank
examiner of the State, was member OF the
board of trustees from 1877 until 1879. Have
also served rs chairman of the visiting com
mittee on the part of the Council. When
was on the visiting committee | visited the Hos
pital, officially. at least once month. As
rule we never notified the officers when we
were coming Had keys OF my own and
could visit the Hospital at any time OF the
day or night MY observatioa led me to be-
lieye that patients are treated very kindly by
attendants. Thought that attendants I'M
proved while knew the Hospital, and were
nm to the standard At first was inclined to
look upon the management of the Maine In
sane Asylum with suspicion; believed there
was something wrong about the institution.
From NV investigations soon modified my
views greatly Think the Hospital is excel
lently managed.
Cross-tramined- Made Is or 20 visits to
the Hospital the first year that was on the
board of trustees. Always regarded the uie'
AZ suitable for sick people. If this was my
last rational day, would request my VIE 10
scnd me to the Maine Asylum. DO not think
the anpoin,ment of a female physician would
bo advantageous to the Hospital. Have
visited the lodges" during the night time'
They were sufficiently warm for comfort.
Red;reet.-Know Sampson, the engineer
He is a capable man. Never knew him to do
an unkind act.
Col. Frederic ROBBIE, one OF the present
visiting committee on the part of the Exeeu-
five Council, called. Have been at the
AsvIum as many as 20 times during the past
vear Have found patients who would com
n,.;n about their treatment, but upon inquiry
have found that they had no cause for com
n,.;nt. Have encouraged patients to come 10
mo with their grievances. and have always
looked M their complaints. | think tha'
Dr. Harlow is possessed OF all necessary
an.,ifra,ious for a good superintendent.
Mr.. Wakefield recalled. Knew sampson,
tho engine ell, also the man that is about thele
no,x Peter Haynes. Never saw anythlhs
.rh;,b caused me to think that he was crue'
or irritable man. A., ,;.;,;no
Hon. ]. I. Hinkley. one of the visiting my
committee on the part of the Couneii, .as
x;s;,ed the Hospital some twenty times ~ ,ns
taurteen months past. Think the pa''e"'S
l n,a ~e,I treated and comfortably kept
Iobn h. Perkins of Palermo was an a..
,oud.nt at the Hospital from IS'o u i'