The Portland daily press., 1881-01-11
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
Annual Report of the Trustees and Resi-
dent Officers,

The trustees and resident officers of the
Maine Insane Hospital have made their annual
reports to the Governor and Council for the
year 1SS0-S1. At the opening of the year
there were 419 patients in the hospital and at
the close 436-the largest number at the close
OF the year ever recorded. A few applications
were refused owing to the crowded condition
OF the wards. Under the head of hospital ac-
commodations the trustees say that they found
that the appropriation made by the last Legis-
lature was not large enough to erect a building
such as was necessary, and therefore decided
it was best to erect none at all until the situa-
tion was passed upon by the Legislature. The
trustees are the opinion that a suitable build
ing can be erected without special appropri-
ton, from the income of the hospital, if they
are allowed to do the work without restric.
tion as to cost or limit as to time. During the
year very extensive repairs have been made
upon the hospital building, lawns have been
laid out, graded and grassed, and a fountain,
flower beds, walks Seats play grounds and ar.
bors provided. A small greenhouse has also
been erected.
In accordance with the suggestion of the
legislative committee that the number of pa
t1ents IN charge of a single attendant was too
large, correspondence was opened with the
best regulated hospitals and it was found that
eleven patients to an attendant was the aver
age number. With few exceptions this pro-
portion existed in the Maine hospital. Where
the number exceeded eleven a new attendant
was added. The other suggestion of the COM
mittee that the temperature in some of the
rooms might fall too low at night in severely
cold weather, was found on investigation to be
unfounded, but to avoid all risk in this direc-
ton 1t has been arranged to increase the tenn
perature of the exposed rooms without raising
the temperature of the wards. Improvements
have been made in the bsthing rooms and
many desirable modern appliances introduced;
the ventilation has been brought nearer to per-
lection, the system of telephones has been eX-
tended and one hundred and seventy. nine
wire mattresses have been provided. The
farm operations have been about the same as
In previous years and further measures have
been taken to utilize the Sc age of the hospi
tai.
Considerable space is devoted to discussion
of the water supply and it's sufficiency for san
itary ald fire purposes. A full history of the
works is given and the trustrees believe that
the supply of water is now large enough to
guard against all contingencies. The subject
has been so recently and fully discussed in the
PRESS that it is not necessary to refer to it at
greater length.
During the year Mrs. M. j. Clough has been
engaged as nurse IN the female department.
From motives of economy the medical staff of
the hospital has been reduced by dispensing
with the assistant physician, DR.. E. G. Neal.
The trustees refer in complimentary terms to
his work in the hospital and his skill and eff
cheney. The report is endorsed by all the
trustees with the exception of that part refer
ing to the water supply, from which Mrs.
Quinby dissents.
sUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
DR.. IL. M Harlow, the superintendent, re-
ports that there were 419 patients at the begin
ming OF the year, 213 men and 206 women, and
there were admitted during the year 101 men
and 81 women. There were discharged during
the same time 88 men and SO women. OF the
discharged 81 had recovered; 80 improved; 43
not improved; 3S died. OF the 81 who recov-
cred 35 were on the first admission, 13 on the
second, on the fourth, 2 one the fifth and l
on the sixth. The average age of those who
died was 49-the youngest % and the Oldest
81. One had been in the hopital 80 years
The causes of death were: consumption, 8;
ceronic insanity, 9; shock paralysis, 7; epiep-
sy, 4; paralysis 3; exhaustive smania, 2; par
alysis OF the heart, 2; apoplexy, 1; dropsy, l.
lows: Ill health, 3S; intemperance. 16; mas
turbation, 16; domestic atf1iction, 8; critical
period OF life, 8; over eXerton, 6; religious
excitement, 6; decay of age, &; epilepsy, 6;
leWdness, 3; puerperal, 3; loss OF property, 2;
apoplexy, q; disappointed affection, 2; pecun-
stroke, 2; lll.treatment of husband, 1; syph-
Ills 1; erysipelas, 1; spiritualism, /; sup
pressed measles, 1; general paralysis, /; par
alysis 1; unknown, Sc.
The civil condition of those admitted during
the year is as follows: 36 men .and AZ women
married; So men and 80 women single; wild
overs and IA widows.
Since the hospital was opened in 1910, 5544
patients have been admitted and BIOS dis
charged. OF these 2l45 recovered; 997 i'm
Proved; 901 not improved; 1865 died.
The superintendent discusses at some length
the causes and treatment of insanity One of
the principal of the former is the use of alco-
holic stimulants. He lays much stress upon
the moral treatment of the insane.
REPORT OF THE STEWARD.
The report of the ste ward, Mr.. G. B. Lakin,
shows that the total receipts during the year
were $92, ,S54.42 and the expenditures $75, 1885,
49, The net profit from the farm operations
was $6,3S654.