The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-01-14
possesses only the ordinary resources of the
farmers boy-pluck and muscle.
INSANE hospital

INoANE HOSIIIAL.
The condition and treatment of the insane
in the State demands very careful considera-
ton. Statistics clearly show that insanity is
greatly on the increase, both in this State and
throughout the country.
The dictates of ordinary humanity require
that the best care and treatment possible
should be given to this most unfortunate and
helpless class. They should be placed under
the most skilful and efficient superinten-
dence, and the highest ability and intelligent
experience should be secured for this purpose
As these patients are among the most difficult
cases that come under medical practice, the
best medical skill at command should have
them under its care. Modern science is
making more thorough diagnosis of insan-
lty, seeking more fully to learn its causes and
how to reach it with remedy. The Insane
Hospital of Maine ought not to be behind
Others in the progress that is making in this
direction.
Many States have permanent Board OF
Commissioners in Lunacy, who have the
general oversight of all insane institutions,
both public and private in the State.
More than one half of the patients in our
hospital are women. In many cases their in
sanity is the result of diseases incident to
their sex, and all of them require medical
attention.
There are many thoroughly educated women
physicians, who have made the treatment of
their own sex specially. A growing public
sentiment favors the employment of woman
physician at the hospital. There are now
several women physicians, successfully occu-
pying such positions in different hospitals for
the insane in the United States.
The increase of insanity in the State de-
mands more hospital room for the insane. The
hospital at Augusta is already crowded, so
that itwould seem to be impossible to have
proper classification of the patients; and pa
tients are constantly associated in an improper
manner, so that the recovery of hopeful cases
is greatly retarded, if not rendered impossible.
Previous Legislatures have authorized the
trustees to erect another building, and appro-
prlated funds for the purpose. No such
building has been erected. The two systems
OF hospital buildings, viz: the mass e. ex-
pensive, castle-like and prison-like str rlctures,
and what is known as the "cottage system,~ =
deserve careful consideration and investigation.
There appears to be a question whether the
hospital has an adequate supply of water.
This is matter of such grave Importance,
the people will rest satisfied with nothing less
than absolute certainty that the water supply is
abundant and at command, at all seasons of
the year. The Legislature, through its COM
mittee, can settle this question and secure
what is of such vital Importance. If there be
any of our fellow citizens whose condition
should touch our sympathies, and command
our most considerate care and protection, they
are these wards of the State, deprived of both
reason and liberty. This subject is full of
pathos. All other calamities that can befall
humanity are but light affections, and it would
seem as if some were made to bear the ac-
cumulated woes of our race, lest man should
become wholly unmindful of his absolute de-
pendence. Unacquainted as l am with the
peculiar needs and demands of this institu-
ton, can do no more than refer you to the
official reports of its officers, and pledge
myself to discharge, so far as in me lies. my
duties concerning it.
REFORM SCHOOL.
The Reform School will command, as it de-
serves, your especial attention. All who have
boys and know how they love liberty and
must have it, can but feel deep sympathy
for the class of unfortunates detained here
True, they have been committed, and are de-
tanned, by sentence of the court, but not so
much for their own, as the fault of their pa
rents and of society. When we consider their
tender years, large proportion of them not
in their teens and orphans, committed for
"Truancy,' "Malicious mischief" Sabbath
breaking "Idle and disorderly conduct"
and other petty misdemeanors, this school
must he regarded by every humane person as
part of our educational sytem and not as
State prison for boys. But it must be ad-
mitted that such is its reputation, due not to
the treatment its inmates receive, but to the
name the Institution bears. Every boy who
leaves this institution has feeling, if not
looked upon as such, that he is a graduate of
the State prison for boys, and this feeling he
must carry with him through life. If
he learn a trade, it is constant
reminder of the misfortune of his youth.
1t is the skeleton in his house from which
legislation should relieve him by changing the
name of the institution to that of Industrial
School for Boys. We have kindred institu-
ton for girls. No one ever thought of giving
to that institution the name of Reform School
for Girls Why should not the BOYS be treat
ed with equal consideration and humanitys
The general affairs of the institution will be
aid before you in the report of the superin-
tendent and trustees.
INSURANCE.
Every public officer, holding public funds.
should be required to give the usual bond
There would seem to be no good reason why
the Insurance Commissioner should be made
an exception to this general rule.
AS to the insurance of our public buildings,
1 can see no valid reason why the State should
not exercise the common prudence of business
men, and insure such property.
STATE PRISON.
The. duties now devolved upon the Warden
of the State Prison seem to me to require
qualifications rarely found united in one per-
son. If this institution is to be be made self
sustaining, believe its business and financial
affairs must be separated from the duties of
warden and devolved upon business agent
of the very best business capacity and qualifi-
cations. When the business affairs of the
institution are managed upon strict business
principles by the best skill and ability attain
able, it will pay. No doubt of it.
The management of the State prison and all
other State institutions, should be taken out
of politics-wholly. While inspectors and
trustees are all of one party, we may
expect these institutions to be burden
to the taxpayers, for they can hardly fail to
be run, not on business, but ON political princi-
Piles. 1t should be required by law that i'll
spectors and trustees of all our State institu-'
tons be representatives of the different
political parties.
The report of the Adjutant General will
furnish you with full information as to the
military organizations of the State and the
for military purposes during the
year.
The well-considered act of last winter pro-
cides for complete and efficient military
system. First, the enrolment biennially,
Of all able-bodied male citizens between the
ages of Is and 45 (not exempt) to be known
as the enrolled militia of Maine, not to be
subject to active duty except in case of war.
Second, the reserve militia-companies Or
ganized from the enrolled militia, uniformed
at their own expense, the State furnishing
arms and equipments. Third, the active or
militia, regularly enlisted for five
years, consisting of not more than three regi-
ments of infantry, one battery of artillery and
one squadron of cavalry. On a peace footing
the whole force is limited to 2025 enlisted men,
uniformed and, when on duty paid by tie
State.
Under the provision of this act, two regi-
ments OF infantry, one company of artillery
and one company of cavalry have been organ
lied as the active militia of the State; armed
and equipped and uniformed at the expense of
the State, comprising in the aggregate 1894
enlisted men and commissioned officers. The
work of organization under this act has pro-
ceeded de moro. The whole force has been
enlisted oficered, and organized without re-
gard to the previously existing military estab