Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-09
THE HOSPITAL INVESTIGATION
Another Session of the Legislative
Committee.
A vigorou. Defence by tn. r..,,,,,

i"e COMMITTEE on Insane Hospital me, in
the Senate Chamber last evening and
tinued their work
oharies hnowlton of Augusta called VII
ness is member of the firm of II. Krow,,o
Son, who for forty years have been em-
pioyed by the Hospital more or less He i
democrat 1t has been asserted by the
nostoh herald that the Maine Insane Hosni.
tai is political machine, but the fac. Tho,
this firm has been given thou lands of dollars
worth OF work is a sufficient retpta,ioo 81
'his allegation The witness stated that he
mas had good opportunity to observe the
treatment of patients by attendants. bu, never
saw a case of abuse.
Dr. j. s. Cushing of Skowbeeao. a nbr.
sician and surgeon in practice % years, at
present president of the board of trustees Of
the Hospital. called. Have been a member
OF the board since 1877. Usually visit tho
institution seven or eight times wear. stay.
ing several days at a time. Every yi:i,
winch have made has given me a favorable
impression of the institution and the attend
ants Think the attendants are disposed to
treat the patients well and kindly Have
frequently conversed with patients nd at
PENDANTS have never known of a case of
abuse since have been connected with the
hospital Don't know how the discipline
coulu be well made more strict. The wit
ness then paid high compliment to the
medical skill of DIR. Harlow. He thoueht
the medical treatment of patients was scien-
tIfic and modern. Witness did not think it
was advisable to put female physician into
ire Hospital, and gave his reasons He con-
sidered that the institution was as well man
aged as 1t Is possible for a State ASYLUM to be-
Political considerations had nothing what
ever to do with the management of the Hos.
pital.
DIR. 5. oakes, of the board of trus-
tees, testified. Have been a physician
IN practice over 81 years. While on the
board OF trustees have made frequent visits
to the Hospital. and have done my best to
make myself familiar with its inner life |
think the treatment Of patients by attendants
Is uniformly kind: have never seen a solitary
exception. | found the discipline better than
anticipated. One remarkable thing about
DIR. Harlow is bis memory. He seems to be
familiar with every case at the Hospital
have visited insane hospitals in other States.
and came to the conclusion that we are fully
up to the average. | have never seen anv
abuses at the asylum. Have come to the
conclusion from the investigations which |
have made that DIR. Harlow is very well
adapted for his position. Since 1850 the
ratio of cure at the Hospital has been about
81 per cent.
DIR. Sanborn, one Of the physicians at the
Hospital, called. He testified in regard to
the methods of medical treatment in vogue ut
the Hospital.
Captain Lakin called He testified in re-
gard to the improvements in heating, venti-
lating, etc, which have been made within
the last half decade
DIR. Harlow gave a succinct account of the
Improvements and advances in methods of
treatment of the insane which have been
made since his connection with the Hospital.