Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-03-03
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
fisnty Of Wholesome Food for ~.
Patients.


owing to the absence of Orville ID. Raks-
Esq, who was detained in Portland hv ~
gent business, Captain Lakin conduc.ed ~.
case tor the Hospital last evening, in a very
able and creditable manner. The nr;no;n.,
poihts sought to be brought out bv tho
hospital at this session was the conl;,;o,
anu quality of the food served to the pat;en,s
Miles w. Leighton, formerly head cook
at the Hospital for six years, testified that in
All that period he had never known bad me.,
10 De served to the patients. Witness had
sole charge OF all the meat food for nearly
4oo persons. Ii any bad meat had been
served witness would have been DISCHARGED
In the six years in which l was at the Hospi.
taitiiere were perhaps two or three cases in
which meat had became tainted. and was
sent up to the tables. DIR. Harlow called nv
attention to this, and cautioned me to be yery
cire1ui, or he would be compelled to dis
charge me. | was finally discharged from
the position of cook because the meat wa.
again bad
Cfoss-eram,aed.-lIa fresh beef once OF
twice week had salt meat once a week
had dinner Of baked beans once week.
GENERALLY had cold corned beef for breakfast
We had fresh fish twice a week. Had roast
pork once in while, also fried pork steak.
Through the winter season we usually had
oysters or CLANS once week
Ar tho clnsn & al
Fall, counsel for the investigation, stated that
ne did not propose to question the fact that
the patients were well ted ut the Maine
Hospital.
By w. FaH-Did you ever see case OF
abuse while you were at the Hospital?
4nsmer.-l saw fellow named Merchant.
whose place took. choke patient named
Richardson. told Mer chant that he must
stop, or would report the case to the superin-
tendent. Merchant left few days after this.
1t was nine years ago, and is the only case of
abuse | have seen at the Hospital.
Ashford A. Sampson, in the Hospital ser
vice for fifteen years on the farm ard as
butcher. Have occasionally slaughtered ami
mails which, after they were killed, were
found to be unfit for food. Always reported
these cases, and was directed to throw the car
casses into the compost heap. There were
only four of these cases in the whole fifteen
years.
Cross-eramined-In the summer we have
ten or a dozen patients, on an average, at
work on the farm. In the fifteen years
have never seen one of these ill treated or
Overworked.
Miss Nancy Butler, employed as meat cook
in the Hospital kitchen. Have had expe-
rience for twenty-five years as cook, at the
Dewitt House in Lewiston, at the Mansion
House in Augusta, and four winters in Flor
ida at a hotel. The meats which have
cooked at the Hospital are as good as those
served at the Dewitt House and at the old
Mansion House. The fish is also excellent.
Miss Alice G. Twitchell. matron at the
Hospital for four years, and for six years
clerk in the grocery department, called. Had
orders to report all goods not first-class to
the steward and treasurer. As matrOn have
entire charge of all the food served at the
Hospital Last year 1876 bushels of green
apples were consumed, and about 400 gallons
of canned apples and about 800 pounds Of
evaporated apples. Bought 80 quarts of
straw berries and over 5000 quarts of blue
berries, besides raspberries, prunes, etc
According to her statements the patients live
as well, if not better, than people outside
DIR. Harlow called. Believe that the food
used at the Hospital is of good quality. The
bread is good, also the meat. The steward
obeys any instructions may give in regard
to the purchase of food.
Cross ramined-Have horse of my own.
Was never refused horse by the steward
and treasurer.
The Committee at this point adjourned
until two O'Clock this afternoon.