Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-15
The National Association for the
Protection of the Insane and the
Prevention Of Insanity.

Prevention Of Insanity.
To the Editors Of the Journal.
This Association is too widely known both
in this country and abroad, for its judicious.
temperate course in dealing with tine great
principles of lunacy advance, for it to need
word of praise or explanation from its Secre-
tary One has only to read the leading med
zeal, religious and secular journals Of the day
in order TO learn the high estimate in which
It is held and the large influence il exerts.
On its Council are three .uperin,endents of
asylums, two trustees, three consulting ply
sicians to insane hospitals, three members of
different State boards Of charities, and an
editor of the New York Medical Record.
Among its members are dozen superinten-
dents, and many trustees, members OF char:
ity boards, and eminent statesmen, e. g.
George William Curtis and others Our
constitution and bylaws, our published meth
DDS of operation (Which have been furnished
the Kennebec Journal) are their own best adj
vocates.
Wehave been frequently urged and have per-
sistentlv refused to make personal issue with
any asylum or individual. When, however.
an able assistant physician from the Maine
Asylum was removed on grounds Of economy,
protest designating this step as an insult to
the great science Of psychIatry as false
economy, and as gross injustice to the pa
rients and their friends, was signed by many.
including superintendents and trustees and
other eminent individuals, 1t was vetoed,
however, by our President, DIR. Milne.
We were then appealed to by Maine citi
zens and those officially connected with your
hospital. TO hold public meeting in Augusta
per the fourth method published in our con-
stituiinn. Consent to do this was given.
The secretary then wrote TO the Insane Hos
pital legislative committee, suggesting that
they should invite eminent expert speakers,
in order that they and their constituents
might inform themselves. as the famous New
York Senate committee informed themselves
Of the evils Of the present asylum system,
and the suggestions for progress or reform
which are believed to be possible and practi-
cable 1t was thought this meeting would be
all the more valuable as a new building for
the insane is to be constructed in your State.
That the grieyous irredeemable errors in
needless extravaganza and unsuitable pal
ace prisons" of other States need not be in
danger Of repetition in the Pine Tree State.
(See writings Of DIR. Plnv Earle,
DIR. Ciouston, in Mass. Board Of Health.
report of 1879. DR.. Wilns. DR.. Vonden
Stenn and others upon construction ofhospi-
tails for the insane) The Association of su-
perntendents passed resolution denouncing
large hospitals, and asserting that only 200 or
at most go patients could be properly cared
for in one hospital. 1t is matter for serious
consideration, and believe that Maine will
give it her best thoughts, and be in the first
rank of progress in this as in many other
things.
If the writer may throw out a suggestion,
it would be that the rear building shall be
constructed on the cottage PLAN" that it be
devoted to females. over whom should be a
female superintendent as at the famous State
Hospital at IIarrisburgh. That the same
Board of Trustees have the charge Of both
male and female hospital; that board of
consulting physicians. (unpaid,) appointed
half by the Executive. and half By the Trus-
tees be established by legislation. In this
way, the Maine Insane Hospital may not only
cease to be the subject of unfavorable com
ment, Gas it certainly now is, justly or I'M
JUSTLY outside its own borders, but will be-
come everywhere recognized as taking lead
in this great State question of social and
medical science just as Maine takes fore
most part in all the National issues of mo-
ment. One correction and the writer is done.
am reported rs saving that the Maine Asy-
um is fifty years behind the times. l have
no ground for making such an assertion, nor
should if I had | wrote the legislative
committee that this remark had been made
to me regarding the Maine Asylum. by a
prominent official in another State. 1t seems
to the writer. as though this were too inn
portant question for personalities to enter
into it. as the Woodworking and scandalous
gossip were unworthy of any of the parties
b. I;Aoront I'll for