Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-02
MAINE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The Examination Before the Leeis.
latiyo Committee.
Some Important Information ELECTED

| to order. Six of the ten gentlemen who com.
pose the Committee were present. There
was quite number of witnesses to be exam
med. No member of the Board of Trustees
OF the Hospital. except Mrs. Quinby. was
present.
Mrs. G. w. Quinby read her reasons for
dissenting upon two important points with the
! remainder OF the Board of Trusrees-upon
the question of the water supply and the
question Of a female physician. In 1873 and
1850 the water supply was inadequate for Law
atory purposes. flushing of pipes, and for
laundry Work, during period of the sum
ner She was of an opinion that an exhaust
less supply Of water could be obtained from
the kennebec, at less expense than from
springs and surface drainage. This water
would be purer than that taken from the
present reservoirs. There is always enough
water IN the winter and spring. but it is the
scarcity in the summer and fall that is alarm
ing. Mrs. Quinby then stated her grounds
for desiring the employment of female ply
stefan in the female wards of the Hospital
There are in the Maine Insane Asylum on an
average. 300 inmates who need daily medical
attendance. The employment of women phv-
sicians in Asylums is no longer an expert
ment. In Pennsylvania no male physicians
are allowed in the female departments of the
| institutions for the deranged. cultured
lady, with a thorough know ledge Of her pro-
| fession, could under stand and enter into closer
| relations with the unfortunates than a man
physician could do. She could better under
stand the underlying physical causes which
| often shatter the health of women. The rel
atives OF the inmates outside the Hospital,
would feel more at ease if their wives, or
! mothers, or sisters, were in the charge of an
| intelligent and noble woman.
| Rev. DIR. Butler defined his position in
few appropriate remarks. The Committee
had seen the outside of the Hospital; he
| wished to take them inside, and show them
! the condition Of things there. He believed
| that the officers of the institution were hon
orable gentlemen. Personally he respected
and was under great obligations to DIR. Iiar
low and Captain Lakin. But he was deter
mined to probe matters to the bottom. The
welfare of the unfortunates, who could not
speak for themselves, demandedit.
| Several former attendants at the Hospital,
who had been summoned TO testify before the
Committee, gave their evidence. They were
not put under oath.
Miss NJ. l.. Clough testified that she was
| head nurse at the Hospital but had rendered
her resignation. because she thought that she
was not properly upheld in her position.
The discipline at the Asylum was lax.
While at the Hospital the temperature was
very high, and there were conflicting order.
about the temperature. The attendants did
not comply strictly with the regulations of
the Hospital. A patient. who is at times
violent. had been allowed knife and fork in
her room, against the rules. A visitor can
not get an adequate idea of the internal
management of the Hospital by going through
the wards with an attendant
Question By Mr.. GoSS.-''Why could
DprSOn not an alpuuatp idea of thinos n
the Asylum by VISIT
Ansrer by rttaeSs think that the
Hospital is often prepared for visitors"
By DR.. Butier.-'DO the attendants ever
know when Mrs. Whidden, the lady visitor,
is coming?'
AasWer.-'They do "
Question.-''Are the attendants kind to pa
tients?'
Ansner-'They are, as a general thing,
but neglectful. They are overworked."
Questioa.-"Wh hen you came to the Hos
ptal IN August. was there an abundance of
water for bathing?'
1nsner.-''There was not. From August
to October the patients bathed but once
Question by DR.. Eaton.-"Aret the patients,
as general thing. kept clean:'
InSrer-.'They are
Miss Fox, an attendant at the Hospital for
eleven months past, says that at times last
summer there was scarcity OF water. From
the 9TH or September to the 9th of October
she had carried $50 pals of water up two and
three flights of stairs for the use of the pri-
vate patients.
Mrs. Sawyer went to the Hospital as Assist
ant Matron in June. About the lst of Sep
TENDER there was n dearth of water, which
continued until the last of October.
Question By Dr.. Harior-"You have been
in in priy bos nj in RhO1e
Island, have YOU not?"
Ansrer-''I have"
Ouestion-''How docs the Maine Insane
Hospital compare with the Rhode Island
Iospitai?'
Ansrer-"very well indeed. sir
Question-"Iow does the food compare
with that of the othe IIospital?"
Ansner-''It is of a far superior quality in
the Maine Hospital"
BIZ Captain Lakia-''What is the price OF
board at the private hospitals"
Answe1-''It ranged from $3.50 to $50 per
week
Ouestion-''W was the average
Ausrey-"From 81 to sic a week.
Joseph Millitt testified to the dearth of
water in the fall. during the drought.
Captain Lakin Steward and Treasurer for
nearly seven years, was examined by Ir.
Butler on the proposed new building, to be
erected next summer, east of the main Hos
pital building. at an estimated cost of s24 600.
Question By DR.. Butier-"What has been
the cost to the Hospital. per capita. for each
patient during the past year,"
.insrer-''For a rough estimate, should
say about IS week.
ORestion-'Was there time last summer
in which the Hospital was absolutely without
water?"
Captain Lakin was examined on the facil-
tiles for escaping from the Hospital, IN past
wears, if fire hal broken out. From some
of the upper rooms the mode OF egress was
unite narrow. and there were several doors
leading to them which were usually locked
DIR. Harlow then asked the witness about
the general discipline of the Hospital. zap
tain Lakin testified that it was good, as
general thing.
Miss Fox recalled
Question by DR.. Eaton.-"Miss Fox, VINO
made the remark, that Miss Clough reported
too much?'
4usmer.-.The Stewards daughter.
Captain Lakin. - slow old Is my
daughter?' ,.
g,s,r.r-ssShe is n mere child.