Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-08
THE INSANE nosPrrAL.



tory condition and mortuary records of the
hospitai Will compare favorably with other
years, tine number of deaths being less thar
that of last year. The new building, which
the Trustees got permission to start in the
summer OF 1881 and which is to accommodate
~ parents Is about completed only awaiting
the inside finish and paint to make il ready
TOT occupancy. Ii was the design TO have
the building completed this past season. T.,
has not been, simply for want of funds. The
price of board being the same. the hosnitaI
has barely paid its bills for the last two
years. In fact with the draft upon the
treasury for the new building, the disburse-
ments nave exceeded the receipts. At one time
the trustees considered the advisabiity of
raising the price OF board from $3.50 per
week to 1913, but decided to wait a time
hoping for change in market prices. The
calls for hospital accommodations have been
more frequent and more urgent for the last
two or three years than ever before. The
superintendent has been Obliged to refuse
many applications for the want of room
Insanity Is rnalady that is on the increase.
During the decade, 1870 to $780, the Increase
OF population was 26 per cent. while the in
crease OF insane population was 100 per cent
The increase is greater in New England In
our Judgment, the necessity does not as vet
exist for the erection of entire new bospital
buildings. We believe much larger number
of patients than We now have, en- be well
cared for and properly treated under the pres
ent hospital administration. The immediate
completion of the new pavilion. and the cree
ton of similar building for the relief Of
the male wings arc required
The past year may be considered notable
in the resignation of the two chief officers.
Superintendent, DR.. II. NJ. Harlow, and
Steward and Treasurer, Capt. C. B. Lakin.
A new superintendent has not yet been Sc
cured. X. w. SOule of Readfeld, has been
chosen Capt. Lakins successor. The hospi.
tai has had one law sut. Mrs. Mercy f..
Moody and Mrs. Hannah E. Casey were out
driving. October IL, 1881, when their team
coIlided with the hospital truck team which
was running away and the ladies were thrown
out and badly injured. Referees awarded to
Mrs. Casey 81 ,725, and to Mrs. Moody ST.
475
new carriage accommodating fifteen
persons has been purchased for the use of the
patients. The hay crop was large and of ex-
cellent quality; the grain crop also good.
Unfortunately a six-acre piece of very stout
barley was entirely destroyed in the short
space of AZ hours by the army worm. The
crops of corn and potatoes were virtually
failure, on account of the very severe and
long-cOntinued drought. Fifty bushels of
strawberries were raised.
The farm is carrying at the present time
the following stock: 81 cows, largely of AYR
shire breed 6 two-year-old he,fers, 2 one
year-old beifers, calves, 8 oxen and 8
horses. The milk Of the cows is all used in
the hospital There are in the piggery at the
present time 256 hogs and pigs, of the
Chester White" breed. The receipts the
past year from the sale of hogs and pigs
amount to 81, III 60. The sales of flowers
and plants the past year have amounted to
$l79 90 A steam pump has been purchased
for 1915. This pump has been operated
successfully in filling one of the reservoirs
from the river.
Superintendent Harlow in his report says
that at the beginning of the year Dec. lst.
1881. there were resident in the hospital, $50
patients-240 men and 2l0 women; 1874 have
been admitted since-ll4 men and 80 women
making the whole number 354 men and 290
women. OF these there have been discharg
ed lS3-l03 men and so women. leaving in
the hospital at the close of the year, 46l-
% men and 2l0 women.
We find the following to be the condition
of those discharged Recovered, 7l-3S men
and 33 women; improved, 35-2l men and IA
women; unimproved, 34--l7 men and II
The average time of their residence in the
hospital was two years eight months and
half. Their average age WAS 43 years.
The CAUSES OF DEATH
appeared to be as follows: Phthiss pulmona
lis, So men and women; exhaustive
mania IA men and 3 women; chronic in
sanity, 40 men and 2 women; epilepsy-3
men; general para yss.-3 men; diarrh9a
80 men and l woman; dvsentery, %
men and woman heart disease. 2-l man
and woman; dropsy, men; marasmus, .
Il man and woman; old age. | man !;
chronic abscess, l woman; spoplexy, man :;
congestion of brain, woman; erysipelas, |
man; strangulation. man.
The ASSIGNED CAUSES OF INSANITY
in those admitted during the year are a.
follows: Ill health. 30-ll men and 10
women; incompetence. 27.-25 men and =
women critical period of life, IA women !;
epilepsy. l2-6 men and 6 women; mastur-
hat0n. 9 men; Over-exertion, "a men and
2 women: injury of head. 6-5 men and |
woman; puerperal. women; sun-stroke, -
men: old age. "a men and l woman; loss
of property. men; disappointed ambition, 2
men; rel gious excitement, 81 man and
woman embarrassment in business, men !;
spiritualism, | man; paralysis, man
injury of spine, man effects of electricity,
| man; fright, man; unknown, 49-29 men
and 20 women.
The SOCIAL CONDITION
of those admitted is found to be As follows
% were married-tS men and IS women; 81
were unmarred-59 men and % women !;
we're widowers and were widows.
The HOSPITAL
has now been in operation ~ years. during
which time 1858 patients have been admitted.
and 5492 have been discharged. OF the
latter 1872 recovered, 1889 improved, 9a9
did not improve, 1854 died.
The daily average number Of patients for
the wear has been 449. They have been sup
ported in the following manner: Forty five
NV their own means; 65 entirely by the State.
and 35l have received State aid of 81. per
week, towns OF individuals paving the balance
Particular attention has been paid to the
physical condition of the patients. The treat
mert Of patients. medical and moral. we have
not changed in any essential degree. The
unlocke,l-open-door treatment Ia only adapted
to demented and harmless insane. But we
question whether the welfare Of the patient
aud the safety of others would be best pro.
NOTED by dnggedly adhering to it under all
circumstances and in all events.
Religious services conducted by our good
chaplain, Rev. c. F. Penney. have been
n