Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-28
ANNUAL REPORT
OF the Visiting Committee to the Insan
Asylum.

The visiting committee to the Insane Hos
pital make the following report to the Cover
nor and Council:
To HIS EIceiieney the Governor and the
E1eeutire Council of the State of Maine;
The visiting committee to the Insane Hos
pitsl have the honor to submit their annual
report for the year 1886 as follows:
This institution has been visited every
month dnring the year by at least two men,
bers of the committee separately, and at ir-
regular periods. Onr visits were not antici
pated yet we invariably found each depart
ment neat and orderly, and the officers and
attendants paying close attention to their sew
eral duties. We have heard but few com
plants from the inmates and those upon ex-
animation appeared to be unfouuded and im-
agnary. The patients are well clothed and
appear to be well treated and properly cared
for. In the outdoor exercise of the patients,
in the absence of unnecessary restraint Of the
unfortunates, and in the more approved
mean. on the part Of the attendant. to pre-
serve order and quiet, there has been evident
improvement. The farm, garden, sewing
room and laundry have afforded regular oc-
cupstion to many of the patients. Expert
ence has shown that regular and carefully
adapted employment, physical and mental,
is potent agent in soliciting the distracted
mind back into a healthy action. In pursu-
ance Of this fact we recommend that facilities
for light occupation be provided in the halls
of the institution to the extent that the larg
est number of the inmates practically may
have the benefit of suitable employment as a
means of restoration to health.
All the patients have had the opportunity
Of taking walks. drives aud other healthful
recreations in the parks and lawns.
They have also had frequent gatherings
for various social amusements aud
conversation In which the more orderly afford
an example which the initiative tendency of the
disorderly often induces the latter to copy.
In our frequent visits to the institution for
the past two years we have observed that the
supernte ndent has been under the necessity
of associating the criminal insane with the
| innocent insane. In our last report We sug-
gested that means should be taken to sspar-
ate them and keep each class by themselves.
We now recommend that the State have q
separate building in which the criminal in
sane should be cared for and trsnted entire
ly separate from the others. We believe it
to be harmful to permit these two classes OF
patients to mingle with each other. The
number of criminal insane committed to the
| institution mas increased yearly since the
passage of the Jail Law in 1877. We find
that there are now at the Hospital thirty OF
this class from the prison and jails OF the
| State, whom the officials are now under the
necessity of treating with the harmless.
! While We believe every precaution 10 being
taken by the superintendent to protect every
class of patients under his charge, yet there
must be q feeling of unrest among the rela-
tives of the innocent insane, who are sent to
| institution for causes otherwise than induced
the commitment Of the criminal insane, to
know that they are subjected TO the necessity
Of associating with that class. Should the
State construct building TO be used solely
for the criminal insane, ss above recommend
ed, then the present Hospital would accom-
modate more patients Of that class for which
il was intended. The Hospital raises . very
large amount of vegetables, but has no suitabls
j place for housing them, consequently q
place should be provided for keeping these
farm products. II building should be con-
structed for the accommodation Of the Grim
inal insane, the cellar could be used
for vegetables. We believe it economy to
erect sueh building. The present site Of