The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-20
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
Is 1t Not Time for a Change Of POLL
cy?

To the Editor of the Press
As the next session of the legislature will
be called upon by the trustees of the Insane
Asylum for an appropriation for new wing
or pavilion, is 1t not time to ask whether, un-
der the existing circumstances, that inslitu-
tion is not as large as the proper care and
health Of the patients will warrant? Ac-
cording to the last report Of the superintend-
ent, there were at the beginning of the year,
December, 1886, 528 patients resident In the
hospital-262 men and 266 women. During
the year, from December, 1886, to December,
1887, 226 were admitted, 131 men and 90 wom-
en-, making the whole number treated 754,-
1913 men and 361 women. Isn't that quite
enough for an institution of the kind for so
short period? suppose that, to give pro-
per care to the patients and attend to the va
rious duties connected with the establish
ment there must be one hundred or one hun
dred and fifty persons employed upon the
premises. DIR. Sanborn, the superintendent
has had long experience In the institution,
and no man Is better qualified for such p0-
Siti0n; but Is 1t possible for any man to give
proper attention to the treatment Of 754 in
sane persons in single year, and careful
supervision to the numerous details required
OF him? Of course 1t will be said the Doctor
has his subordinates to help him In his la
bors, but should he not have some knowl-
edge OF the individual patients admitted 10
the hospital, and how can he acquire this
understanding when the number Of patients
treated Is so large?
The Doctor says in his last report, 'sno
zymotic or contagious diseases have visited
tne institution in any form, those dying be-
ing spared from any long continued physical
suffering" But since his report, one Of the
most malignant filth diseases, and one Of the
most contagious, has appeared, and Judging
from the reports, 1t seems to have come to
stay; 1 believe the epidemic Is due to the
condition of the buildings. The cause must
be removed. IL things continue as at pres
ent, now can help be obtained TO care for the
patients now in the institution, ana who win
consent to have their friends sent there?
The old wings Of the hospital have now
been in use about fifty years and during the
most OF that time have been used for the
worst class Of patients, many of whom have
been sick and died in the building. Those
whose duties require them to go through
these old corridors in the early morning
know something of the sickly odor which
permeates them. Visitors who are admitted
to the wards later in the day, after the at
tendants have had time to remove some Of
the filth and soiled bedding, have no con-
ception OF what these attendants have to do
70 keep the wards and their inhabitants In
decent and presentable condition. believe
these old pavilions are saturated with
disease, and II Is quite time that they should
be vacated for season and thoroughly
rebuilt. They are very low in the stories,
poorly lighted and ventilated. hope the
next legislature will, by committee or other
wise. take the matter into consideration and
make such an appropriation as may be
necessary to thoroughly renovate the old
wards rather than make an appropriation
for the enlargement of an establishment al
ready too large. If an appropriation for
new work is made, let 1t be for the begin
ming OF new hospital In some other locality.
There viii OF course be objections made to
this on the plea Of economy and local in
huence may be brought to bear against 1t as
the annual disbursement Of S121. .3l9.15. with
the expectation OF future Increase Is quite a
consideration to place the size Of Augusta.
Many OF us remember with sorrow the fire
at the hospital some years ago. Now all Of
the present buildings have wooden floors and
wooden roofs. A fire Is as likely to occur
now as at any previous time, and every addi-
tl0n OF new payili0ns increases the risk. III
new pavilion must be built let it by all
means be fire proof. Some may say that
there are better means Of extinguishing fire
at the hospital than formerly but the past
year proves that with all the modern i'm
pr0vements In apparatus for fighting fire,
there has been larger loss by fire than ever
occurred In any one year In this country.
know from personal observation that
everything reasonable has been done by the
superintendent and those under his orders to
make the unfortunate patients as comf0rta-
BILE as possible but humanity says don't ex-
pose any more people to the danger of dis
ease and death in that institution. The
State is well able to take care Of its insane,
and 1t should be done In the most humane
manner possible. 1t can be done by a new
hospital. Let the beginning be made at
once but, in the name of all that is just and
reasonable, let there be no further enlarge
ment Of the present institution. Do not
place any further obligations on a superin-
tendent already oveIworked and poorly paid.
ONE Who HAS BEEN THERE.