The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-20
THE CARE OF THE INSANE.
Report OF the Trustees and supsrin-
tendent OF the Maine Asylum.
Forty-one Cases Of DIphtheria With
Nine Deaths.
Additional Accommodation Inper-
ativeIy Demanded.

Inc annual report OF the Insane Asylum
will attract more attention this year than
usual by reason OF the prevalence Of diph-
iberia In the institution during the past six
months, and the discussion In regard 10 the
full duty Of the new asylum. Regarding the
epidemic the trustees say that although the
general health Of the inmates, during the
year closed, has been fair, the Hospital has
been visited by an epidemic Of diphtheria. a
disease much dreaded In private practice.
but which occurring In an Institution crowd
ed to its utmost limit and among class Of
patients physically reduced to such degree
as TO render them exceedingly susceptible %
It's influence, requires constant and unusual
watehfulness, and great promptness and ef-
tciency OF action. The trustees were called
together by telegram, on the 18th Of July. 10
provide for the emergency. The infected
patients were Immediately Isolated, a system
OF dlsinfecti0n established, and such quaran-
tine regulations Instituted as were e0nsid-
cred proper and necessary. The counsel and
advice OF the local and State boards Of health
were eagerly sought, and promptly acted up
on, and everything done 10 stay this dread
ed disease. The dlphtherla was brought 10
the Hospital by an attendant. Out Of the
large family Of 760, less than five per cent
have been affected. One OF the physicians
on the board OF trustees, DIR. Dearborn, was
present during the entire period, 10 render
aid and counsel. Much extra labor has been
necessary, and the destruction Of eonsdera-
Bile clothing, ETC.. resulted, and the ordinary
labor In and about the buildings, as well as
upon the farm, has been greatly delayed.
The aggregate actual expense reaches the
sum Of over $500. Much credit Is due the
medical staff at the hospital for their un-
wearied efforts, constant watehfulness, and
prompt and efficient action.
In regard TO the same matter Superintend-
ent Sanborn says that the disease appeared
oh a mil Of Is1ey -
by an attendant. There have been Al cases
| In all-27 patients and IA employs. Seven
patients died of the disease and two attend
ants. Five OF the fatal cases Of the patients
were OF short duration, as they were. much
reduced by mental disease. A case OF one OF
the attendants which proved fatal ran its
course in less than three days, and the other
died Of the paralysis Of the heart on the four
teenth day. Complete isolation has been
made Of every case as soon as discovered.
No persons save the physicians in charge,
outside Of nurses and attendants, also isOlat-
ed with patients, were allowed to enter the
Isolated ward, and there has been no exten-
sion Of the disease therefr0m The fumiga-
ti0n has been thorough and persistent Aside
from dlphtheria, no unusual physical disease
has prevailed, requiring new methods Of
treatment. In the treatment Of patients
circumstances have conspired the past year
| TO interrupt the use OF moral methods such
as chapel services, etc.
During the past year there were more ad-
missions Of insane patients than ever before
since the hospital has been In existence. The
discharges have also been larger, with the
single exception of 1928. At the beginning
Of the year December 1. 1887, there were res
ident in the Hospital $50 patients. 2S5 men
and 267 women. $50 have been admitted
since, l62 men and 81 women; making the
whole number under treatment 500, 437 men
and 365 women; leaving at the close Of the
| year 578, 299 men and 279 women. The dai-
| ly average number Of patients for the year
| 5o0;73. They have been supported In the
| following manner 81 by their own means
| or relatives; rs entirely by the State, and
| 452 have received State aid Of s1.50 per week,
towns or individuals paying the balance.
The death rate among the patients has
been somewhat larger than usual, the per-
eentage Of deaths based upon the number
under treatment being 101. against TIC last
year. During the year 81 have been admit
ted between the ages Of 30 and 60; % between
60 and 70; % between 70 and 80. and three
who had passed beyond fourscore years. In
nine cases death resulted from dementia OF
| old age, and In seventeen cases Of death
from terminal dementia the patients had
passed seventy years. II is against the
/ judgment OF the superintendent 10 send aged
| people TO the hospital. Even when there Is
but little deterioration Of the faculties, aged
| people are made very sensitive and misera-
Bile when permanent separation from hume
| Is necessitated.
The superintendent finds that the tenden-
/ cy to homicidal and suicidal impulses Is in
creasing. No one, however, at the asylum
has committed suicide during the year, but
there was one case OF accident, oecasioned
by an assault by one. patient on another,
which resulted In death.
As usual the matter Of draining and venti-
lation has been carefully looked after during
the year and many improvements in plumb
Ing have been introduced. The laundry
has been enlarged, and the chapel has been
increased In size. The water supply has
been abundant; and the heating and light
| ing arrangements satisfactory. The Super
i intendent states IL as his opinion that the
| present capacity OF the institution Is entire
| ly inadequate to meet the requirements Of
| the State. he suggests that the attention u
/ the next legislature be directed 20 the i'm
mediate necessity Of an appropriation for
the erection OF two additional pavilioLs, one
i for the accommodation Of each sex, also the
construction Of suitable lodges for the
temporary Isolation Of certain patients.
During the past year 40 male patients have
recovered and 27 female; IA males have much
improved and females; males and 7
females have improved; 13 males and 6
females have shown no Improvement; 53
males and 2S females have died. On the last
day Of November there were in the instltu-
ton 200 males and 279 females. The occupa-
tlons Of those admitted were;
Butcher, q; blacksmith. 2; blOekcutter, !;
ball player, 1 clerk, 0; criminal, 1; cooper,
i paTnQnfQra Qhamiat I o Hamaaffa i
dressmaker, /; fishermen, 4; factory opera
| tives, 10; farmers, 50; housewives, 30 her-
ness maker, /; horse car driver, /; jeweler
| l; laborers, 80; lumber dealer, launderer
/; moulder, /; millman, / /; machlnist, I;
naval officers, p; no occupation, IS; painters.
| 2; photographers apprentice, 1; physician.
1; railroad conductor, 1; seamen. IL (; ser
want, /; steved0re, l.; shoemaker, L, spin
sters, 2; soldiers, 3; scaler, 1 scissors grind
| or, 1; school boys, 2; teacher, 1; type-setter.
| / unknown, q; builder. 1.
The social condition Of those admitted was
MarTied-7S males, 81 females; wldowed-l0
males, Is females; single-59 males, y fe-
males; unknown-5 males.
Constant improvements and repairs on
the buildings are necessary and unavoidable
each year. The last legislature appropriated
$4,000 for an additional building. s2i, 900 Of
which appropriation has not been drawn
upon, nor has the work been commenced, as
the trustees deemed the appropriation in
sufficient to accomplish the work which the
resolve called for The legislature win be
obliged to make an appropriation OF s1OO,-
| 600 TO enlarge the present hospital. o. to
| erect a new one at a cost Of from five 10 ten
times that amount, with the additional
expense Of second board Of officers. The
trustees are OF the opinion that the present
board Of officers, with the addition Of an as
sistant, when needed, Is capable Of caring
| for, in a most efficient and satisfactory man
ner, several hundred more patients. IL Is
| recommended that the salary Of the superin-
tendent be increased from $1,000 10 $1,000
per annum. Results prove the wisdom Of
tire appointment Of French physician.
Rumford Falls q suckfieId Railroad.
The adjourned meeting Of the stockhold
| ers Of the Rumford Fails Il Buekheld rail
| road was held In this city Yesterday after
| noon The follovvfn0 dtraeIors were ~hoso,, /.