The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-29
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
what the Visiting Committee Saw
During the Year.
Especial to the Press.l

AUGUSTA. Dec. 2S-The visiting com
mittee of the Insane Hospital report as fol-
lows:
The Hospital has received a visit each
month during the year by at least two men,
bers of the committee, and in manner
which fully accords with the law governing
such visits.
zone or more of the committee has made
frequent and unexpected tours at irregular
intervals, throughout the different depart
ments Of the institution, both by day and
during the evening" especially the wards, land
have ascertained the sanitary condition to be
surprisingly excellent, especially when we
take into consideration the surplus of pa
tients above the capacity of the hospital
which the superintendent is obliged to ac-
comm0date. We have directed our 0bServa-
tlons particularly towards this point"
The committee find that the institution is
well heated and supplied with pure water. A
system of electric lighting has been intro
duced around the buildings. They have also
found the table well supplied with whole
some food and the inmates comfortably clad.
The officials have been diligent in their du-
ties and commitments and discharges prop
ery and lawfully made. The alteration in
the buildings and the outbreak Of diphtherla
have necessarily interfered somewhat with
the religious exercises and the amusemenIs
of the patients. The epidemic has also in
terfered with labor in the farm and garden. |
The committee says:
'The patients have been literally supplied |
with writing material, and we have every
reason to believe that all communications
from the inmates addressed to any member
of the visiting committee have been received
without unnecessary delay. The system of
letter boxes has been maintained throughout
the year, and each box has been opened at
every visit, occasionally finding c0mmuni-
cation within, but we fail to observe any
special use or benefit to the patients derived
from this arrangement; and perhaps no par
ticuar harm or disadvantage arises from it,
"The epidemic of diphtheria which has
afflicted the institution since midsummer to
the present time, witha a subsistence of only
few weeks has had its distressing effects
upon the whole household, and cast a shade
of gloom and sadness over the entire insti-
tuition. After making careful investigations
and many inquiries OF the superintendent
and other officers, we are satisfied beyond
doubt that nothing is left undone which can
in any manner add to the treatment, we'll
being and comfort of those afflicted with the
dread disease. We are Of the unanimous
opinion that all precautionary measures and
preventatives known to medical science have
been applied to stay the ravages of this dire
full disorder, and that the officers and en-
pl0yes have nobly and faithfully performed
there is no opportunity for doubt
The appointment for one or more physi-
clans upon the Board of Trustees. is, in our
opinion, wise one; in fact essential, as has
been forcibly demonstrated during the epi-
demic. Drs. Thompson and Dearborn have
devoted large portion of their valuable time
to the Institution since diphtheria occurred
thereby sacrificing their respective incomes
from extensive and lucrative practices.
1--WE cannot speak in terms sufficiently
commendatory in connection with DR..
Sanborn, the Superintendent of this great
noble and deserving charity. His con-
duct under the trying ordeal OF so many
increased burdens and perplexing cares, oc-
casioned by the outbreak of DIP 6theria, aug
mented by sorrow and pain caused by the
illness of his most excellent wife and the
separation from his family, furnishes an ex-
ample of such noble and unselfsh fortitude
1t in the highest degree.
"Gne Of the most noticeable and disad-
vantageous features Of the institution that
has come under our observation, and which
can affect the patients In no other manner
than retard Improvement and be detrimental
TO their well-being and comfort, is the ne
cessity under which the superintendent is
placed of caring for so large surplus Of pa
tients over which the capacity of the hOspi-
tallwill comfortably and conveniently accom-
modate. At present there are about 125 more
patients treated at the institution than there
are rooms. This insuffciency of accommo
dations is more severely felt on the female
than the male side of the house.
This condition of affairs, in the judgment
of your committee is a very serious matter,
and the increased demand for the accommo-
datlon OF this most unfortunate OF Gods
creatures, seems to us imperative; and we
most sincerely hope that the next legislature
will take prompt and decided action in this
matter"
The report is signed by A. b. Sumner, Mrs
c. r.. Whidden and Tobias Lord, committee
The Insane Hospital.
AUGUSTA, Dec. 2S.-The teacher at the
Maine State Prison, Mr.. ID. j. Starrett in his
report to the Prison Inspectors says that a
large number of the cOnvicts admitted dur
the rudiments of common school educa-
tiOn, aValed themselves of the privilege of
instruction. The convicts also give earnest
attention to religions teaching
inspectors Of JaiIs.
AUGUSTA, Dec. 2S.-The inspectors of
jails say in their annual report "The Cum
berland county Jail at Portland is the largest
in the State, and on one of our visits we
found 100 prisoners, which is about the aver
age number, Twelve of these were fema les
The prisoners labor. The number of pris-
oner5 is Increasing yearly and enlarged ac-
commodatioDs will be required at no distant
day. The large number confined here makes
the duty of jailer and turnkey very arduous.
We found the food good and sufficient, the
bedding fair, the Jail clean and well kept and
the sanitary condition satisfactory. The
taller reports to the inspectors that the whole
number Of prisoners November 30, 1888, was
1e7: for the year, 1907; number of males,
1l69: females, 1888; tramps, 33; foreign birth,
taken, 2; committed fol-. drunkenness, 394;
committed for liquOr selling, 80. The price
OF board per week is S175; those that work,
y. Five hundred and thirty prisoners were