The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-24
MAINE BETTER OFF THAN OTHER STATES
Statistics Of Insanity and the capac-
ity of AsyIums.
Care of the Insane In Massachu-
sets and Connecticut.
Trial of Young Jerry MuiverhIiI, Of
Augusta, for MansIaughter.
Especial to the Press. ]

AUGUSTA, Dec. 23-The trustees of the
Maine Insane Hospital since writing their
annual report have added the following to II,
which becomes very important, discussion In
progress between the advocates OF an en-
largement Of the present Insane Hospital
and those who believe a new institution
should be established; and as 1t will be re-
quired of the legislature to take some action.
The legislature will be obliged to make
an appreciation of 100000 to enlarge the
present hospital, or erect new ont at a
cost of five to ten times that amount, with
the additional expense OF separate board of
officers. There Is abroad an impression that
we are burdened with this class of depend
ant individuals beyond other States in pro-
portion to our population and wealth. By
the latest enumeration Maine had 1912 in
sane, or one to 421 of the population; Rhode
Island one to 404; Connecticut one to 361
Massachusetts one to $40; New Hampshire
one to 329; and Vermont one to 3l6. Nor
are we providing for as many in proportion
to our wealth as most Of the New England
States. Massachusetts with less than seven
times the valuation Of Maine, was providing
for four and one-half times as many insane.
Maine with three-fourths as much property
as Connecticut was taking care
of but three-fifths as many pa
tieDts. New Hampshire was caring for more
In proportion than Maine, and Vermont with
little more than one-third assessed valuation,
was caring for one-ninth more than our own
State; and to-day she Is seriously consider
ing the adyisabllity of providing further ac-
cOmmOdatiOnS.
Nor is our increase in insanity as great
relatively as in most of the New Eng
land States According to the census Of 1880
we had 403 in hospital; to-day we have 578.
Massachusetts, had 3,085, to-day 4,299 in
asylums and 1,026 in the almshouses under
the direction of her Inspectors of Charities,
which does not include those cared for nv
friends or IN private hospitals. New Hamp-
shire had 2SS In hospitals and 261 in county
almshouses; to-day she has 335 in hospital
and 40 In county almsh0uses. Connecticut
had 672 In 1880, and to-day she has over 800
under treatment in her hospitals.
The question naturally presents itself as
to how large number of patients can be
safely and properly cared for under one
management. In reply to this we have only
TO cite you to several of the large institu-
tions In New England for the care of the in
sane.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has
eight insane asylums. The two largest are
those at Worcester and Danvers, each of
which has at the present time one-third more
inmates than there are at the Maine Insane
Hospital and Connecticut standing in the
advance. believing in one good institution in
preference to division of interests, has in
her asylum at Middleton /, 1884 patients: and
II is generally conceded that these institu-
tions mentioned are among the very best in
the United States.
We therefore are of the opinion that the
present board of officers with the addition of
an assistant when needed, is capable of car
Ing for, in a most efficient and satisfactory
manner, several hundred or more patients;
and until this limit is more nearly ap-
proae1ed sne tS economy az and Propriety alike de-
the proper care and keeping of the unfortu-
nate inmates.