The Somerset reporter., 1888-01-11
Maine Insane Hospital.
ANNuL REPORT OF TIE TRUSTEES, srr-
ERINrENDENr AND TREASURER.

ERINTENDENr AND TREASURER.
From the annual reports of the Trust
ees and officers of the Maine Insane |
Asylum it appears that the years opera
tions have been eminently successful, /
taking into consideration the hospital. 1t /
has been free from contagious and cpl |
demic di eases. and the general health of /
the inmates has been excellent. The |
mortuary record IS less than usual, while |
the number improved and restored To
soundness Of mind have been greater
than during any previous year These
facts demonstrate that the Hospital IS
rendering an efficient service, equal to
that of any similar institution in the
country.
Scmi-annual, quarterly and special
meetings of the board of Trustees have
been held At these NEE ings careful
inquiry has been made regarding the con
diton Of all the patients. and the wards
thoroughly Inspected. They have also
examined the condition Of the buildings,
farm, stock, and all other property of the
institution, and found the same well car
ed for. 1t was found necessary, on ac-
count of the large number of persons
seeking admission to the Hospital simply
out of curiosity, II limit admission to
municipal officers of towns and cities,
and relatives and friends of patents
The buildings are noY lighted under a
most favorable and economical contract
made with the Augusta Gas Light Co
An abundance of pure water is supplied
at a cheap rate by the Augusta Water Go.
The work on the enlargement Of the
chapel building, laundry aud engine house
has been fayorably carried on, and i
progressing toward completion. After
reference to the farm and future move
ments about the premises, the Trustees
close their report with high cOmmcnda-
ton of The efficient services of all the
officers, and commencing the institution
to the continued confidence of the people
of the State The report is signed by the
full board Of lrustees-James " eymouth,
ID. .. Bowen. Joseph H. Marley, Mrs.
+, } Jersey, +. \. Thompson, j. w.
Dearborn
The Superintendent, DIR. Bigelow, 7.
Sanborn, in his annual report states that
at no period have there been SO extensive
and important Improvements accomplish
ed, either in repairs or new constructions.
a. during the last twelve months. The
year has been an eventful one in the
direction of increased demands for ac-
commodations and treatment of patien Is,
resulting in Il considerably large daily
average number OF inmates thas has
heretofore existed, and of an unusually
large percentage of recovcries, which has
exceeded that of any former year during
the existence of the hospital except one.
The percentage of recoyeres during the
year, based upon the number of admis-
sions, is 3G.2s, and 1887 upon the number
under treatment. No unsual sickness
Ii $ occurred in any department, to mar
the com tort Of patients, or to interrupt
the usefulness of the officers of employees.
At the beginning of the year, Deccm-
Der l, 1856, there were resident in the
Hospital 52S patients-262 men and 26G
women. Two hundred and twenty six
have been admitted since-l3l men and
% women; making the whole number un-
der treatment 75i--393 men, 36l women
OF these there have been discharged 202
los men and "a women, leaving at the
close Of the year 552-2S5 men and 2G7
women. One hundred and sixty-three
of those admitted during the year were
on the first admission, ~ on their second,
| on their third, . on their fourth, on
| their fifth, and 3 on their sixth. We find
the following to be the condition of those
discharged: Recovered, S2-ii men and
3S women: much improved, BIB men
and Is, women; improved, id men and
women; died, $50 men and II wom-
ne. OF the 50 discharged recovered, %
were on their first admission, 10 ON their
second, j on their third, on their fourth,
aud 2 on their sixth.
No Zymotic or contagious diseases have
visited the Institution in any form, those
dying being spared that long continued
physical suffering OF those who died,
81 were more than 30 years old, II be-
tween 60 and 10, ) betveen 20 and So
and had pas ed beyond four-score and
five years of age The cause Of death
| in l6 was terminal demcniia, 4 senile de-
mentia, and chronic meanchoia; thus
establis ing the fact that nearly one half
| the d, aths was the result of absolute
mental arrangement, rather than the Sc
quence Of any acute or supervcning ply
steal disease.
BY observing the admissions it is APP
parent that the types of insanity have
been undergoing changes and modilca-
tons during the past few years, in the
direction of melancholia. This type of
insanity gives rise to more pronounced
and frequent homicidal tendencies. There
have been admitted during the year past
80 patients afflicted with marked homici
dal or suicidal impulses; 80 of the former
class and 80 of the latter.
The Hospital has now been in opera
ton AZ years, during which time go pa
ticnts have been admitted and G,5lS have
been discharged. OF the latter, 1924
were improved; and ! ,534 died. The nc
tual number of individual patients admit
ted have been 5,34S. In the treatment of
patients valuable aid has been rendered
by the amusement hall. Manual labor As
Il curative measure is also emphasized.
The yield of products from the farm
has been about on an average. The hay
crop was unusually large and well harvest
ed. The grain and other products com
pare favorably with those of last year,
with the exception of the potato crop,
which was nearly n total failure.
Future needs of the institution are
pointed out by the Superintendent Iron
floors should be substituted for the wood
en- ones when the proper time comes
new building for the storage of straw is
needed the consideration of Introducing
electricity is recommended; the renova-
tion of Amusement Hall; the construc-
ton of a new coal shed; increasing the
herd of cows, as during the year 1000
gallons of milk per month had to be pur-
chased to meet the deficiency of the
yield.
The Treasurer and Steward, John w.
Chase, makes a full and comprehensive
report The balance of cash on hand,
December, 1886, was 81 ,907.02; receipts
of cash for the year, 1924 1872 %. Total
disbursements of cash for the year, SIPS,
$40 81 balance of cash hand, Nov. 30,
1887, S9l9,5G.