Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-05
THE MAINE INSANE HOSPITAL.
Annual Oflcial Report For 1887.
some Interesting Facts and Figures
Showing the Excellent Results
of Good Management

before us the advance sheets of the annua
report of the officers, and from them vii
CLEAN an abstract, for the interest and in
formation of our readers.
The years operations have been eminently
successful, taking into consideration the
crowded condition of the Hospital. 1t ha,
been free from contagious and epidemic dis
eases, and the general health of the inmates
has been excellent. The mortuary record il
less than usual, while the number improved
and restored to soundness ofmind has 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.
| Semi-annual, quarterly and special meet
| ing of the board of Trustees have been held
At these meetings careful inquiry has been
made regarding the condition of all the pa
tlents, and the wards thoroughly inspected.
! They have also examined the condition of the
buildings, farm, stock and all other proper
ty Of the institution. and found the same
well cared for. 1t was found necessary, on
account of the large number of persons
seeking admission to the Hospital simply out
of curiosity, to limit admission to municipal
officers of towns and cities, and relatives
| and friends of patients
The buildings are now 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 Co. The
work on the enlargement of the chapel
| building, laundry, and engine house has
been favorably carried on, and is progress
Iftfyt f.u ard ,t.tin
the farm and future Improvements about
the premises. the Trustees close their report
with high commentator of the efficient ser
vices 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 Trustees-James Wey-
mouth, ID. o. Bowen, Joseph II. Manley
Mrs. f. J. Jersey, f. 4. Thompson, J. W.
Dearborn.
The Superintendent, DR.. Bigelow T. San
born, in his annual report, states that at no
period have there been SO extensive and i'm
portant Improvements accomplished, either
IN repairs or new constructions, as during the
last twelve months. The year has been an
eventful one in the direction of increased de-
mands for accommodations and treatment of
patients, resulting in considerably larger
daily average number of inmates than has
heretofore existed, and of an unusually large
percentage of recoveres, which has exceeded
that OF any former year during the existence
of the Hospital except one. The percentage
of recoverics during the year, based upon
the number of admissions, is 1928, and 1887
upon the number under treatment No I'M
usual sickness has occurred in any depart
ment to mar the comfort of patients or to
interrupt the usefulness OF the officers or en-
ployes.
Al the beginning OF the year, Dec. !, 1856,
there were resident IN the Hospital 52S pa
tents-262 men and 2GG women. Two hun
dred and twenty have been admitted since
Isl men ana 30 women; making the whole
number under treatmest I3i-393 men, 36l
women. OF these there have been discharged
2o2-l0S men and "a women; leaving at the
close OF the year, 552-2o5 men and 267
women. One hundred and sixty-thrce of
those admitted during the year were on their
first admission ~ on their second, | on
their third on their fourth, ION their fifth
and3 on their sixth We md the following to
be the condition of those discharged recov-
cred, o2-ii men and 3s women; much i'm
proved $50 men and Is women; i'm
proved l?-l2 men ami women unim-
proved, IL men ana women; died, 81
80 men and ~ women. or the 81 dis
charged recovered, % were on their first adj
mission 10 on their second . on their third
on their fourth, and on their sixth.
No zymotlc or contagious diseases have
visited the institution in any form, those dying
being spared from long continued physical
suffering. OF those who died, 81 were more
than 30 years old, IL between 60 and 20, D
between 10 and so, and had passed beyond
four score and five years of age. The cause
of death in l6'was terminal dementia, senile
dementia, and chronic melanchoa; thus
establishing the fact that nearly one-haif of
the deaths was the result of absolute mental
arrangement, rather than the sequence of any
acute or super'emng physical disease.
BY observing the admissions 1t is apparent
that the types of insanity have been under
going changes and notifications during the
past few years in the direction of melan-
cholia. This type of insanity gives rise to
more pronounced and frequent homicidal
tendencies. There have been admitted dur
ing the past year 80 patients afflicted with
marked homicidal or suicidal impulses; 80 of
the former class and 30 of the latter. The
causes of death were as follows Anasarca, |
man; acute mania, 9-3 men and women ;
acute melancholia, . men; apoplexy,4-2
men and women; apoplexy, passive, men :;
chronic mania, | woman; chronic melan-
cholia, az men and women: ex-
haustive mania, woman; epilepsy,
| man: general paralysis, men
Misrepresentation women; latent phthisis,
woman; mengeal inflammation, l man
senile dementia, men; terminal dementia,
10 men and women; phthisls pulhoila-
lis, man. The assigned causes of insanity
in those admitted during the year are Brain
fever, woman business embarrassment,
men; congenital weakness, woman; chloral
habit, man critical period of life, women ;
childbirth. woman; domestic aftilcton' II
. men and women; domestic infeliclty,
- men and women; disappointment, >
man and > women; epilepsy, liz men
AID . women; exposure in army, men, for
observation, | man.; hercdity, | woman; in
temperance, IL men: injury of head, men
injury of spine, men; injury of stomach,
l woman; injury from fall, man; ill health,
! l7-5 men and II women; lactaton, woman ;
measels. men; masturbation. men; men
stural irregularity, | woman; over-exertion,
| ll-3 men and women; paralysis, 81