Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-03
The I saoe Hospital.

The wear 1890 Is shown by the annual
Insane Hospital report to- have been
very busy and a very prosperous one for
that institution. 1t has also been one
marked by great permanent improve
ments. The two new pavilions
have been completed and form
. splended addition to the advantages of
the institution They have been very
appropriately, named Harlow Hail.
and ''Sanborn Hall " in honor OF the two
superintc ndents whose long and faith
full labors have done so much to build
up the hospital TO its present high de
gree Of efficiency. The increase of pa
tients has been unprecedented in the
history Of the Institution As DR. San
born points out In his report, this
increase is largely traceable to
the ravages of la grippe; again
"a he shows elsewhere in his
report, the cases of melancholia
have been largely increased among the
patients in the Hospital during the past
two or three years. The small chances
Of recovery In such eases of course
largely limits the percentage of dis
charges II is also doubtless true, that
rs the advantages Of the Hospital have
become more widely and clearly under
stood the insane of the State have been
more fully gathered under its guard
ianship.
IL was of course inevitable that such a
large unforeseen increase in the
number of patients should occasion
large additional expenses out
side Of those which had naturally
been anticipated. The Trustees. how
ever. made the best OF the situation and
by the most strenuous efforts succeeded in
proviiiug accommodation for all these
extra patients Wards we're speed ly
finished off and rendered available for
occupancy in the new psyillous; the
steam heating apparatus had to be read
iu.ted to conform with the new require
ments additional plumbing. cen-en'ing
aud gtsdiag, not provided for ia the reg
ulsr contracts had to oe done; new
furnishings hid to he purchased, and thus
considerable unforeseen expense
added to the institution But this was
not all. II became eviden' that tho needs
OF the hospital imperstivetv demanded
n new kitchen which was accordingly
built In a thoroughly substantial aud
convenient manner.
The trustees also took advantage of a
favorable opportunity tn parehase the
Hayt estate adjoining the hospital, It
place ct four acres of land and some
convenient buildings which have long
been needed by the State. This purchase
will be paid for out of the earnings of
the institution.
The general good health that has pre-
vailed stnong the patients has been Il
gratifying feature of the years work.
During the year there have been eight
cases If diptheria. only one OF which
resulted fsfsliy- No case OF this dread
disease hiss occurred since August ard
there is good reason to hope that it has
: been iiaAlly eraAicased
The record OF the year has certainly
been most successful one, scarcely
any casualties have occurred among
the patients and large number
have beeu discharged and sent home
The large Increase in the number Of
patients has materially increased the
work Of the institution, but its officials
have shown themselves equal to it
Msipe has JUST reason TO feel pride in
Ibis Institution There Is no better man.