Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-10
Visiting Committees Report.

The Insane Hospital Visiting Committee
Of the last Council report as follows:
To HIS EIeeiiency, the Governor and he
Erecutire Council Of the State Of Maine ;
In compliance with the law continuing <
a Board of Visitors to the Insane Hospitai
we respe ctfully submit here with our Second
Annual Rep rt for the year ending Dee
3lst, A ID. 1890.
We have tried to follow the spirit as well
as the letter Of the law in the discharge of
our duties.
We are pleased to report that the two
new psvilions authorized by the Legislature
Of 1859, are completed, making the capac
ity of the institution adequate to the present
wants of the State, and also relieving the
superintendent from the great care he has
had during their erection, outside his legit-
innate work for the patients. When these
are fully furnished, with the extensive
repairs and improve ments that have been
made of late TO the other buildings of which
you have been advised in other reports. with
the abundant supply of water and :he pres
ent admirable facilities for lighting ard
he sting the institution will be placed in first
class condition throughout.
All will agree that in this northern eli
mate Of severe cold and sudden changes in
the weather, that the heating Of an institu
tion of this magnitude, is one Of the fret
and most important of all things to the
humane treatment and comfort of the
patients; and to show how perfectly this is
done at the present time, ! will give the
thermometrical record taken three times =
day in all the wards for the month Of
December, 1880, just closed. aud in the
minds Of all a very cold month, and We find
the total average temperature, IS 40
degrees; and we find in six of the wards,
where the patients are likely, in confusion
of mind to become Invested of their cloth
ing. the thermometer indicates an average
temperature Of 80 degrees, this must be
very gratifying indeed, to all who have
relatives or friends ia the institution, and
TO the State, sho~ing the management to
be in the hsnds of those who have the best
interests of the patients at heart.
And while we reslize, in some degree the
trying position the attendants occupy, We
are pleased 10 state that the complaints
have been comparatively few, and none of
a serious nature.
And here we would say that we heartily
approve Of the superintendebt's vigilance in
seitCbHR' anu hetpiha HoHc as st''hu dht'
hut thos. adapted to the work, and his con
slant endeavor to make the hospital home
in its truest sense for the unfortunate class
committed TO its care.
We would suggest that In our judgment,
the State should be very cautious in trans
ferring criminals from our penal insti,u.
tions 70 this, for obvious reasons. The
institution was not designed for prison but
for a hospital for the treatment Of the sick
both in mind ard body and 1t is not jus. to
the unfortunate, worthy insane to be obliged
to asociste With the criminal insane.
In closing this, our Second Annua
r. port, after two years connection with The
in,,i,u'ion. we feel pleased, and warrant d
in saying that we believe its affairs ably
managed, the appropriations Of money b.
ihe State wisely used, ard the rules ard
regulations for the governme n: OF the sam,
faithfully carried out.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
] y. BRAcKETT, v;,.,
s W. CARR r.s..'s
Mrs. Tomas LORD. ''''"'''ee