Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-24

~ teeooe Dooog101.
Al the iass fall board meeting of III.
trustees of the Nai.e insane hospital ID,
subject Of the services Of The ase DR. Hear,
n. Harlow n the hospstal vas brouyht q,
sad i was decided 10 prepare . com
memorssive sketeh ~ . Arnng memcrsAi
The following i Al sxssscs from the rec.
csss Of the boss1 - prepared By Hsn.
Lyndon Oak. secretary.
DR.. Huiov vas born in wessninsie.
VI. on April i3th, l.2i. The characters.
tee Of his early years we're prophetic
Of . successful Fife. He Vas fortunate in
his aneessYy- A mixture Of Engsish and
Welsh blood eoafsed through bis sssas
Both parents vsre physically. mentally sns
morally sound. The Inspiration Of bis
braeias atmosphere tia; rested upon his
native bills. Ills youthful years were
passed in the hexithfai and iny:xoYatiax
pursuits and psssimss connected wiLh farm
Efe. He early chose The medical psosss-
SION for bis Ef.is sork, and entered Epoa
tbe preliminary vesk Of preparation with
enshssiasm. and parsuea II with uarirny
industry. His medical stadies were pro
secuted under the instruction Of noted ply
sieians Of the time, and 10 the best raedi-
cal schools Of New England. His arss ex-
psrienee in hospital practice vas ~ assist
an; physician in the Vermont insane hes-
pital, located at marlborough. After
brisf service At the Vermont hospital. be
sn sppointsd assistant physician al the
Maine insane hospital, which was than
unaer the saperintendenee Of DIR. james
Bates. This was ia 1876, ave years after
the opening Of the hospital. He vas then
20 year. Of age. From this time oaw ar.
for a period Of - years, the thrsais Of his
personal history are eloseiy snterSoven with
the warp and roof Of the history Of the
Maine insane hospital. In 1850, ave years
after his appointment as assistant physician.
nearly all the hospital bailiinzs we're de-
.frovea by Ere, Involving the loss OF =
lives. Soon after this terrible disaster, DIR.
Bxtes vas sent 70 visit kindred institutions
in New England and the Middle States 10
examine such new methods Of construction
Ansi equipment as had been introduced iatv
those institutions. During his absence OF
this mission Dr. Hariox vas the acting
81 perintsndent Of the hospital.
A few months after his return DR.. Bates
res gned the saperiatsndeney, and DIR. Har
low vas appointed to sll the vacancy thus
created.
IL vas erninently fortunate that man So
well qualified by sltainnlen,s, training and
natural aptitude was secured 10 MI this ini-
portant position. His continuous and see
eessful service as superintendent for thirty
three wears was ample attestati0n Of the Wis
dom Of the appointment. II was position
Of grave responsibility that Dr. Harios
Was now called To fiji. New buildings 10
"a ks the place of those that had been de-
.troyei must be provided, and AZ the years
passed. increasing numbers nscessitated ad-
ditional buildings.
The tendencies Of the times we're towards
a more intelligent and humane system OF
treatment for the insane. With such ten
lene iss. Dr Harlow was IN fGH sympathy.
But to bring the Legislature, from year 10
year. TO which be must look for appropris-
lions VI money. into accord with his own
views aad the tendencies of the times, re-
lnired patient persistent and earnest ef
fort.
The popular conception OF a h0spltAi
building AT the tine, was that of a PRISON
" grated Window where msniscs could be
-afely kept and restrained from injarieg
themselves and others. +, was no uncommon
occurrence TO fnd TIL victims of INSANITY
-on & ned in cages like wili animals, in Pc
mote and gloomy reeesses of pirate DWELL
Ings. and in sheds and other out-baiidlngs,
siih An appalling destituIion Of every thing
hat would conducs TO their physical com
fort
Dr. Harlow nov resolgtely addressed
himself to the task Of turning the current
Of popular sentiment into healthier ADD
and more humane channels. lie introduced
into the nev buildings improved methods OF
heating and ventilation as well ss NOR
intelligent system Of treatment AMI re-
strAint.
Dr. Harlow 5 thirty eight years Of service
in the upb1ilding Of Names greatest public
charity vas a remarkable service, whether
by the number Of years II COW
cred. or by its eminent usefulness. five
vesrs Of this service was as 8 unfortunate,
md thirty three years ss chief. To the
work IF upbuilding from the ashes of 1850.
he was con.ecrsted by literal baptism OF
tire. Before him were long years Of rugged
toll against adverse influence, but with the
quiet and resolate purpose Characteristic OF
the msn. opposing obstacles were over
come. ouv after another, until the institu-
ton had STAINED q condition OF great ex-
Thirty eight years Of DIR. Harlow's ma
ture life were devoted 10 the heatng OF the
Tread disease of insanity, where healing
was possible, TO its mitigation in cases sus-
ceptible of mitigation, and TO reducing TO
minimum, the physical aiseomtorts Of those
who were doomed to hopeless insanity.
for such service, he is entitled TO enduring
an grateful remembrance.
DR.. Harlow's death occurred on the morn
tnr Of April 9Th 1893. The circumstances
aisenjing il were in harmony With the even
tenor Of hi. life. Spared the discomforts
If prolonged and wasting disease, he dls-
appe sred from earth rs the star disappears
IA the light Of the morning
A. an expression of our appreciation OF
his eminent services in behalf Of this instliu-
ton, it IS
Ordered. That the shove sketch be en-
tered upon the records of the trustees