Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-31
Annual Report Of Superinten-
dent and Trustees.
They Think Additional Provisions for
Insane Should be Made.
,oerease in Suicidal Tendencies Noted But
Per Cent. Of Recovsries Increases.

and Council and the following brief notes
are taken from the superintendent re-
port:
Supt. Sanborn in his introduction says
that the hospital has never been in better
condition for the care of the patients
from sanitary point of view.
Under admissions and discharges he
SAWS, cat the beginning of the year, Dec
l. 1898. there were resident in the hospital
671 patients; $50 men; 321 women. Since
es4 have be- admitted, 179 men, 105
women, making the whole number under
treatment 955; 500 men, 426 women. OF
these there have been discharged 275, 1863
men, 112 women, leaving at the close of
the year $50; 1856 men and 314 women.
The per cent of recoveries for the past year
based upon the number under treatment
has increased somewhat, being s. 70 against
III the preceding year. The per cent. of
recoveries based upon the number of ad
missions has been 29.57 against 26. 13 the
preceding year.
Referring to insanity DIR. Sanborn, SUI
perintendent, says: "We observe more
who are suffering from a melancholic
type in which the suicidal propensities
are more dominant l think this change
has been observed in more marked de-
gree since the prevalence of la grippe.
During the past year two patients have
succeeded in committing self destruction
by strangulation. BY their own means
80 patients have been supported, so en-
tirely by the State and 539 have received
State aid of $3.50 per week, towns and
plantations paying the balance.
Mention is made of the improvements
in the drainage during the year and that
now the hospital is beyond all possibility
of contamination in this direction. -Four
carpenters have been repairing and i'm
proving the institution during tho entire
year, making many necessary changes and
the farm buildings have been improved.
Repairs and improvements have been
accomplished in t plumbing depart
ment. The ward center building has been
reconstructed and is now occupied. The
repairs and renovations of the center
building are nearly finished. Speaking
of furnishing the institution with electric
lights he says, "This introduction of cleo
tricity relieves us Of much anxiety, as it
must lessen fire risks to a very great ex-
tent" The coal wharf has been enlarged
100 feet. In speaking. of the 900 acre
farm he says that it is in state of excel
lent cultivation, and says that 400 tons
of hay were cut last year, that being the
largest crop ever cut. The potato crop
was the largest ever harvested, being $500
bushels, averaging more than $50 bushels
to the acre. The supply of milk for 1898
was 80, 4Os gallons and last year 37,67S,
an excess of 327O gallons. The highest
daily average furnished was 114h gallons
and highest monthly average 3545A.
Under the head of immediate needs DIR.
Sanborn say that the out-buildings are
too near the wards and should be removed.
The financial loss the past year by the
death of hogs from cholera has been S30oo
and new accommodations are necessary
DIR. Sanborn suggests that an appropria-
ton he made for q new building for pigs.
He advocates that the lawns he extended
n,,I a1xl rnfI
institution will accommodate 5S9 beds
for patients. In speaking of the necessity
of further provision for the insane ne
says: During the past year out OF 43
patients, whose mental condition was care
fully considered, all of whom were de-
mented and apparently harmless, we sue
ceeded in obtaining the consent OF the
towns to remove but seven, one OF wnolh
was returned within few days after
discharge. Past experience has led us to
believe that we cannot reasonably expect
any further elimination from the hospital,
and that the urgent necessities OF the IN
stitution demand that the Legislature take
steps at once to make further provision
for the care of this unfortunated class. =
In conclusion DIR. Sanborn speaks OF the
loss upon the board by the death OF HoD.
W. H. Hunt No official changes we're
made the past year.
The committee on recreation and
amusement renders its report and namt
the various means provided for she pleas
ure and physical benefits of the patients
and makes special mention of the excur-
sions to the Isle of Springs last season.
The Coburn fund disbursements for the
year ending Nov. 80, 1894, amounts TO
81, ,753 80, and comes under heads pro-
viding for the amusement of the patients
and repairs and improvement to Coburn
hall. From the report of the committee
on the hospital library it is seen that one
assets and receipts amount to s347o o.
and the disbursements s33oo.sO. Inc
entire amount expended on the granioe
portico has been 14,O75, according TO 1ne
l1TGS