Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-02


always ready to defend them, whenever
and however attacked. He was deeply
interested in the welfare of others, and
was true friend to the insane of our
State. and a devoted advocate of every
thing that would advance the inter-
ests of the two insane hospitals of
Maine. We unite with the people of
Maine in expressing our own convic-
tons that the State has lost true and
good man, and the insane hospitals a
| faithful and wise trustee"
| Resolutions We're adopted by the
board expressing the sentiments above
loutlined.
Superintendent Bigelow T. Sanborn
of the Augusta hospital makes a most
comprehensive report of the years
progress at that institution, and among
| other things says:
| 1.-THE demands upon the resident Of
ficers have been augmented, particu-
larly in administering to the wants of
the women's department of the hos
pital occasioned by the inconvenience
experienced in the unavoidable inter-
ruptions in the reconstruction of one
of it's wings. The advantages, howev-
|
ed occupation will more than counter
balance any extra efforts that have
been put forth, either by officers or
attendants. and will fully repay the
| temporary inconvenience to which the
patients have been subjected. Not
withstanding this interference to the
daily routine duties, such supervision
| and oversight has been extended as has
contributed to entire immunity from
| casualties and we are able to report
| that among our large class of suicidal
and homicidal patients such watchful-
ness has been rendered as to prevent
! self-intiiction or assaults upon others.
Total exemption from the prevalence
| of zymOtic diseases has prevailed SO
| that our entire household have enjoyed
| freedom from distressing illness, and
| the benefits arising from and unusual
share of physical health. Such ex-
listing conditions have been very favor
able in Offering increased advantages
| and opportunities for open air eXer-
| else and during the long season of
| mild weather the wards of the hospital
have been largely depOpulated and as
occupants, under the immediate care
of their attendants, have been afforded
| the blessings of sunlight exercise. The
above existing mental and physical
condition of many of our patients has,
| in my judgment, rendered it prudent to
| allow an unusually large number of
paroles and l have yet to note, during
the entire season, any disappointment
| arising from such course of action.
| The patients have all shown a dispo-
Git ion to carry into pyPcJltiOO the rom
ditionS of their paroles.
| 81 am unable to report any espe-
cially new methods of treatment. So
far as measures have been adopted,
they have been prosecuted along prac-
! tically the same lines as in former
years. I might mention of the exper-
mental Introduction of several new
remedies, the prolonged trial of which
have not met our expectation and the
most of them have not been regarded
by us as of especial therapeutic value.
We still find static electricity of mate
rial service in the treatment of many
of our patients and excellent results
have been obtained in neurasthenic
conditions, in some types of melan-
cholia, and in insomnia, the latter con-
dition so frequently observed as a per-
manent accompaniment in mental dis
ease.
THE prosecution of labor in the va
rious mechanical departments of the
institution has been carried on in sim
liar lines as in former years. AS must
be expected that in order to prevent
deterioration, lne repairs must neces-
| sarily become more expensive as the
| institution exteriorly becomes longer
exposed to the inclemency of our eli
mate and the wards and dormitories
become further subjected to such treat
ment as is usually observed in the con-
duct of many of our patients, especially
that class who have lost their power
of self-control and in consequence ex-
hibit destructive tendencies.
"Since the fifth of May, last, at
which time the Augusta Lumber Com
pany commenced to furnish the insti-
tuition with steam, ample time has
been afforded the engineer to fully re-
pair the heating apparatus for the
further demands of the coming cold
season. We were fortunate in secur-
ing our coal during the early part of
the season and in the months of Sep
TENDER and October one thousand eight
hundred and twenty tons of soft coal
were placed in our coal-pocket and
with the addition of two hundred and
ninety tons then on hand we have two
thousand one hundred and ten tons
for winter use. We are remarkably
favored in having this large supply on
hand as the Augusta Lumber Company
informed the superintendent by let
ter that it would be unable to carry
out it's contract and furnish steam for
the month of November. Notwith-
standing this disappointment, unless
an unusually cold season prevails we
have an ample storage of fuel suffi-
cient to supply the necessary steam
andnall other purposes required until
such a time as it can be procured by
water communication another year.
Large demands have been made
upon the carpenters department so
that there has been a necessity for q.
larger force. In addition to the usual
changes. quite extensive repairs have
been obliged to be made in the floors of
the piggery and the new cow stable.
I'm the painters department the
| me- conditions have eyiStod rau,,irino