Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-06-27
DR.. Sanborn Speaks on
Care of FeebIeminded"
At Convention Of Charities and
Corrections.
Believes That State Should Do Some
thing for Her Unfortunate Feeble.
Minded In Accordance With Scien.
tific Treatment Methods.

Ut. Il. L. SanDOrn, superintendent OF
the Maine Insane hospital, read an able
and interesting paper on The Care of
the Feeble Minded" before the Ma
tional conI Iention of Charities and Cor
rections at its recent session at Port
land. The paper in full is as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Genetle-
men of the Conventions: In all of the
civilized and christianiZed countries of
the world it has for a long period been
the settled policy of governments to
regard the insane as wards of the State.
government has recognized the peculiar
dependence of those bereN of their
reason, and that further restrictions in
methods of treatment should be accord
ed to those suffering from mental dis
ease, and 50 from time to time in many
countries additional safe guards
through statutory enactment have
gradually eliminated town and county
care, and the strong arm Of govern
mcnt has made State supervision not
only available but mandatory. The pc
culiar phenomena manifested in mental
disease, the utter inability to care for
of the power of self-control have NJ
doubt been potent factors and largely
! contributed to these wise provisions of
the governments.
| While methods for proper care in the
earliest days We're crude, yet little by
l little as diseased mental states have
| been more carefully investigated and
be- tier understood rapid progress in the
technique placed in operation for more
| scientific treatment has been inaugu-
| rated and the environments are being
more and more studied in their adapta-
ton to the Individual patient. 50 that,
tr.i:Iy, such strides have been made and
such efficiency attained it would seem
tth..t scientific investigation can do lit
tie more than what has already been
| accomplished in providing for the in
sane, except in the necessity of con
ltiHIIed construction carried on under
lcXistinG methods. While the philan-
Ithropist has labored SO indefatigably
land legislative bodies have been SC
liberal in their appropriations FOR tie
lnmelioration of the insane, there is an
lother class equally as dependent. AMI
lErcause of these peculiar defects oi
mental and physical organization, are
Essentially as worthy of our most care
Iful consideration and efforts in the di-
ERECTION of extending such charity as
shall contribute to enlighten care.
refer to the feeble -mindcd.
am aware that much is being ac-
compliShed in providing institutional
ltrcatment for this class by many of tho
Estates, but there are others including
Maine that have not as yet cXtende,
THAT protection which is in keepinl
lWith the present enlightened an'
jscirntific methods of treatment. In fac
il might as well be announced that "ul
Stat" has not yet put forth any con
lc, 7tri or tangible effort for the prope
Icar,r of this defective class in its en-
Itjrety. 1t is true that for some year
ipast an appropriation has been made
. Inv our Legislative bodies to extend car,
to n limited number of patients eaci
voor at the Massachusetts institution
for the Feeble minded at Waverley bu
the demand is 80 urgent coming direct
Inv from the citizens Of the common
lwealth Of Massachusetts. that only
Limited number can be accommodate
from this state. and il is fair to prediG
lt6at i'm the near future the manage
Uncut of the Massachusetts school vii
he obliged to withdraw that courtes
(which IN the past has been extended I
lac sister state, in order to protect an
provide for hs own.
cnapter 1. Section 8 Of the Revise
IStatutes Of Maine InadS rs follows:
1.-THE words "insanc person may inclu'i
Ian idiot, non compoS, lunatic. or dlS
ltY,cted person; but in reference
I;3i.fc or non compos persons this ru
~tIo.s not apply to Chapter 1i3 of I'll
lPevised Statutes" the latter havin
reference 10 the chapter which provid,
fine laws governing commitments To I'll
1.-TWO Insane hospitals of the State NO
. withstandinG this implied interdictio
the management Of the Institution II
t,ba Jns,ue nj Augusta has consented
t,acoiyp from time. To time through con
tu;tment by The municipal officers.
rim,ted number Of :isis defective cla
where the power of se,f-control had b'
leome abolished. and cases where
tnsaorence Of homicidal delusionS Il
1subiect had become a menace 10 u
;,,madi,te family and community.
our statutory enactments are SUI
however thai this class are obliged
d give place to the treatment of the M"
ldednitely insane so that not l.
i, frequently the Municipalities OF Z
= State have become en,parrassed III
* ing obliged to withdraw its idiots IL
st beetles and feeble minded from the i
- siitution. THE experience "t the ma
ement Of the two hospitals for me
sane of this state is that IN comf"
with the vast majority OF the Insult
t;ors of like character throughout
:. country in that the caI1city OF poth q
taxed Ia their limit. The,5" mas scare
" occurred a year during ~" past U
decades when the hospital - Sugus
has not been obliged. when nrth&'
tions have been made: To redu'
- the municipal officers to Geler COZ
initial until room can M hid
available by the discharge H so'
patient who has recovered or IL
proved to such an extent that