Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-04-07
lis NOW SUPERINTENDENT
Or. THOMPSON PROMOTED AT
HARTFORD RETREAT.
Directors Chose Him Tuesday to Sue
coed Or. Henry p. Stearns-Changes
in Institutions Charter Make Pro-
motion Possible.

At a meeting of the board OF direc-
tors of the Retreat for the Insane yes
terday the resignation of DIR. Henry
p. Stearns, for more than thirty-one
years physician and superintendent
was read and accepted IL VIII be re-
membered that Hast year DIR. Stearns
rendered his resignation, but before II
went into effect IL became expedient
that the resignation should be with
drawn. Now, however, the occasion
which led to its recall has ceased TO
exist through changes in the charter
of the institution, and the directors are
able to accede to DIR. Stearns's desire
TO retire from active duties.
DIR. Whitefield n. Thompson. for the
past five months assistant superintend
ent of the Retreat, was chosen physi-
clan and superintendent TO succeed DR..
Stearns AS assistant superintendent
he has demonstrated to the full salts
faction of the board of directors his
native capacity and fitness for the new
post DIR. Thompson is a native of
Maine, was educated at Foxcroft acad-
emy and Bates college, and was grad
uated from the jefferson Medical col
lege in the class of 1889. He entered
the specially at once as assistant ply
sician at the Brattleboro Retreat. and
has therefore had an active experience
of nearly sixteen years.
At meeting of the corporators of
the Retreat, held just previous to the
directors meeting, the amendments of
the Retreat charter recently passed by
the General Assembly, were accepted.
The first changes the corporate title
from the president and directors of the
Retreat for the Insane, to the president
and directors of the Hartford Retreat,
the object being TO eliminate the word
insane" The general public is COM
ing TO recognize the fact that insanity
is a legitimate disease, due to some dis
order of the nervous system, but the |
word insane" by reason OF dts asso-
Is still felt to carry with 1t |
certain amount of opprobrium. Furth-
many persons suffering from |
nervous attacks, which do not eventu-
ate in insanity, seek the care of the
Retreat, and to them and their friends
the change Is peculiarly welcome one.
The charter is further amended so as
10 place the nomination and election
If the physician and superintendent
wholly in the hands of the board of di-
-ectors, instead of requiring con-
irmation by the Hartford Medical
society.
DR. Stearns came to the Retreat as
physician and superintendent in jan
lary, 1874, and under his wise man
.gement the institution has held a
oremost position and has commanded
he highest degree of respect and con- !
Idence The doctor, in the course of !
lis long term of service, has been a
otable figure in the field of psychiatry
Ie has appeared as expert in many
important. medico-legal cases. For
1ore than twenty years he was lee
urer on insanity at Yale university. 7
lie is the author of many monographs
nd two books on insanity: Insanity,
IS Causes and Prevention" and Men G
ii Diseases" The latter has been and :
till is used as a textbook in the lead .
lg medical colleges. DR. Stearns is a y
lember of the board of directors of h
lie Retreat, and his counsel and aj- Il
ice will. therefore, still be available "
the institution.-Har Courant :,
{ Wednesday. q