Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-05
3
CHASE'S ISLAND.
A New State Institution
Located There.
The States Treatment Of Its
Convalescent Insane.
.
Something About The Hospital and
Its Good Work.

of the Maine Insane Hospitals leads
the writer to call further attention to
the new factor in treatment of the in
sane in Maine-the Convalescent's
Hospital on Chase's Island.
Attention has been directed before
by ADLER pens to this splendid auxili
AIRY; and in the opinion of many further
discussion may be largely a work of
sCpererOSation, Be that as it may, il
seems that where the object is so inn
portant and so fruitful in results pub
licity cannot be too eagerly courted.
The end in view may be just excuse
for repetition. Indeed, it were well
that more widespread interest be
aroused in public institutions. since
their usefulness depends so greatly up
on public liberality. The citizen, who
pays the bills, should have a wider
knowledge of the requirements OF
these institutions, their value TO the
Commonwealth, and the benefits they
confer. In the light of such knowledge
we may. with assurance. look for
heartier cooperation in every advance
made by science in the interest of hu-
manity. Especially should this hold
u u' vi iiiil tout'y iI'i'''
a place among the foremost of her sis
ter states. with means provided for the
treatment Of the insane.
The history Of the acquisition of the
Chase's Island institution is familiar
to your readers; and the newspapers
OF the State have at various times de-
voted their columns to descriptions of
the island ana the hospital. 1t is not
the intention Of the writer TO try to
add to that which has been SO we'll
done. a desire to emphasize the great
importance Of a hospital for the con-
NalcScent insane. conviction born of
experience, that the value of such an
iaS: S:itutiOn is under eStin, ated by the
public at large, urges the undertaking
Of the unaccuStomed task of writing
fur the press. Emnently deserving
public consideration are such qles-
| tions as the purpose for which the hos
ritaI was established the results look
cd frr the why aud wherefore of its
existence. The future of the institu-
| tiun depends, in the final analysis up
on the public Judgment; and, as yet.
interest in il by the people. is lacking.
But we believe that where the case is
properly presented. the medical man
| will not be found alone in his interest
l in this new departure in treatment
Tile public heart is ever most respon-
sivc to the cause of the insane. 1t
speaks well for human nature that this
is 50. for surely. these unfortunates
have every claim TO compassion that
can arise from misery and distress.
| AS the name implies. the institution
on ChaScs Island is devoted to the
purpose OF treating the convalcsccnt
| inSanc-thuSc victims Of mental dis
ease who are on the way to recovery.
Tn" term convalCscCnt includes those
who are on the threshold of the out
side world. about ready to step back
into their accustomed avocations and
resum" once more an active life. 1t is
the critical period of the patients life
and upon the conduct of that period
depends largely his future. In this
stage tn" patient may have regaincd
mental equilibrium but. as Il rule, has
not rcgain"d mental strength sufficient
To bear the excitement and exactions
of the outside world The clouds
which had gathered over the mind are
breaking and passing away. With the
advent of mental health the moral af-
fcctionS resume their influence and
there is generally IN urgent impatiencc
for discharge and return to home and
its associations. In the course of a
short interview the patient may mani
fest not symptom of mental abcrra-
Iuon, no undue cXhleration Of spirits.
land in every respect appear like him
self when we'll
| II is oftcntimcS impossible to con-
vince the patient or his friends of the
dangers of relapse on exposure to
causcs of excitement. The warning
that the mind though sound is not
Istrong is often listened to as tale
that IS told
| To The casual eye these patients ap-
IEcar perfectly restored to health to the
lphySician's they show many indications
Iof Weakness III the vast majority of
cases the physical health is far below
par. a critical study of these cases
viii discover as Il rule symptoms. both
mental and physical, which if disre-
galded may eventually prove dis
IaStouS to the patient. Quoting the
words of an eminent New York writer
on tins subject, there is most often
found condition Of slight apprehen-
Ton. Il slight reluctance to take up
former social status. an ill defined fear
on The patients part that he is not all
that ne was. Others show a too eager
desire to return TO active life. They
fail to realize the seriousness of thai,.
past condition and have not a proper
conception of their abilities as to the
amount OF mental and physical labor
they are capable of undertaking. An
!other type Of convalescent. recovered to
all practical intents and purposes. fails
utterly to appreciate his past alien
alton. 1t will be found that while often
these patients may have gained in
weight, their adipose tissue is ant to be
fiahby and their general musculative
while normal as to amount is deficient
in tone. The classical haemorlobino-
meter. the lips and coniunctiopa1
mucous membrane show that tho blood
lusually impoverished at the natiep,,S
admission has not fully returned IN tba
normal. and the anemia is often moot
persistent. These are facts attastad 70
by the everyday experience of bnsni,s1