Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-05


with which he may have to deal. Ap
parehliy recovered. importunate for
.heir oischarSe as rule, ignorant Of
the lneNorable law of nature that do
i1ahds period of rest for restoration
OF impaired functions. and bearing
upon them the marks Of weakness
Whlch may yet, under certain condi
tions, grow to greater proportions. is if
any wonder that the physician often
lncurs their greatest displeasure by his
Jealous regard Of their welfare. or thar
sometimes he may be disposed to Weld
to their entreaties in opposition TO his
best judgment. Again, in the case oe
the aEprehensive timid convalescents
to whom weeks and months of time
DrinS no return of Self-confidenCe il
may seem best TO discharge them in the
nope that contact with actual condi-
tons IN the outside World may stimu-
iitc thelr minds. But, alas, it is only
100 wei known that such premature
discharges too often have their seuuel
III return OF former symptoms,
usually exaggerated. and prognoss
thereby rendered much more unravor-
able.
- NV tiiI Nll'St WORDS
are oftener quoted as authority than
the great Isaac Ray, at one time super
lnteHdent of the hospital at Augusta.
In Ills reports frequent mention is made
ci the iamtntable consequences of too
early discharges His words ring as
true To-Day. and may serve to deepen
the oppression we would make: I'VE
nave 10 deplore the impat,nce of
friends which leads to premature re-
moval of the tconvalesccnD patient. he
cause perseverance is so generally
crowned with success The signs of
Improvement are mistaken for those OF
recovery, and the fact of the strong
tendency of insanity to relapse when
the patient is prematurely exposed to
causes Of excitement is but little
Known or needed. Because the reason
is 70 longer disturbed by delusions and
the patient Graves employment, be-
cause the affections have revived and
the memory fondly revertS to home
with all It's endearmentS. ii by no
means follows that the mind Is fully
restored. These, it is true are favor
| able symptoms. but Of Improvement
merely, not of recovery, as TIL. result
dicate the stage of convalcscencc, that
stage Of the disease in which scclusion
and quiet are more necessary even than
III any other. and that too in which
inJudicious management is more in
furious than in any other
The opening of the institution OH
Chase's Island was the fulfilment of
the dream ot the older alicnists. Their
writings. during the past fifty years
teem with suggestions and advice re-
latlnS TO the treatment of the con-
FaieSccnt insane. Time and again we
ind them urging measures for segre-
eating convalcsccnts from the chronic.
anG acute cases. Convalescent wards
ana parole systems have been institut-
e1 Tor The purpose. But the fact re-
mains that the patient is not content
ed His surroundings are Il constant
reminder OF his former disability. Un-
u'r the best or management, he is sub
J"ct to certain limitations and re-
StralntS: and restraint is irksome. He
comes i'll contact, unavoidably, with
patients in states of mental dctcriora-
ton; and such association is depress-
hG. The deslrablity of a new ell
Niicnment, different atmosphere, than
that OF the general insane wards, for
the convalesc"nt, became more and
more apparent. The ideal aimed at
implied q larger measure of personal
| freedom, a pleasing environment, a lib
cr'i amount of outdoor exercise. and
SUCH means of recreation, pSychcal
and physical as would tend to a di-
version from self, and an abatement.
AT east, of that habit Of introspection
which is so marked n feature of these
| cases. Long observation has taught
| that there is a fixed and important re-
| latlon between what q man admircS
| and takes pleasure in, and what he is.
| Will" misery ovcrwhelms him, while
| the Gecadcnce is visible and hope shut
ont. he is sure to be morbid and mel
| anchuly. AS soon as his sufferings
arc relieved. his powers made mani
| fest, and his prospects frightened he
begins to take Drawer interest in
| life. 10 be self-confideLt. and the road
to health opens fairly before him.
| To gain these ends it would seem that
| Maine has an ideal means i'm the con-
vaiescent hospital. Without a doubt
| it is the peer o. any other of its kind
| in New England. AS hospital it is
all the most critical could desire 1t
possesses. in it's surroundings and loca-
| ton, everything that leads to rcstful-
| ness and peace of mind. The charms
| and beauties of that part of our coast,
where il is located. are world-famous
| Mountains and valleys. green fields and
wooded hills. the joys of sea, never
tempestuous. but day after day bear
| ing the white sails Of merchant. and
yaChtsmcn. rare combination Of pic
turesquc effect join in making the
scene one of peculiar charm. The
very surroundings have in them that
which draws the weary distracted
| mind from its introspection. to fields Of
| thought that contribute to contcut-
ment and pleasure.
The plan Of treatment and super
vision, during the past summer. fol-
lowed closely the theories advanced by
| modern writer's on the subject. I'm