Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-04
AT cHASE's ISLAND.
Visit of Trustees of Insane HospitaIs
to ConvaIeseent Hospital.

was the tHouBnt upperm0St in the
minds of the party composed of DIR.
Sanborn and the trustees Of the Maine
Insane Hospitals who visited officially
the COnvalescent Hospital on Chase's
Island. Beautiful beyond description,
These words seemed to be the only
fitting terms to apply to the scene that
opened TO the view as the launch bear
ing the party from North Haven
threaded its way through sinuous
channels between islands charmingly
picturesque in all their glory of
summer verdure. Some one recalled
the word picture of Loeb Katrine of
SCOTS immortal poem. The scene
seemed not unworthy of the great
| masters tribute. Not even the poets
beloved Scotland can furnish a
panorama of more varied charm than
| that which greets the eye in this por-
ton of PenobscOt Bay. and the Mills of
Camden rise over a land no less
enchanting than those sentinelled by
stored Benvenue.
Nowhere else in our State has
| nature been so lavish of her favours.
Here. beyond all doubling. she. the
great physician, ministers to the
|
| fluence gives rest and peace where
distress and distraction have reigned,
when other means of mans devising
too often fail to pluck from the heart
the rooted sorrow"
The visit of the trustees and
| superintendent SanbOrn on the 21th of
June was the first official inspection of
the Convalescent Hospital since it's
jOpening this season. Peculiar interest
attaches to these visits, as this new de-
| parture in the treatment of the insane
is yet in the experimental stage. and
the effects of the large freedom
IalloWed, the change Of scene the out
| door life, and the removal of many
restrictions necessary i'll a general
hospital for the insane are being
closely observed in order that the true
value OF the outing Gor such it really
isl may be aScertained. 1t may be
said, in this connection. that in this
experiment Maine has probably gone q
step farther than any other New Eng
land state; but it is an outcome of the
broader spirit of philanthropy that
lcharacteriZes these later days. and in
Iaccord with the views of the most
leminent authorities on the treatment
lof the convalescent insane.
| To those more closely in touch with
the insane and insane hospitals the
value of such an adjunct as con-
/ valeScent hospital is becoming more
land more apparent. Alenists Of the
highest standing regard the convaleS-
cent stage as the critical period of the
patients life. The regaining OF
mental pullilibri,Iro opI IN
lamount of self control is not coincidcnt
with restoration of mental strength.
Exposure to eXcitements and the
worries and exactions of the outside
world soon prove the weakened mind
unable to withstand the premature
trial. The Impotence of friends. the
opportunities of patients themselves,
LEADING to premature discharges. often
find their scquelae in deplorable re-
lSuts, not the least of which are the
frequent relapSeS.-and a relapse
lmeanS in many cases the conversion Of
Ian acute disorder into a chronic, fixed
disease. Strangely, indeed. friends of
patients often will not recognize this
fact, and pay but slight heed to the
physicians warning. Yet these same
individuals would be most punctilious
in the care and management of a
patient cOnvalescing from typhoid or
pneumonia. 1t is hard to convince
them that the worries and eXcitements
of the outside world may be as fully
contra indicated in the case Of the con-
lvaleScent insane as n diet of corn beef
land cabbage in the case of the typhoid
Iconvalescent.
| To provide the patient with a
pleasant, healthful environment where
he is to a certain extent freed from the
necessary restraints of q general in
sane hospital. and from the associa-
tons that serve to recall his former
condition of alienation; where he may
lead largely an outdoor life. ana the
influence of bracing pure air and
| sunshine will make themselves felt
in improved bodily health. increased
muscular tone. ana richer, redder
blood; where as a consequence of in
vigorated physical health the mind is
stimulated and strengthened and the
Interest. attention, and ambition are
larouScd. Such has been always the
Iaim Of the physician. and the means
desired. though not always attained. in
his treatment of the convalescent in
sane There can be no manner Of
doubt that these conditions are filled
To most satisfactory degree at the
resort on Chase's Island.
The results obtained from last sea-
sons outing We're striking This sea-
son the number under treatment is
larger. and very marked benefits are
confidently expected. a feature which
never fails to impress the visitor to
this summer resort is the spirit of low
Gus freedom prevailing. and the
absence of that air of istless apathy 81
often observed among the dwellers
within wards. And as one beholds the
natural features Of the surroundings
the broad reaches of water. the islands
floating seemingly in their own
empurpled shadows the, outlines of
| hills and mountain peaks Softened and
toned to beauty by distance, the con-
/ viction is forced upon the mind that
| such influences alone are important
! factors in restoring peace to the mind
laden with sorrow or weakened by
| disease.