Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-04
Insane Hospital Unified
for More Patients.
Highest Number Of Patients
Treated During Year, 1853.
Aggregate Crop From Garden Fully
Up To The Average.

FROM the annual report of DR.
biseloW L. SanbOrn superintendent Of
me Maine Insane Hospital at Augusta
when mas just been filed with the
Governor and Council it is learned
tnat during the period embraced in
lhis report the highest number of
patients under treatment has been 500
NO serious accidents have occurred
and save two or three Incidents the
patients have enjoyed the blessings of
quite large share of physical health
few cases OF typhoid fever developed
IN one OF the wards of the institution.
where it was exceedingly crowded. but
no epidemic has occurred and no new
cases have developed for several
months. Two patients evaded vigil
ance and committed suicide. The
second case occurred quite soon after
the first, ana in precisely the same
manner using the sheets from their
bed. Both had been sleeping alone
for a long time and there was nothing
TO indicate that either had in con-
temptation self do5t"ucticr
At the commencement of the wear
patients, 450 men and 372 women
There have been admitted since 235, 1879
men and sc women. The whole num-
Der under treatment has been 1862, 594
men and 4GS women. The discharged
and deaths have been as follows: total
recoveries SO. AZ men and IS women:
much improved y. 9 men and -
women; improved %. men and Is
women: unimproved %, 10 men and 9
women; not insane 1 man; died "a, 81
men and 81 women, leaving at the end
of the hospital year, Nov. 30. 1908. a
total number of S42, 465 men and 377
women. The daily average number of
patients for the entire year has been
St6. 10 as compared with S22 of the
previous year. The largest number at
any time was S63. which occurred Sept.
| l. as compared with S44 the proceeding
| year and the least number has been
| $50 which occurred Dec. s. 1907, as
| pared with SOB the year previous.
| The percentage of deaths to the whole
number under treatment has been SO
| per cent. as compared with 9.S per
| cent as shown in the last report The
| percentage of recOVericS to the whole
| number under treatment has been So
| per cent. as compared with 40 per
| cent as noted in the statistics of the
| preceding years report. and the per
| centage of recOVerieS to admissions
| has been 25.5 per cent as compared
with 1913 per cent the proceeding year.
! Thus it will be seen that the death rate
| has been trile less and the per cent.
of recoveries considerably increased.
Seventy three patients are supported
bv their own means. 100 entirely by the
| state. $50 receive the state aid of 81 so
| per week towns and individuals pay
| ing the balance From what can be
learned by the relatives of the patients
Superintendent Sanborn states that he
is justified in making the statement
that the support of quite consider
able number of patients in excess of
the above figure is paid from the
means of the individual or the rela-
| tiyes To the towns or cities commit
| ting.
1t has been an especially busy year
in the construction of new appliances.
The renovation of the first wing for
males was complete and occupied in
| Spptember This wing has been
finished by fire proof material TIL"
|
construction of chimncys in each of
the individual rooms, for the IngresS
| of heated air, the air chambers OF
which are located in the basement and
are supplied by fresh air from the OUT
! side. Corresponding exits for 1"ul ar
| are supplied by the same method thuS
| greatly increasing the ventilation OF
| the wing at all times. The Introduc-
| tion of continuous; baths has produced
positive results in several cases al
ready and it is expected that Such
treatment will become valuable aid
II is intended that acute cases shali
remain in these wards until thorough
uhysfcal and mental diagnosis has been
obtaiued before final classification ana
distribution to other wards take place
The construction OF the cr1Inlhai
insane building has not been fuIiH
completed. but there is some assurance
that the building will be ready Tor
occupancy by the first of FEBRUARY.
Mich anxiety at the prison mas beeh
felt in its lack of capacity to acomlh'-
date the influx of convicts ordered
there by the various courts.
Under the existing conditions it was
thought best for this institution To take
upon itself the care OF portion Oh wy
inmates of the insane department. an"
IA of the milder cases We're trans
ferred from there here, the first OF iaSt
Sentember. Out of the IA there haFe
heen but two or three on an aVera%e
who have not been able to mingle W''a
the other patients.
The pavilion at the park mas o'.'
thoroughly renovated and is prat t'ca''%
a new construction. The eniarsem 'ht
If the water mains and the lnsta ''h''h'
of a powerful pump at the eiS1l'N
house has from several actual dsil''i
STATIONS proved it's efficiency n tnc
event of fire. Increased pressure
throws water in sufficient Voiuine one,
the highest point of any OF the hospi'a.
buildings. A hose house IN cohhee''o'
J with the fire department has been cen l,,
structed during the summer anu Ia. .
.nd is now in use. The building VI nc
raw road with it's accompanying sue
walk adds much not only to the ae<
commodation of the entire resioen's -
The institution. but to the puoiic a.
| waI1