Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-19

and 80 patients on trial VISIT We're
aoniinally admitted for discharge,
making in all 3O7 admissions.
The daily average population has
been $40 compared with 500 for the
previnns year. There We're remaining
at the end of the hospital year ST.
patients; 463 men and 400 women, 30
less than at the beginning of tile year
IT should he noted that SO men and
3 women were transferred to the
hospital at Bangor during the year,
thus explaining the abnormal de-
crease in population. The smallest
number under treatment on any one
day was S57, the largest 922.
a reference to table No. s9showing
the probable duration of insanity be-
fore admission, presents the striking
fact that in only So per cent. of our
patients was the insanity of less than
six months duration This fact en-
phasizes the Importance of the neces-
sity OF the education Of the public as
to the nature Of hospital for the in
sane. I am convinced from my ex-
perienee that the majority of patients
in the early stages of mental disease
are deprived of a possible restoration
to normal mental health on account
of the reluctance of the relatives to
send patient to an institution MAIN
tairi.sd for the purpose of treating
mental diseases. There may be many
reasons given for this delay, but upon
analysis we find them based largely
upon ignorance of the actual eendi-
tions existing in our insane hospitals
of the present day. Hence the press
ing need OF popular education.
Of the I'll new commitments 19S
were never before in any hospital for
the insane; 217 We're admitted here
for the first time. Three men were
committed by the courts for cbserva
ton of which two We're discharged as
not insane. The nativity table shows
that 26 per cent. of the men and 20
pdr cent. of the women committed
We're of foreign birth. Sixty-nine per
cent. of the men committed and IS
per cent of the women were born in
the State of Maine.
The classification of the cases adj
mitted during the year, according to
the forms of mental disease with
which they were affected, is presented
in tabular form with the tables Of
medical statistics. A hereditary taint
was found in A. men and Al women,
a percentage of @32 of original COM
mitments. Other geological factors
standing out prominently in the cause
of insanity in our patients committed
are syphilis, which was found to be
a cause in 81 cases; arterioscleroscle-
rosis in "a; congenital defect in 20.
Discharges and Deaths.
The number OF patients discharged
during the year, excluding those who
died or We're transferred was 10e, 81
of y hom We're men and ~ We're woin-
en-. Included in Tins number are
those who were discharged at the eX-
piration of the six months trial visit.
Th,rty-onC are now on trial visit.
Th,rtv-:hree were on trial visit at the
end Of last year and of these but three
returned for further treatment,
Rccoverfes on 6nnmber~admitted -. ISIS
Recoveries on number discharged
exclusive OF transfers aud
deaths 1880. -. -.=....=...t... Oh
The six months parole law is work.
ing most satisfactory and is more and
moro appreciated by patients ana
their relatives.
The number of patients who died
during the year was 100. of whom SIS
Were reen and 81 were women. The
of deaths calculated on