Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-02

IN quality and variety and diet
Kitchen has been installed to furnish
special diets for sick asses. The use
of drugs has been r1inimized as much
as possible, and alcohol having no
place in the treatment Of mental or
physical diseases as therapeutic
agent, has been discontinued. The best
results are obtained by careful super
vision, rest in bed, attention to nutri-
ton, regulation of habits, selected
occupation and the practical use of
hydrotherapy in selected and diff
cult cases such as dehriun, confusion
and excitement. These metno,is when
combined with constructive and prac-
teal nursing constitute RI tionaI and
scientific treatment for insanity.
Training School fer Nurses.
The training school for nurses has
been successfully conducted under the
efficient management Of Miss Pauline
Doe. a graduate Of this school and a
member Of the class Of 1919. The train
ing school since it's establishment in
1863 has graduated % nurses. The
qualify Of the nursing has been SUI
fclently improved to fully Justify the
existence OF the school The gradua :
ton exercises for the class of 1914
We're held in the hospital chapel. June
8. 1914, and diplomas were awarded
to the following graduates: Ellie
Scott Ames, F.lvine Erickson Reed,
Carl Hiram AnneS and Willis Cush-
ing
The nursing problem is a serious
one and il is becoming more difficult
each year TO obtain the services of
single nurses Of the right class. Nur-
sing technique for the insane has not
kept up with the medical advances
and unless a new type of nurse is de-
velopad in the near future, foresacn
obstacles in the way Of the new idea
Of constructive nursing cannot be over
come. Tie work Of the woman nurse
is as important and even more diff
cult than that Of the male nurse or
attendant, and I recommend as a pre-
liminary step in the solution Of this
difficult problem that the scale OF
wages of the women nurses be rails
ed to equal that. of the men.
Occupations and Anusements.
The therapeutic value of selected
work is a recognized feature in the
-.
They work in all departments and the
economic value Of their services is Of
considerable Importance to the state.
All patients; who are able physi-
cally are urged and encouraged to en-
gage in some useful occupation. Our
industrial work is not so well organ
lied as We would like to have it, how
ever as much is done as in most hos
pitfalls OF this sort. A great deal is done
by the patients Of which no account
is kept. The work is directed by the
physicians and nurses as much az
time will permit, but a great deal more
ought to be done and I recommend
that An Industrial teacher be employ
ed to teach patients various forms Of
Industrial work, that will not only be
Of benefit to the patient but Of eco
nomic value to the State. The work
should be organized on a f1nan-
cial basis in which the patient
may share in the profits. Such meth
cd has been used to advantage in some
Of the state hospitals. Many patients
who are capable Of working will not
do so because they receive no re-
Enumeration.
The usual amusements have been
continued during the year and an
effort has been made to entertain the
patients in as many different ways as
possible. During the winter the reg
ular weekly dances are held Monday
evenings Perhaps no form Of amuse-
ment is so pleasing and entertaining
for the patients as the dances. Moving
pictures are shown regularly every
nj IN he
dances are most popular with the pat
tents Music for these occasions Is
furnished by the hospital orchestra
An innovation introduced this year
has given many patients who are I'M
able to go to the chapel an oppotun-
ity Of hearing excellent music by
having the orchestra rehearse on the
wards instead Of the chapel During
the summer months the orchestra
plays out Of doors twice a week while
the patients gather on the lawns.
There have been various entertain
ments in the form Of lectures, read
ings and musicals in the chapel.
Farm and Garden
1t seems hardly necessary to call
your attention to the fact that more
cows are needed in order to supply
all Of the milk required by the hos
pital An average of % cows MIXED
during the year have produced milk
to the value Of s609560. This quantity
Is about half the amount necessary
to supply the institution. We have
purchased milk to the value Of sS346.04.
These figures show that our present
herd Of cows has produced practi-
cally half of the milk used and If the
herd could be increa sed to so head, it
would not be necessary to purchase
any milk either for cooking or gen
eral use.
TIE COW barn, having been reno
waited, is in excellent condition and
will accommodate readily the addition
al number Of cows required
The farm produces sufficient
amount Of hay, ensilage and grain 10
feed the increased number Of cattle.
and the fertilizer produced would be
=