Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-02
SUPERINTENDE NT'S REPORT TO THE
TRUSTEES0f THE STATE HOSPITAL
Dr. Tyson Recommends Voluntary Admission Law and Tenn
porary Commitment Care Act-Interesting Read
ing Concerning the Institution, It's Pop
uation Their Care Occupa-
tion Amusennents

There has been no serious epidemic
Of infectious or contagious diseases
except for II cases Of parotitis that
occurred early in the year among the
men at the Burleigh Pavilion. None
of these cases resulted seriously ana
the epidemic was stopped by prompt
isolation Of each case. There were
no cases Of typhoid fever and very
few cases of infectious diarrhoaea
which is quite remarkable from the
fact that none Of the ward windows
We're entirely screened and most Of
the wards had no screens al all. How :
ever precautions were taken 90
screen every window in the male and
female sick wards. I suggest that all
Of the windows in the other wards lie
screened before another summer
The medical work while greatly IN
creased and made difficult at the be-
ginning OF the year because of sever Il
important changes in the medical
staff. has progressed in satisfactory
manner. The staff meetings which
were discontinued during the months
of December and January were re-
suned the latter part Of February AMI
continued regularly three times /
week the remainder of the year.
The staff conference is now a recog,
nized feature in the medical work of
any state hospital that maintains a
scientific attitude toward insanity and
claims to do more than to simply
house, feed and clothes its patients.
An effort has been made this year 70
present each new patient, as soon as
the medical and physical examina-
tons have been com pleted and record
ed, before the staff, where the work or
the physician is reviewed. Over
sights in the history or defects in the
observation are called to the physi-
Clans attention and suggestions for
additional work on the case are Of
fered. Questions in regard to treat
ment and general management of the
case are discussed. The proceedings
of the conference and the individual
opinion of each physician are care
fully taken by a stenographer and re-
corded in the case record. Errors in
classification Of the mental disorders
of the patients have been greatly re-
duced since the practice of presenting
all cases before the staff has been
adopted. The final diagnosis of the
and not that Of the individual physi-
clan.
After the patient has been In the
hospital three months, Anal sum-
mary Of the case is presented by the
physician which is based upon all the
available facts, the statistical cards
are made out and the case Is fin
ally placed in one OF the diasnostic
groups. One meeting each week Is
devoted to consideration Of the sum-
married. cases. the discharges and
cases recommended for parole
The mental and physical examina-
ton OF each patient is very elaborate
and requires great deal Of time ami
study on the part Of the physician 1t
Ia often necessary and frequently a.
visable to supplement the examina
ton by the hospital physician with
that Of a specialist, and in this con-
nection I would suggest that a con-
sulting staff Of physicians who are
trained in the various specialties Of
surgery. internal medicine, neurology
and ophthalmology be appointed from
outside the hospital. This would in
sure more scientific records and skilled
treatment in special cases at less ex-
pense.
In such building the general med
zeal and surgical work and the nurs-
ing force could be concentrated to ad-
vantage and the same results OBJ
tanned as in general hospital.
In addition to the great variety OF
medical cases treated, many minor
surgical operations have been per-
formed by the hospital physicians and
several major surgical operations have
been performed by visiting surgeon
Practically all of the surgical work
could be done by the hospital ply
sicians II well equipped operating
room was available.
Several important features of the
medical work in connection with the
care and treatment of the patients
are the employment Of women nurses
on the male sick ward, the extension
Of parole privileges to greater num-
Der of patients and the disuse Of
mechanical and chemical restraint
The patients diet has been improved