Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-08-19
DR.. TYSON SPEAKS !.
BEFORE ROTARIANS /; 1!
FRIDAY EVENING
Upon Problems of the Augusta
State Hospital - Matter ;;of.
Entertaining the Portland Ro:I
tarians Talked Over 81

FFf
Ie'
An informal talk upon problems Ia
connection with the Augusta State hoss
pital given by DR.. Forrest c. tyson:
superintendent of the hospital. was thu
feature Of the regular meeting OF thA
Rotary Club held Friday evening q
the Augusta House. Fifty membsfs
were present and all enjoyed listening
to the talk Of DR.. Tyson. who was ac-
corded a rising vote Of thanks by the
members.
President John E. Nelson of the club
presided and Harold A. Allan acted as
secretary pro tenn in the absence OF
Secretary Ivan E. Lang. The matter
Of the visit Of the Portland Rotary
Club to Augusta in September was dis
cussed but nothing definite was decid-
ed upon. The report on the Rotary dol
lar was also made.
Included in the entertainment was
song by Charles P. Kinsman and
song. Some Little Bug Will Get You..
rendered by William g. Bunker. The
meeting was closed with the singing
Of America" by all the members pres.
ent. :.
Dr. Tyson opened his remarks BY
giving a short history Of the Augusta
State hospital, stating that 1t was
opened In 1s4O and was known ~ the
Maine Insane hospital. "A little senti-
ment is attached to this name." he said,
because Of the fact that 1t was the
first institution for the care Of the in
sane to be known as a hospital In this
country. However, it was thought best
to fall in line with what was being
done in other states to change tho
name to the Augusta State hospital,
and by so doing the name Insane was
eliminated and the hospital, was orient
ed for that place. That the change has
proved wise and beneficial has been
amply demonstrated in the changed at
titude which the public now maintains
toward the hospital.
1.-THE resolve. which was passed by the
Legislature of 1886, is of historical inter-
est. 1t stated that There shall be appro-
priated the sum Of $4,000 to be expended
for the erection Of a building of sumcient
size and strength to accommodate per-
sons furiously mad and such building
was Immediately constructed.
"The first superintendent was DR.. Isaac
Ray, a man of whom the State should b
Justly proud as he became very inhuen-
tial and prominent among alienists In thfs
country. He was a man OF strong chaf-
acter and had a great deal Of influences
with the people.
"The hospital opened It's doors to tho
reception of patients in 1S4o. One hum
dred and five patients were admitted DUR
ing the year. seventy-nine patients were
discharged and six died. Since then the
hospital has had an uninterrupted growth
for 76 years, during which time over l5'to)
patients have been committed.
The hospital is now greatly overcrowd-
ed The inherent capacity of the insti-
tuition, as originally designed, is about $50.
Therefore the comfortable capacity CT the
institution is exceeded to the number Of
800. The overcrowding Is more apparent
than real on account OF the interior ar
chitectural arrangements. There is ca
pacity enough in the buildings out the
space has been improperly used, whlch
prevents the housing in a suitable manner
of a greater number than was provided
for"
DR.. Tyson then spoke Of the classihcA-
ton Of mental disorders and OF the I'M
portance of statistical records. He alsS
smoke Of the chief predisposing factors IN
the development Of insanity and OF the
more direct and tangible causes ana gaVs
A summary Of the measures for the pre-
vention Of insanity. -
There should be established IN
connection with the hospital" he said.
"a dispensary and Impatient depart
ment for the care Of patients not rs-
ouirirg hospital treatment. and to su-
pervise parole and discharged pa
tients."
The speaker stated that the laws OF
the State do not provide for the de-
tention Of patients pending commit
ment. As a result, they are cared TOR
oftentimes with great difficulty dur
ing the "a hours which must inter-
yene between the notice Of commit
ment and the hearing. "The commit
ment Of insane patients should Dc
stripped Of any legal taint," he saio,
'At the present time." he saio,
there are about 80 patients out on
parole and temporarily at their homes
from the state hospital. The import
ance of this arrangement from a pure
lv financial point is we'll worthy OF
note. leaving out Of consideration en-
tirely the comfort and convenience OF
the patients concern.
There should be established In this
State" he said. "a bureau for the de'
portation of the alien and non-resi-
dent insane to states in which they
have a legal residence"
The needs of the hospital az stated
bv DR.. Tyson are q building for the
acute sick, a Psychopathic building for
the reception Of new cases and the
intelligent cooperation Of the people
The speaker defined the methods OF
treating the patients and spoke Of the
amusements Of the patients at the
hospital.
| In a fast game on the Reuel WI;
liams field Friday afternoon, the Eat
on team defeated the Crossett factory
| - ~ Ns>A