Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-16

LII. 1ySOIl 1 dAhOg'
To Gardiner Union
On State Hospital !.
Df. Forrest C. Tyson, superinteno-
ent Of the Maine State Hospital at
Augusta was the speaker at the an
nua1 miiwinter meeting of the
Woman's Philanthropic Union held
Saturday afternoon at Grand Army
Hall. Mrs. Laura E. Richards,
president of the union since its or
ganization u years ago was the pre-
siding officer and announced hat
Miss Edith l.. Sou!e, division direc-
tor of the State Department of
Health and Child Welfare who was
scheduled to speak before the IN
ion was i'll with influenza and as it
was impossible to postpone the
meeting DR.. Tyson was secured. She
then introduced the speaker who
prefaced his talk by saying that he
would try to tell some of the things
that occurred in the Hospital aid
something of the Hospital itself.
This he proceeded to do in ole
of the most comprehensive and in
teresting talks that the Union mas
heard. telling in words clear to he
layman the activities, aim and work
of this great institution. lie stated
that among the patients two person.
alties in one is very frequent, and
that the second personality is the
fulfilment of our inner desires.
Imagination plays large part in
these dual personalities. In telling
of patients who had brooded over
sorrows SO long that they had I'm
ally become insane he declared that
If they had taken up some usefaf
work such as nursing, Slum work,
charity or something of the kind,
that their minds would have remain
ed normal. Those who have had 60
so to the Hospital were those who
refused to accept the situation and
ruminated on their troubles. Some
of them had manufactured per-
sona.ity and their thinking while
normal and rational was not re&!.
At the present time there are 116O
patients in the hospital and 240 en-
ployees. 1t was established in 1896
opened in 1910 and since that time
! approximately $1,000 persons have
been admitted. 20 die yearly while
10 per cent of those admitted ave
sent home absolutely recovCred: ~
recovered SO that they never have
an attack. The plant is worth s.
500, 900 and the cost is $3JG 600, this
representing its net cost to the state.
$5OOOO year is received in COM
pensation. Every patient is housed,
receives medical care, laundry. prac-
tically everything is done for HIM at
cost of Sic per day.
In classifying the patients he
stated that 10 per cent of them We're
old people who are over 20 years Of
age. In deploring the present prac-
tice of sending old people to the Hos
pital the Doctor said that it SEEM
ed to be the fashion for people to
send their dependents to the State
, Hospital. Is per cent come to the
hospital insane or mentally weak
because Of some disease process go
ing on in the body, 8 per cent due to
hardening of the arteries. Contrary
to popular opinion, there are not
many patients whose trouble is
the result of alcohol for at the Au-
gusta Hospital this is less than .
per cent. Here the speaker predict
ed that within ten years alcoholic
insanity would have entirely disap-
peared. A sain contrary to public
belief, he showed that drinkers Go
, not turn to drugs for solace for less
than / per cent of the insanity is due
to drugs. He said that mental dis
order was a type of social inefGeien-
, cy. The purpose of the institution
/ is to create an atmosphere in which
certain types OF mental fr1cfIiciency
can live to and be as efficient as pos
sible. here they may be protected
from their friends and from society
and live in peace. quietness and
with the rest of the world they
associates.
He spoke of the many mistaken
impressions the average person has
of the insane and the Hospital. There
is no restraint. The idea Of res
traint came from the Dark Ages.
Here DIR. Tyson related an interest
ing incident wherein an old attend
ant who had been in the Hospital for
many years had noted the changes
and the different manner in which
the patients were treated and in
commenting on it he asked the Doc
tor rs insanity changing" Dr. Ty-
So. declared that insanity is chang
'ing, and that this change is due to
the fact that we consider such the
affected person sick we do not ex-
peCC tnem 10 De Violent anu tIuSs
them as human beings.
Dances are held every week at the
Hospital. moving pictures another
night, religious services are held
every Sunday, and industrial work
for the patients has been introduced.
In connection with this Dr.. Tyson
exhibited some beautiful handiwori1
of the patients which was greatly
admired by the audience. This en-
couraging of habits of industry has
worked wonders in helping patients.
One of the most interesting state
ments made by the speaker, showing
the change in methods of handling
the patients. In the old days II
guard unlocked a door without
written order he was discharged, now
il a guard locks a door without
written order he is discharged.
At the conclusion Of the address
several pertinent questions were ask
ed by the members of the audience
adding further interest to an already
educational and enjoyable afternoon.
The usual collection was taken up
to pay for the expense of the meet
ing, and refreshments We're served in
the downstairs room.
Mrs. A. B. Mccoy of st. John, n.
r and Mrs NJ f Nathan OF