MAINE.

Act of 1874, ch. amended 1880, Government insane hospi

256. § 1, as

ch. 184, § 1.

1. The government of the Maine insane hospital is vested in a committee of six trustees, one of whom shall be a woman, appointed by the governor, with the advice of the council, and commissioners to hold their of fices during the pleasure of the governor and council, but not more than three years under any one appointment.

of the Maine

tal vested in

six trustees.

as amended

§ 11.

2. The said trustees shall appoint a superintendent, and a steward and treasurer, subject to the approval of and bid $2 to hold office during the pleasure of the governor 1879, ch. 150, and council, and all other officers necessary for the Superintendefficient and economical management of the busi- and treasurer, ness of the institution; all appointments shall be pointed. made according to the by-laws.

ent, steward

how ap

Ibid § 3.

Accounts of terr

steward and treasurer, how audited and settled.

3. The trustees at their next meeting after the expiration of each quarter, shall examine carefully the books and vouchers of the steward and treasurer, and audit his accounts, and submit the same immediately thereafter to the governor and council for their approval, before such accounts shall be settled; and the governor and council are authorized and required, from time to time, to inquire into the condition and management of the financial affairs of the institution, and to make such changes as they shall deem judicious, in the mode and amount of expenditures and the general administration of its financial affairs.

Governor and quired to in

council re

quire into the

nancial af

fairs of insti

tution.

4. They shall have the general care and management of the institution; see that it is conducted according to law

R. s. of 1871, Trustees have management,

ch. 143, § 2.

the general

hold property,

commence and

and the by-laws for its internal government and economy, which they are hereby authorized to establish, not inconsistent with the laws of the state; make by-laws hold in trust for the state any land, money, or other defend suits. property, granted, bequeathed, or given, to the institution, and apply the same for the support, comfort, or improvement of the insane, and the general use of the institution, and have power to bring actions, in the name of the treasurer, for all dues to the institution, and to defend all suits brought against it. ` 5. There shall be a thorough examination of the hospital monthly by two of the trustees; quarterly by three; and annually by a majority of the full board; and

bid $4. and records of

Examinations

them; pay of

officers and

trustees; may

discharge pa

tients.

at any other time, when they deem it necessary, or examine and the superintendent requests it. At each visit, a written account of the state of the institution shall be drawn up by the visitors, recorded, and presented at the annual meeting of the trustees; at which meeting they, with the superintendent, shall make a particular examination into the condition of each patient, and discharge any one so far restored that his comfort and safety, and that of the public, no longer require his confinement. They shall receive two dollars a day for such visits, and the same sum for every twenty miles travel. Their accounts shall be audited by the governor and council, and they shall draw their warrant, on the treasurer of state, for the amount due them and the other officers. of the institution, except attendants on the patients and laborers on the premises, and for all money appropriated by the legislature for the insane hospital.

6. They shall hold an annual meeting on the first day of December, at which there shall be made a full and

Ibid $6.

ings and reports to the

governor and council.

Annual meet detailed report, containing a particular statement of the condition, concerns, and wants of the hospital; and this report, and the reports of the superintendent and steward, shall be made up to the first day of December, and laid before the governor and council at that time, for the use of the government.

Ibid § 7,
as amended

1973, ch. 151,
Duties of the

1.

supt.

7. The superintendent shall be a physician; reside constantly at the hospital; have the general superintendence of the hospital and grounds; receive all patients legally sent to the hospital, unless the number exceeds its accommodations, and have charge of them, and the direction of all persons therein, subject to the regulations of the board of trustees; and annually, on the last day of November, report to the trustees the condition and prospects of the institution, with such remarks and suggestions relative to its management and the general subject of insanity, as he thinks will promote the cause of science and humanity. 8. He shall apportion the number of patients, who can be

Ibid § 8. Apportionment of

accommodated in the hospital, among the towns, according to their population by the last census; and when the applications for admission exceed or are liable to exceed that number of patients, he shall give

patients.

preference to those from towns that have not their full proportion of patients in the hospital, and may reject others.

id § 10. steward.

Duties of the

9. The steward shall be treasurer; give bond to the trustees, in such amount and with such sureties as they deem sufficient, for the safe keeping and proper disbursement of the funds of the institution; under the advice and direction of the superintendent and of the trustees, make all necessary purchases of supplies and provisions; hire attendants and other laborers; see to the proper cultivation of the farm and grounds; have a careful oversight of the patients when employed thereon; perform such other duties as the trustees direct; and annually make a detailed report to them of his receipts and expenditures, and of the financial affairs of the institution.

ch. 150, $11.

Compensation of officers.

10. The compensation of the superintendent of the insane hospital shall be thirteen hundred dollars per an- Act of 1879, num; two assistant superintendents, eight hundred and fifty dollars each per annum; one steward, who shall also perform the duties of treasurer, nine hundred dollars per annum, in full for all services; chaplain, two hundred dollars per annum; matron, three hundred and fifty dollars

per annum.

Rules and

11. The superintendent shall keep posted, in conspicuous places about said hospital, printed cards containing the rules prescribed for the government of the attendants in charge of the patients.

Ch 143, § 27. regulations

to be kept posted.

Ibid § 28.

ill-treatment

how punished.

12. When it appears that any such attendant treats any patient with injustice or inhumanity, he shall be immediately discharged. When the superintend- Intentional ent is satisfied that any attendant intentionally of patients, abuses or ill treats any inmate of the hospital, he shall discharge him at once, and make complaint of such abuse or ill treatment before any court having jurisdiction of the offenses charged; and such attendant, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than one hundred, nor more than five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment in the county jail not more than ninety days.

13. The trustees of the Maine insane hospital are hereby authorized to erect a suitable building or buildings for the accommodation of especially sick patients,

Act of 1879,
Buildings for

ch. 136, p. 104.

ally sick

provided.

those especi- also for the better classification of patients at some point on the hospital premises; provided, the means for the purpose can be drawn from the current income of the hospital. The cost of said building not to exceed the sum of nine thousand dollars.

Act of 1874,

ch. 256, § 4.

visitors shall

be appointed

annually, duties of.

14. A committee of the council consisting of two with whom shall be associated one woman shall be apCommittee of pointed by the governor annually who shall visit the hospital at their discretion to ascertain if the inmates thereof are humanely treated and they shall make prompt report from time to time, of every instance of intentional abuse or ill treatment, to the trustees and superintendent of the hospital who shall take notice thereof, and cause the offender to be punished as required by section twenty-eight,* chapter one hundred and forty-three of the revised statutes.

Ibid § 5.

Wilful injury to patients, punishment

for.

15. If any wilful injury shall be inflicted by any officer, attendant or employe of the hospital, upon the person of any patient therein, and knowledge thereof shall come to the said committee of visitors, they shall report the fact immediately to the said trustees and superintendent, and if the superintendent fails forthwith to complain thereof as required by the statute aforesaid, one of the said visitors shall enter a complaint thereof before the court having jurisdiction of such offense, and on conviction the offender shall be punished as provided by law. And in all trials for such offenses, the statement of any patient cognizant thereof, shall be taken and considered for what it may be worth; and no one connected with the hospital shall be allowed to sit upon the jury which shall try the case.

Ibid § 6. Inquests on death of patient.

16. In case of the sudden death of any patient in the hospital, under circumstances of reasonable suspicion as to the innocent cause thereof, a coroner's inquest shall be held as provided by law in other cases, and the committee of visitors shall cause a coroner to be immediately notified for that purpose.

17. If the committee of visitors shall become satisfied that Ibid § 8. inmate of the hospital has been unnecessarily

Patients may any

* Pl. 12.