Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/182

 174 IDIOCY year, 119; expenditures, 17,560 38. In 1851 the institution whose organization Dr. Backus had sought in 1846 was finally established, first as an experimental school at Albany, and sub- sequently as a permanent state institution, the " New York asylum for idiots," at Syracuse. The state in 1855 erected a fine edifice for it in the latter city, at a cost of between $80,000 and $90,000, with accommodations for 150 pupils. It has been from the first under the charge of Dr. Ilervey B. Wilbur, who was called from Barre to organize the experimental school. It has an extensive farm, and has been enlarged to accommodate 225 inmates. The number of pupils in 1871 was 155, of whom 90 were males and 65 females. The number under instruc- tion in 1872 was 164, of whom 132 were whol- ly supported by the state, the rest paying whol- ly or in part for their maintenance; number remaining at the close of the year, 163 ; num- ber of teachers, 5 ; other officers, &c., 6 ; ex- penditures, $34,049 59. In 1852 a private school was established at Germantown, Pa., by Mr. J. B. Richards, which resulted in the incorporation in the following year of the " Pennsylvania training school for feeble- minded children." In 1857, having received a grant from the state, and liberal subscrip- tions from individuals, its trustees purchased a tract of land about a mile from Media, Dela- ware co., and 12 m. from Philadelphia, and commenced the erection of the building which is now occupied. This institution has a farm of more than 100 acres, and was at first under the supervision of Dr. J. Parish, who was suc- ceeded by Dr. Isaac N. Kerlin, the present su- perintendent. The number under instruction in 1873 was 249 ; remaining at the close of the year, 222, of whom 123 were males and 99 females ; 84 were supported wholly and 24 partly by the state, 27 by New Jersey, 3 by Delaware, 12 by the city of Philadelphia, 58 by parents or guardians, and 14 by the institu- tion ; expenditures, $53,985 40. There are four departments. The asylum embraces a dis- tinct portion of the building and grounds, ac- commodating about 25 male inmates, who are only susceptible of habit-training, and only a small proportion of whom can be advantage- ously employed at work of any kind. A fund has been started to erect a separate building for an asylum. The nursery, also distinct from the other departments, accommodates 32 chil- dren of helpless condition, who are attended by experienced nurses. The school depart- ment is divided into five classes, and at the close of 1873 included 117 children, who re- ceive from three to five hours' instruction daily. The exercises, while having especial reference to training in articulation, move- ments, and ideas, differ little from those in schools of the primary and secondary grade for intelligent children. The industrial depart- ment embraced 29 boys and 20 girls, who either were only capable of being taught man- ual labor, or had been through the school training and could with advantage to them- selves be instructed and kept in usefulness. Of the whole number (701) admitted to the close of 1873, there were mutes, 138 ; semi- mutes, 176; defective in articulation, 204 ; de- fective in sight, 142 ; defective in hearing, 139; unable to walk, 19; of imperfect gait, 344 ; unable to feed themselves, 74 ; unable to dress themselves, 158; uncleanly in habits, 269 ; of destructive habits, 374 ; epileptic, 157; malformed, 90; scrofulous, 575. Up to July 1, 1872, the improvement had been as fol- lows : taught to speak, 53 ; articulation im- proved, 253 ; taught to read, 254 ; to write, 146 ; to feed themselves, 61 ; to dress them- selves, 94 ; to walk, 5 ; gait improved, 286 ; reformed from bad habits, 164; from destruc- tive habits, 302 ; accustomed to some employ- ment, 241 ; epilepsy cured, 23 ; epilepsy im- proved, 78. From the report for 1870 it ap- pears that of 500 who had enjoyed the bene- fits of the institution, 81 became capable of earning their own support in domestic service, farming, or certain shop employments, under the guidance of friends ; 140 were able to earn a half support; 118 could perform small ser- vices of no great value; while 161 were whol- ly dependent, earning nothing, and evincing an improvement only in their personal habits, in delicacy, language, or movement; 267 proved to be adapted to schools, and 233 were not sus- ceptible of scholastic improvement. In 1857 the " Ohio state asylum for the education of idiotic and imbecile youth " was organized at Columbus as an experimental school, under the superintendence of Dr. R. J. Patterson, who was succeeded in 1860 by Dr. G. A. Doren, the present superintendent. It was perma- nently established in 1864, when a farm of 130 acres, about 2 m. W. of the city, was pur- chased, and the erection of a building to accom- modate 250 inmates (since somewhat enlarged) commenced, which was occupied in 1868. The number under instruction in 1872 was 312 ; remaining at the close of the year, 288 ; teach- ers, 11; other officers, &c., 4; expenditures, $84,425 58. This institution is entirely sup- ported by the state, and all pupils are main- tained and educated free of charge, except for clothing. The " Connecticut school for im- beciles " was established at Lakeville in 1858, and incorporated by the legislature in 1861 ; it is under the supervision of Dr. H. M. Knight. The number under instruction during the year ending May 1, 1872, was 55; remain- ing on that date, 48, of whom 20 were bene- ficiaries of the state to the amount of $3 a week. The state has also appropriated money for the erection and enlargement of buildings. The " Kentucky institution for the education of feeble-minded children and idiots " was es- tablished at Frankfort in 1860, and is under the superintendence of Dr. E. II. Black. The number of inmates in 1874 was 104. The "Illinois institution for the education of fee- ble-minded children " was established at Jack-