Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/626

606 these is a lying-in hospital, and two are for insane persons. The asylum, with its schools for the blind and deaf-mutes, is of recent creation, and there is an ophthalmic institute. The foundling hospital has an invested capital of nearly $300,000, besides rich gifts, and supports about 300 children, which are rapidly adopted even at an early age. The consideration for bereaved children is further manifested in other orphan asylums not under government control. There is also an industrial school at Santiago for training children in useful arts, and another of a penal character at Momoluco. The asylum for the poor remains, and there has recently been founded one for beggars, with a view to abate this pest in the city. In addition to all this, there are benevolent bodies, as they always have, to seek out the suffering, aided by private and even government funds. Mutual associations have been formed, including two founded by Spanish and French residents. In this connection may be mentioned the continuous good service rendered by the Monte de Piedad, or public pawn-shop, now extended to several branches, with discounting and commercial loan department, safety deposit, and savings bank.

The restrictions imposed by the colonial government against interring bodies within the precincts of towns had to be renewed in republican times on more