Total,.... 4278 10001 1957 845 17,181 17,013,379 1 "

NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO BECOME INSANE ANNUALLY.

990

"In the year 1835, there were received into three of the institutions in Massachusetts, from that state alone, 124 patients who became crazy that year." - Dr. Brigham.

This number is estimated by the same author to be probably not more than one half who became insane, in the same state, during the same period. If this statement and opinion be made the basis of an estimate, it will give, as the number who become insane annually, in the United States, 5719.

IN WHAT EXTENT IS PROVISION MADE FOR THE INSANE IN THE UNITED STATES?

We have seen that the whole number of insane, according to the last census, is 17,181, and the number who became insane

*Returns from nine counties wanting, seven of which contained, in 1830, 55,881. This number is included in the population above, while only the insane and idiotic from other parts of the state are given.

↑ Parish of Washington not received.

These returns do not, I presume, exhibit more than two thirds of the actual number. According to the census, there are but 542 in Connecticut, 138 of whom are at public charge. This we know to be considerably less than the actual number. In the state of New York, according to the census, there are but 739 supported at public charge, while, according to the late returns of the superintendents of the poor of that state, there are 1058.

annually, by estimate, 5719. According to the tabular view of eleven asylums, contained in the Report, the whole number under treatment in these institutions, last year, was 1470; and the number received into them during the year, 932. There are five other asylums established, and in operation, from which returns have not been received, which may increase the whole number under treatment to 1800, or, possibly, to 2000; (Dr. Brigham estimates the number at 1800;) while the number received annually may be 1200. When the Asylum at Utica is completed for the accommodation of 1000, 3000 may have provision made for their accommodation each year, and 150C, or, possibly, 1800, for their reception; so that the great work of making suitable provision for the 17,181 insane in the United States, and the 5719 who become insane annually, is well begun, but not more than one fourth or fifth part accomplished.

PROPORTION OF RECOVERIES IN WELL-CONDUCTED ASYLUMS.

The following table, from Dr. Brigham's last Report, shows the proportion of recoveries from old and recent cases, inclusive, in the most celebrated Hospitals for the Insane, both in Europe and the United States.

PROPORTION OF RECOVERIES IN RECENT CASES, COMPARED WITH OLD CASES.

The statistics from the Asylums the last year, as in former years, prove that the recoveries in recent cases are from 80 to 90 per cent., while in old cases they are from 15 to 35 per cent.; showing the importance of removing the insane to an Asylum, while the disease is yet recent, instead of leaving them to become incurable by neglect.

SMALL NUMBER OF PERSONS EVER RECOVERED FROM INSANITY IN PRISON.

"Of the hundreds and thousands which have been confined to Prison, nobody ever knew or heard of more than three instances of recovery from insanity during the confinement of a person to a Jail or House of Correction."- First Report of the Trustees of the N. H. Asylum.

This language may be too strong, and not fully authorized by facts. Still, very few persons will be found to call it in question. It is substantially correct.

EXPENSE OF SUPPORTING THE INSANE IN ASYLUMS.

The price, at Augusta, Me., for board, medicine, and attendance, is $200 a week, in ordinary cases; and in no case can more than $3 00 be charged.

The price of board, at Brattleboro', Vt., is, for the poor of Vermont, $200 per week; some patients pay $3 00; and those with private rooms, pay more.

At Worcester, Mass., the price of board, for several years, has been $250.

At South Boston, the price is fixed at $2 50.

At the McLean Asylum, at Charlestown, the lowest price is $3 00 per week, and for those belonging out of the state, $450 per week; and private patients, with abundant means, pay according to their ability and accommodations.

At the Connecticut Retreat, in Hartford, for patients belonging to the state, to be accommodated in the wings, without a separate attendant, $3 50 per week; for those with similar accommodations belonging to other states, $4 00 per week. For patients in the centre building, with separate rooms, and attend

ant devoted to each, from $10 00 to $12 00 per week. For indigent lunatics, belonging to the state, not exceeding ten in number, $200 per week.

At Nashville, Tenn., the expense is about $1 25 per week.

MEANS OF CURE IN SUITABLE ASYLUMS.-FARMS AND GARDENS OF INSANE ASYLUMS.

The trustees of the Maine Asylum say,

"We consider the farm, connected with the Hospital, of very great importance to the interests and success of the institution. No employment is so congenial to the human constitution as agriculture. Man was made to 'till the ground.' Agriculture furnishes the most healthful exercise, and enables the operator to breathe the pure air of heaven. The farm also may be made a source of great profit. The land is of excellent quality, and the means of enriching it are abundant. When put under proper cultivation, it may furnish a large portion of the agricultural products consumed in the Hospital, and thus very considerably diminish the amount of legislative appropriation. A vegetable and flower garden would not only be a source of great profit, but would furnish a delightful exercise, in the warm season, for such of the female patients as might be disposed to pass their time in the open air. Most of the labor necessary about the premises would be voluntarily done by the patients. The spot is capable of being rendered one of the most delightful on earth. The prospect of the river, with the romantic scenery and beautiful villages, with which its banks are lined, is surpassingly beautiful. Let but the grounds about the Hospital correspond to the scenery of the neighborhood, and few spots could compare with it."

The quantity of land connected with the Maine Asylum is about 78 acres.

The trustees of the New Hampshire Asylum, before its location, said,

"One hundred acres should be secured, if possible; and if it should prove to be of good quality, there would be no excuse for the superintendent, with the great supply of labor he would have at his command, if it was not the pattern farm for all that region."

The trustees of the N. H. Asylum have secured, as we understand, a farm of greater size.

The trustees of the Vermont Asylum, besides the garden and grounds on which the mansion-house stands, and the natural terrace on which the new building is erected, about 50 feet above the meadow, have secured about 50 acres of meadow land; and the only regret seems to be that they had not funds to secure 150 for the same purpose.

The trustees of the McLean Asylum, within a few years, have

added several acres to their farm, at $1000 per acre, increasing their garden and grounds to 25 acres. During the present year, several acres more have been added, at $500 per acre.

The Boston Asylum has a garden of one or two acres only, at present, under its control.

The Worcester Asylum has about 70 acres.

The Connecticut Retreat has about 14 acres.

The Blackwell's Island Asylum for the city of New York has several acres on the north end of the island.

The Bloomingdale Asylum had a beautiful garden and grounds, but has been encroached upon by the streets and lanes of the city.

Dr. White's Private Asylum has a beautiful piece of ground in the rear, of dimensions too limited.

The State Asylum at Utica has about 120 acres.

The Frankford Asylum, near Philadelphia, has 61 acres, of which 20 acres is a grove, &c. ; part of this is a park for deer.

The Pennsylvania Hospital, two miles west of Philadelphia, intended particularly for the insane of the city, has a large farm, of which 42 acres are enclosed.

The State Asylum of Pennsylvania, for which provision was made last year by act of the legislature, proposes to commence with a large farm.

The Maryland Asylum, in Baltimore, has 10 acres of land. It was proposed to enclose this land with a high wall, at an expense of $10,000. We hope this part of the plan has been abandoned, as it would be money worse than thrown away; giving the place a Prison-like appearance, without the least utility.

The Western Lunatic Asylum, at Staunton, Virginia, has a farm containing 65 acres of fine land, on an eminence.

The Asylum at Williamsburgh, Virginia, has a narrow space, or small square, in the village.

The Ohio Asylum has 30 acres of land, beautifully situated. We do not know how much land is connected with the Asylums in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.

We make a few remarks only with regard to the gardens and farms connected with Lunatic Asylums. They should be extensive: an acre to a patient would be a good general rule. They should be well watered with living springs of pure water, and running streams, if possible. They should be of varied surface and fertile soil. They should have in prospect beautiful scenery of nature and art. Every thing calculated to promote the happiness of the rational mind should be secured, to restore the insane.