In Baltimore, the care of the poor has cost in different years from $17.000 to $27,000. Among them are usually found numbers of needy immigrants; in the year 1843, there were 250 Irish and 180 Germans. By far the greater number of paupers were addicted to drinking; of 892 only 63 were reported as temperate. They are employed in various sorts of manufacture, and in the cultivation of land appropriated to this purpose. Although allowed with undue lenity tobacco and tea, still many went away, especially in summer, in hopes of spending an idle and easy life in the country.

The danger of the formation of a pauper population in the large sea-port towns is not lessened, but increased by extravagant, I may say luxurious provision for them. Against this the temperance societies operate with a truly beneficial effect, and demonstrate that even whalemen in the highest latitudes need no ardent spirits.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Lunatic Asylums-Deaf and Dumb Institutions-Institutions for the Blind-
Houses of Refuge-Hospitals-Widow and Orphan Asylums.

THE reproach that " Americans think only of money-making and of physical enjoyments," is nowhere so clearly shown to be void of truth, as in their very numerous benevolent institutions for the aged, the sick, the blind, the deaf and dumb, and the lunatic; which owe their origin solely to voluntary contributions and self-taxation. It is impossible to enumerate them all, and, to describe their specific advantages; still it seems proper to speak of a few of them in different parts of the Union, by way of example.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

In the year 1943, there were 26 lunatic asylums in the United States, and one out of 978 persons became deranged. The reluctance to send insane persons to public institutions is wearing off; since the conviction has gained ground that those institutions are admirably conducted, and that cures are much oftener effected in them than by the most nl private nursing. Some principles are universally adopte reatment of the insane,

and certain conclusions have

Among them are the separation of the deranged into different classes; the entire rejection of all harsh and cruel remedies; the benefits of varied occupation, of instruction, and religious teaching; the impropriety of artificial deceptions, &c. When the deranged are immediately brought into these institutions at the very commencement of the disorder, very many are easily and speedily cured; on the other hand, the longer the disorder has continued, the seldomer and more protracted is the restoration, and consequently the greater the expense. Before the reception and the discharge of the insane, a careful investigation is usually made in the presence of physicians and magistrates.

In Columbia, South Carolina, the managers of the Insane Hospital are chosen for six years by the two houses of legislature; and these appoint and remove all the subordinate officers. The first of these receives a salary of $1000, two physicians $300 and $200, and each attendant $200. One attendant is allowed to fifteen of the insane. Among them were found in general more men than women, and more single than married people. For a pauper, the poor-officers pay $100 a year; persons of property give from $250 to $650, according to what is required and afforded.

In Hartford, Connecticut, the Insane Hospital has an annual income of about $17,000; and in 1843 it took care of 169 patients, 97 men and 72 women. Among 1,327 cases, the following causes of derangement were assigned: 224 hereditary complaints, 174 ill health, 113 religious apprehensions, 6 Millerism, 104 intemperance, 20 secret practices, 10 disappointed ambition, 6 jealousy, 94 excessive mental exertion, 69 domestic distress, 45 child-birth, &c. There are almost twice as many single as married patients. As a relief from employment properly so called, lighter amusements are provided: as walking, riding, books, games, music, and the like.

The new splendid Insane Hospital at Philadelphia has been built and established entirely by voluntary contributions. Since 1751, when an older institution was opened (the oldest in the United States), 38,400 persons have been received and treated. Among 439 patients, there are now 166 unmarried men, 84 unmarried women, 75 married men, 65 married women, 17 widowers, and 32 widows. The causes of derangement assigned are ill health 64, intemperance (men) 26, accidents 32, religious excitement 21 (12 men and 9 women), political excitement 2, metaphysical speculations 1, tight lacing 1, excessive study 8 (among them 1 woman), opium 2 (both women), tobacco 2 (both men). Out of 258 insane men, 32 were farmers, 21 merchants, 23 clerks, 13 physicians, 3 lawyers, 6 clergymen, &c. Among 181 women, 20 were seamstresses. Severe measures are hardly ever resorted to: at the worst, a short confinement

and the putting on of mittens to prevent the very violent from injuring themselves or others. All the arrangements at this institution seem excellent,-air, water, warming, food, &c. A great variety of occupations are followed by amusements equally varied: such as walking in the beautiful garden, books, newspapers, musie, concerts, circular railroads, &c.

In the Insane Hospital at Worcester, Massachusetts, 1,777 persons were received in 11 years, and 792 restored to health. Out of 699 patients, whose illness had not lasted a year, the large number of 622 were either wholly or almost wholly restored. The cost for each amounted on an average to two dollars and a half a week. Among others, a Mr. Johannot gave the institution $44,000. More lost their reason from physical causes (intemperance, sickness, &c.) than from moral ones. Nevertheless, the superintendant, Mr. Woodward, remarks in his instructive Reports: The operation of the causes that produce insanity is an inexplicable mystery: the same cause and the same character may lead to different diseases. Insanity arises from political contests, religious fanaticism, debt, sudden misfortune, disappointed hopes, bankruptcy, bad diet, unsuitable clothing, excessive lacing, &c. There were among the lunatics the mother of Christ, the wife of Napoleon, the empress of Russia, the queen of England, the grandson of the Almighty, a turtle, and a woman with 100,000 hogsheads full of bank-notes. For the treatment of the insane, Mr. Woodward lays down the following rules: Respect them, and they will respect themselves; treat them as reasonable beings, and they will take the greatest pains to show that they are so; place eonfidence in them, and they will strive to deserve it, and will rarely abuse it.*

In Boston, Massachusetts, 1,191 persons gave voluntarily $131,000 for the founding of an Insane Asylum and Hospital, and among them a Mr. William Appleton gave alone $10,000.† The gradual voluntary contributions amounted to $581,000. The arrangements at this asylum are not only neat and well adapted to the purpose, but are in fact splendid, comprising carpets, hangings, mirrors, mahogany furniture, pianoforte, &c. &c. More than one half of all the patients received are maintained wholly free of expense. The paying patients give more or less according to what they require; the lowest rate is three dollars a week.

The reports of Mr. Bell, the head superintendent, are highly instructive. He asserts and proves that it is extremely difficult to

* Woodward expresses himself opposed to an unconditional separation of the

sexes.

† In Maine two gentlemen gave toward the establishment of an Insane Hospital, $10,000 each.

determine the commencement and the primary cause of insanity. What is designated as the cause is often but the effect and consequence; wherefore the usual divisions of statistical tables, into mania, dementia, &c., as well as the figures designating the number of persons rendered insane by such and such causes, are not at all to be relied on. The grounds and symptoms are by far too manifold and too much involved in one another, to justify us in hastily setting down the result under one of the old accustomed heads, such as pride, religion, and the like. Where the tendency to the disorder exists, the occurrence of this or that circumstance may easily bring it on; but the primary cause is often to be sought behind and beyond the last occasion. Mr. Bell is moreover of the opinion, that far more crimes have their origin in insanity than is commonly supposed; still he grants that the public should be secured by the confinement of such persons, although they are not accountable beings.

The Insane Hospital at Columbus, Ohio, I shall notice in another place.

DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTIONS.

There are in the United States several excellently conducted institutions for the deaf and dumb.* Yet Mr. Horace Mann, who has so highly distinguished himself in the cause of educa tion, remarks that the German institutions deserve the preference, inasmuch as they teach their pupils to communicate not only by signs, but also by sounds. To this it is objected:

1st. "The Germans aim indeed at this; but they accomplish nothing by it, and for the sake of it neglect other instruction." Both objections may be pronounced exaggerated.

2dly. "The dumb can never communicate except with those who understand their language." Certainly; but this natural limitation applies to all mankind, and the signs of the deaf and dumb are understood by nobody who has not learned them. Words however find a much more general acceptance and understanding than signs, and the alphabet of sounds opens a much wider and more convenient sphere of communication than the alphabet of signs and figures.

3dly. "The idea that the mere ability to pronounce a word is a help to understanding it, is so palpable an absurdity as to need no serious refutation." A parrot or a starling certainly does not arrive at the meaning of a word by pronouncing it; but for man, speech is the vehicle of thought, and where (as in the case of the

* E. g. one in New York with a yearly income of about $31,000 and numerous pupils, who are employed as gardeners, shoemakers, tailors, cabinet-makers, book-binders, &c. In Philadelphia there is a Deaf and Dumb Institution with 121 pupils, and the state contributes to it $11,000.

† North American Review, No. 125.

deaf and dumb) speech is wanting, its place must be supplied by signs. If these signs are useful for the interchange of thoughts, why deny to sounds and words their greater natural advantages?*

The true reason, which has deterred people in England and America from teaching this language of sounds and from succeeding in the endeavor, lies undoubtedly in the want of tone in the English language, its very different pronunciations of the same letter, and its excessively arbitrary orthography. Certainly no deaf and dumb person can learn to understand an Englishman; because he sees only, and does not hear the language. Scarcely one Englishman in a thousand speaks distinctly, in the sense in which the German and Italian languages, for instance, require and produce distinctness; scarcely one moves his lips so that it is possible to translate the motions into sounds, and recognise the latter from the former.

INSTITUTIONS FOR THE BLIND.

Among several very excellent institutions for the blind, I mention first that in Philadelphia, which numbers about 70 pupils. They are well taught in reading, writing, cyphering, and singing, as also in different sciences; and at the same time they are occupied in various ways, such as making wicker-work, carpets, brushes, and the like. At the printing-press there have been printed various religious and secular works (some German) and suitable pieces of music for the use of the blind.

The Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston takes its name from an individual who gave $50,000 towards its establishment. Another legacy, that of Mr. Tidd, amounted to $17,000. About 70 blind persons are supported out of the annual income. A Bible printed here costs $20, and is distributed to the poor and to Bible-Societies gratis. The reports of Mr. Howe, the superintendent, are highly instructive. His remarkable acuteness and untiring patience have been admirably shown in the case of the blind, deaf, and dumb girl, Laura Bridgman; of whom Mr. Dickens, guided by the official reports, has already given a very circumstantial account. The instruction began with placing before her objects with their names placed upon them in raised letters, until by repeatedly and carefully feeling them, she at length comprehended their connection, and could herself find out and compose the inscription for each object. By degrees she learnt the signification and use of adjectives, verbs, pronouns, &c., and to talk with wonderful rapidity with the signs of the deaf and dumb. She writes correctly and legi

"Men did not select vocal sounds for a colloquial medium from among other possible media, but it is the natural one."-Howe, Report on the Perkins Institution, 1843, p. 28.