[Sixth annual] report of the trustees of the State Idiot Asylum : Feb. 4, 1857 / New York State Asylum for Idiots.

  • New York State Asylum for Idiots
Date:
[1857?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Sixth annual] report of the trustees of the State Idiot Asylum : Feb. 4, 1857 / New York State Asylum for Idiots. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. To the Trustees of the JVew-Yorlc Asylum for Idiots: Gentlemen—Five years liave now elapsed since the first organization of this institution. These have been years of unin¬ terrupted prosperity. It has been gradually increasing in point of numbers, and steadily growing in the public estima¬ tion. The commodious and beautiful building at present occu¬ pied by the asylum, and the liberal and increasing annual appropriations for its support, are unmistakable recognitions, by successive Legislatures, of the claims of the idiot upon the State, for such an education as is adapted to his capacities and his needs. No intelligent person, now, who understands the nature of the education proposed for this class of children and the results obtained, where it has been applied, can reasonably doubt, that a large proportion of their number are susceptible of instruction and improvement. Those most familiar with the results in our and sister institu¬ tions, will not hesitate to claim that this instruction is of as much value, theoretically and practically, to the class of idiots, as is the education afforded by institutions for the blind or deaf and dumb, to their pupils; and that the family and society are equally benefited in the one case as in .the others. * Aside from the* general satisfaction in the public mind of the success of the institution in its peculiar field, no complaints from any source, that I am aware of, have been brought against the wisdom or policy of its management. The same general organization of the institution exists now as at the date of my last report to the board. Some changes, however, have taken place among those con¬ nected with the asylum at that period. Mrs. Kincaid, who, for [Assembly, No. 90.] 2