Notes of a visit to American institutions for idiots & imbeciles / by G.E. Shuttleworth.
- Shuttleworth, G. E. (George Edward), 1842-1928
- Date:
- [1876?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Notes of a visit to American institutions for idiots & imbeciles / by G.E. Shuttleworth. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.
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![Of the Institutions named, Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 8 were more or less in vacation, but the arrangements were fully explained, and in most cases classes shown, by the respective Superintendents. The other Insti- tutions were in full working order, organized for the winter’s work, A summer vacation of from six weeks to two months, during which a large proportion of the Pupils and the whole stall of Teachers leave the Institution, is the rule in all the State Institutions. The oldest Institution in the States is that at Barre, Massachussets, established by Dr. H. B. Wilbur, as his own private enterprise, in 1848, 2 j ' but now carried on by Dr. and Mrs. Brown, as a school and retreat for feeble-minded children of the wealthier classes. The Sonth Boston ; j Institution originated in the same year with an Experimental School established by the late eminent philanthropist, Dr. S. G. Howe, in con- nexion with the Blind Asylum over which he presided. 2,500 dollars per annum for three years was granted by the Massachussets Legislature q for the experiment, and at the end of this time so satisfied were they ■ with the result that the Idiot Institution was placed on an independent ] footing, and the State now annually provides such amount as is required for the support of the School over and above the income | derived from the payments for cases, and a small charitable fund, j In 1851 followed the foundation by Act of Legislature of the New York State Idiot Asylum: in 1853 the Incorporation of the Pennsyl- ; vania Institution: in 1858 the establishment by Dr. Knight of the Connecticut School for Imbeciles, afterwards incorporated as a Public ! Institution; and in 1857, 1860, and 1865 respectively, the opening of State Institutions for Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. In 1860 the 1 Municipality of New York City established an Idiot Asylum for its i Pauper Children ; and in 1867 a School for the teachable cases was i organized there. Prom this account it will be seen that in the States there are no i Institutions for Idiots supported by voluntary contributions inde- ■ pendently of aid from public funds. The Incorporated Institutions recognise indeed the charitable element in their constitution, but ( practically rely for their chief support upon State grants made to them j conditionally upon their receiving gratuitously a certain number of j patients nominated by the State Authorities, and called State 1 Beneficiaries. The State Institutions, on the other hand, have been 1 founded by the State Legislatures primarily for such State Beneficiaries, j but receive in addition children of the non-indigent class, on the pay- j ment by their friends of the bare cost of maintenance and instruction, j In the Western Institutions, however, no charge is made, even for the j latter class, in the case of children of citizens of the State ; and in the | State Institutions generally, there is no special accommodation for jj payment cases. In the Pennsylvania, Massachussets, and Connecticut j Schools, besides low-payment casos, somo few of a higher rate (i.e. up j to 500 dollars per annum) are received, and somo little distinction of j rooms is made. At the Pennsylvania Training School profits derived I from the higher payment cases, together with benevolent contributions, j go to form a fund designed for establishing a custodial branch of the I Institution, to be located on an adjoining farm. The State Institutions for Idiots, being established like those for | the Blind, and the Deaf and Dumb, as recognised portions of the I](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24762489_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
