Seventh annual report of the New-York Asylum for Idiots : To the legislature of the State of New York for 1858 / New York State Asylum for Idiots.

  • New York State Asylum for Idiots
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Seventh annual report of the New-York Asylum for Idiots : To the legislature of the State of New York for 1858 / New York State Asylum for Idiots. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    more sanguine anticipations of the ultimate effects upon the in¬ mates of the asylum and upon society than is warranted in the opinion of this board, by what has already been accomplished in its brief history. It is in fact an institution against which no objection could rea¬ sonably be brought. The deplorable condition of the class for which it is designed, if left without education is admitted on all hands. The practica¬ bility of educating them is also now generally regarded as de¬ monstrated by those who have investigated the subject. It cannot be said of it that it increases the evil designed to be alleviated ; but on the contrary it imparts more or less blessing even to the large class of idiots who are not directly exposed to its influence. The duty of providing an appropriate education for all its children, independent of external circumstances or physical con¬ dition, has been recognized in this State by years of legislation ; and in many of the new States this principle has been incorpo¬ rated with their organic law. It is very gratifying to be able to add, that the need of institutions similar to our own, is beginning to be felt in many of the States of the Union, and that a provision for the want has been already initiated in some of them. In Massachusetts, the oldest State institution, is increasing in the number of its pupils and in public estimation. In Pennsyl¬ vania, the corner stone of a large edifice, to accommodate the increasing wants of their State institution, has just been laid, under the auspices of some of the most intelligent and philan¬ thropic of her citizens. In Ohio, a State institution has been opened within the pc St year, under very promising circumstances. Rhode Island has placed the idiots of the State upon the same footing, in respect to education, as the deaf mute and blind, by contributing to their support in charitable institutions of other States. In Kentucky and Illinois preliminary measures have been taken for the establishment of similar institutions. At Barre, in Massachusetts, the private institution established by Dr. Wilbur, is entirely successful, under its present accomplished and efficient proprietor, Dr. George Brown. In New York city, James B.
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