504 



MICHIGAN. 



to enable the officers of the institution to carry 

 out the idea of manual labor in connection with 

 the schools. It is hoped that ere long suitable 

 provision will be made to meet this pressing 

 want. The institution is carried on for the 

 benefit of two classes, the deaf and dumb and 

 the blind. 



There are two distinct departments for the 

 blind, viz., the intellectual and the musical. 

 The studies taught to the blind are reading, 

 spelling, writing, geography, arithmetic, gram- 

 mar, history, physical geography, algebra, 

 and geometry. In the musical department 

 instruction is given in vocal music, on the 

 piano, organ, violin, and on brass instruments. 

 The deaf and dumb are first taught the 

 names of objects, and step by step led along 

 over the difficulties of language, until in the 

 class of the seventh year such studies as the 

 following are taught: geography, grammar, 

 arithmetic, history, natural philosophy, phys- 

 ical geography, rhetoric, ethics, and the Bible. 



The course of instruction occupies seven 

 years, and the privileges of the institution are 

 free to all the deaf and dumb and blind resi- 

 dents of the State, who are between the ages 

 of ten and twenty, who are of sound mind, 

 and good moral character, and who are free 

 from contagious disease. 



The building fronts toward the north, and 

 is divided into five distinct portions, connected 

 with each other by corridors. The front or 

 main building is designed for the residence of 

 the officers. It has recently been finished, and 

 is a model of good taste and elegance. Direct- 

 ly back of this stands the centre building, on 

 the first floor of which is the kitchen, on the 

 second the dining-room, and on the third, the 

 chapel. On the east side of the centre build- 

 ing is the girls' wing, and on the west side is 

 the boys' wing. Directly behind these is the 

 school-building. There are ninety-four acres 

 of land, owned by the State, connected with 

 the institution. The entire cost of the estab- 

 lishment will not greatly exceed $250,000. 



The present number of pupils is 150, of 

 whom 30 are blind, and 120 deaf and dumb. 

 Articulation is taught to all who are regarded 

 as proper subjects. 



The total expenditures for the last two years 

 were in round numbers $152,000, of which, 

 about $75,000 were for current expenses, the 

 balance being for building and improvements. 



Statistics for the Decennial Period. The 

 Michigan Asylum for the Insane, at Kalamazoo, 

 was among the first erected in accordance with 

 the series of propositions, relative to the con- 

 struction and arrangement of hospitals for the 

 insane, adopted by the "Association of Medical 

 Superintendents of American Institutions for 

 the Insane." at their meeting in 1857. The erec- 

 tion of buildings was begun in 1854, and so far 

 completed that a few patients of one sex only 

 were received during the autumn of 1859. In 

 the early part of 1860 a few halls were for- 

 mally opened for the reception of patients of 



both sexes. The year 1870 closes the first 

 decennial period in the history of the institu- 

 tion. During much of this time the work of 

 construction has been constantly carried on; 

 and it was not until 1869 that the asylum was 

 completed according to the original plan. 

 During the period mentioned, 1,122 patients 

 received treatment, of whom 545 were males 

 and 577 females. Of the whole number, 172 

 males and 174 females were discharged re- 

 covered, 59 males and 54 females were dis- 

 charged improved, 84 males and 118 females 

 were discharged unimproved, 74 males and 82 

 females died, and 156 males and 149 females 

 still remain under treatment. 



Heredity, etc. Of those admitted, 30.03 per 

 cent, were of healthy parentage; in 33.69 per 

 cent, the history on this point was unascer- 

 tained ; and 36.27 per cent, had insane ances- 

 tors or dissolute parents. Of the first, 32.64 

 per cent, recovered; of the second, 19.30 per 

 cent. ; and of the third, 53.09 per cent. Those 

 recorded as "unascertained " were principally 

 the patients received from poor-houses, jails, 

 etc. ; a large proportion being incurable when 

 received, restoration was not to be anticipated. 

 Quite a number of those reported as of healthy 

 parentage were from the same class, in whom, 

 though insanity was not ascribed to their 

 parents, there existed a more undesirable in- 

 fluence. The experience of the institution on 

 this point may be thus stated: 1. That about 

 one-third of all presented for treatment have 

 immediate relations who have been insane. 

 2. That most forms of mental disease are equal- 

 ly curable, whether the patient has sane or in- 

 sane relations ; 3. That individuals of ordinarily 

 good mental and physical condition are less 

 likely to have a second attack ; 4. While those 

 who inherit an unhealthy organization will 

 probably suffer from subsequent attacks. 



Nativity. Less than 18 per cent, of the 

 whole number were natives of Michigan; 

 nearly 30 per cent, were of foreign birth; 

 nearly 40 per cent, were natives of the State 

 of New York ; and the remainder were most- 

 ly from the New-England States, etc. These 

 figures show how largely the population of 

 Michigan has been drawn from the older States, 

 comparatively few being native to the soil. 



Of 466 cases of all forms of disease, curable 

 and incurable, and in persons of both healthy 

 and unhealthy organization, admitted within 

 one year of date of attack, 269, or nearly 60 

 per cent., were discharged recovered; while 

 in the remaining 586 cases of the same forms 

 of disease, and occurring in persons of similar 

 constitution, in whom treatment was deferred 

 beyond that period, only about 14 per cent, 

 were restored. 



At the commencement of the fiscal year 

 1870, 124 males and 156 females were under 

 treatment ; during the year 95 males and 49 

 females were admittted, and 63 males and 56 

 females were discharged leaving under treat- 

 ment 156 males and 149 females. Of those 



