BLIND. 



317 



quantity and quality of the work produced. At 

 the monthly settlement, the over-earnings which 

 some of them have had to receive, have amounted 

 to six, ten, and even twelve shillings. It is the 

 practice also in this institution, that as soon as a 

 person has acquired a proficiency in one trade, he is 

 instructed in another; so that, if there be over 

 stock from the one occupation, he can betake him- 

 self to the other. It is, therefore, not uncommon 

 that the same person is at different times employed 

 in two or three departments. 



The over-earnings, with the premiums paid in 

 1838, amount to 131. Is. 3d. The delight exhi- 

 bited by the blind workmen and families, when they 

 return with the fruits of their labour, may be easily 

 conceived. A spirit of industry is not only excited 

 and kept up, (very different indeed from their for- 

 mer habits,) but an opportunity afforded of enjoy- 

 ing all those blessings resulting from the endearing 

 relations of home, which they never could enjoy, 

 were they (as is the case in some institutions) main- 

 tained within the establishment. 



On the 19th December, 1836, the treasurer gave 

 into the funds of the institution, from the sale of 

 the Statements of Education of the Blind, 40, to- 

 gether with all the books remaining on hand, with 

 a request, that as there was no provision for the 

 blind by the charter, when any of them were un- 

 well, that the directors would allow a sum annually 

 for that purpose. In consequence of this, it was 

 recommended to the general meeting, that the sum 

 of ten pounds annually, should be given, agreeable 

 to his request ; which was confirmed. 



Thereafter a society was formed, with regula- 

 tions for their government: all blind inmates re- 

 ceiving wages, pay into the fund every four weeks, 

 on the day that the over-earnings is paid, each male, 

 6d., and each female, 3d. When confined to bed and 

 unable to work, each male receives 6s. per week, 

 and each female, 4s. If confined for three months, 

 the aliment is reduced; the male to 4s., and the 

 female to 3s. On the death of any member or their 

 wives, the sum of 3 is allowed to the survivor, 

 for funeral charges; and if a child, 1. As yet, 

 the funds have been sufficient for all demands ; but 

 if at any time there should be a deficiency, the par- 

 ticipators are so convinced of the advantages of 

 the society, that if it should at any time fall short, 

 they cheerfully agreed to add to their monthly con- 

 tributions. 



The educational department of the institution 

 is conducted with great spirit and success. The 

 branches taught are arithmetic, geography, and the 

 elements of astronomy, and geometry. The addi- 

 tion of a knowledge of music to the qualifications of 

 the blind is also industriously cultivated ; and since 

 the invention and introduction of the embossed 

 system of printing with Roman letters by John 

 Alston, Esq., of Rosemount, honorary treasurer of 

 this institution, a broad basis has been laid, which 

 promises to render the education of the blind as 

 perfect, and as extensive, as that of the seeing. 

 On that system have been already printed several 

 elementary books, the whole New Testament, with 

 the Scotch Metrical Version of the Psalms and 

 Paraphrases, the English Liturgy, an English 

 Grammar, a musical Catechism, ^Esop's fables with 

 cuts, &c. &c., and these have found an extensive 

 circulation, both in this country and in America. 

 It may also be stated that arrangements have been 

 entered upon, by which the whole Bible shall be 

 printed at this institution. The book of Genesis 



is already finished, and the work is going on with 

 rapidity. 



The mode of instruction adopted is the follow- 

 ing: After the pupils have acquired a knowledge 

 of the shape of each letter of the alphabet, they 

 are taught orthography ; they next proceed to the 

 study of etymology; the derivation of words and 

 their relation to each other, are particularly ex- 

 plained. After they have attained this, words of 

 two and three letters may be submitted to their 

 touch. They should then be made to feel the 

 Words with two or three of their fingers, placing a 

 finger on each of the letters ; by this means they 

 will be able to decipher two or three letters at 

 once, which by practice will give a dexterity and 

 fluency to their reading; their finger nails to be 

 kept short to prevent them from injuring the sur- 

 face of the letters. By this system of tuition, the 

 memory and the understanding, as well as the sense 

 of touch, become the channels through which in- 

 struction is conveyed. 



At present there are in the Glasgow Asylum 

 above thirty individuals, whose ages vary from ten 

 to thirty-two years, who can read, and the attain- 

 ments of some of them would bear a comparison 

 with those that see of the same age and time under 

 tuition. On the sabbath days, when they are pre- 

 vented from attending church by unfavourable 

 weather, they read their New Testaments and other 

 books now provided for them, the same as the see- 

 ing ; and in the evenings, instead of being congregat- 

 ed together, and instructed orally by their teacher, 

 as was the practice before the introduction of this 

 system of printing, each pupil has his book and les- 

 son assigned him, and the whole retire to their apart- 

 ments, and peruse the lessons. At the hour fixed, 

 they assemble in the school-room or chapel, and re- 

 peat what they have learned. To the seeing, nothing 

 can be more delightful than to contrast the advan- 

 tages they now possess, and their former situation. 



The following Table, showing the total number 

 of blind persons admitted into the Glasgow Asylum 

 for the Blind since the commencement, together 

 with the causes of their blindness, so far as is 

 known, has been got up with great accuracy, and 

 will be useful to many : 



Blind from their birth, .... 

 IB consequence of inflammation, 



Scarlet Fever, . . . 



Small Pox, .... 



Typhus Fever, . . . 



Nervous Fever, . . . 



Opacity of the Cornea, 



Vitriol" thrown on the Eyes, . 



Amaurosis, . . . 



Cataract, .... 



Cataract, also Deaf and Dumb, 



Accident. .... 



Vomiting of blood, . . 



Measles, .... 

 From causes not known, .... 



The following are the institutions for the blind 

 in this country, with the numbers each contained, 

 according to their last reports 



London Institution contains 

 Liverpool . 



Edinburgh . 



Glasgow . . 



Bristol 



Norwich . . 



Dublin, Kichmond 



Do., Molvneaux . 

 York 



Belfast . 



Limerick, no return. 

 Manchester not yet opened. 

 Newcastle 



122 

 108 

 80 

 70 

 50 

 60 

 39 

 80 

 30 

 11 



10 



