60 On the Lunatic Asylums in the United States 



Art. IX. Statistical Notices of some of the Lunatic Asylums 

 in the United States. By T. Romeyn Beck. 



Insanity, with its causes, its probable increase, and its treat- 

 ment, is a subject of deep interest to every civilized community. 

 Its peculiar, but melancholy characteristic, which forbids any rea- 

 sonable hope of cure, until the diseased subject is removed from 

 his home and relatives, imposes the duty on governments of pro- 

 viding for its proper management both as to safe keeping and as 

 to the means of recovery. That the legislators of this country 

 and its inhabitants have not been unmindful of the obligation, we 

 shall endeavour to shew in the present communication. 



We shall first notice the Lunatic Asylum of this state. 



The " Society of the New-York Hospital'' was incorporated, 

 in 1771, and by the liberality of the legislature of the province, of 

 contributors in England, and of domestic contributors, sufficient 

 funds were obtained for the erection of a public building. This 

 was proceeded in with great spirit, but in February, 1775, when 

 almost completed, it unfortunately took fire and was nearly des- 



" By this misfortune, the society suffered a loss of £7000, and 

 the execution of their benevolent plan would have been wholly sus- 

 pended, had not the legislature in March, 1775, generously grant- 

 ed them the sum of £4000, towards rebuilding the house and re- 

 pairing the loss they had sustained. But the war between Great 

 Britain and the colonies, which took place in the same year, pre- 

 vented the completion of the edifice. During the war, the same 

 was occasionally occupied by British and Hessian soldiers as 

 barracks, and occasionally as an hospital." 



The effect of the war and the general derangement of the affairs 

 of our citizens, prevented any attention to the institution, and 

 it was not until the 3d of January, 1791, that the house was in a 

 proper condition to receive patients. Eighteen were then admit- 

 ted. From that time to the present, the munificence of the legis- 

 lature to this institution has been liberal and unwearied, increasing 

 with the increase of the patients and the enlightened improve- 

 As there existed no institution in tlie state for the reception 

 and cure of lunatics, the governors were induced to appropri- 



