70 On the Lunatic Asylums in the Utiited States. 



The Friends' Asylum for the Insane near Philadelphia, was 

 founded by that religious denomination, in imitation of the "Re- 

 treat'' at York. It is erected in a retired situation, and on elevat- 

 ed ground, five miles from the city of Philadelphia, and one mile 

 from Frankford. The buildings are of stone, and consist of a cen- 

 tre edifice with two wings. The centre building is 60 feet front 

 and three stories high. The wings are each 100 feet front and 

 two stories high. Long galleries divide the ranges of rooms from 



The doors have each a moveable small door in the pannel, to be 

 opened from without. The windows of each room have cast-iron 

 frames, and they are so constructed as to be darkened at pleas- 

 ure. The edifice is warmed by heated air sent through flues is- 

 suing from stoves or large ovens, built in the arches of the 

 basement of each wing. 



To the buildings are attached workshops for the patients, and 

 the whole are surrounded by airy grounds. 



The patients are classified into the harmless and the violent and 

 noisy ; the latter are not allowed to come out of their rooms, while 

 the former eat at table with the superintendant and his family. 

 The diet is uniformly good, no meagre days being allowed— but 

 neither spiritous nor fermented liquors are permitted. The only 

 modes of coercion are, if necessary, the shower bath, immersion 

 in water, or the strait waistcoat. 



" On every Sunday evening, all the male and female patients, 

 except one or two, who are permanently secluded, are collected to- 

 gether in their day-rooms, where a portion of scripture is read to 

 them. This exercise seldom meets with any interruption from 

 them, but on the contrary, there is great silence and quiet." 



We have neglected to mention, although that of course will be 

 understood from the name of this institution, that Friends or 

 Quakers only are admitted as patients. 



After this brief sketch of the police of the Asylum, we add the 

 following statistical details, given by Mr. Wain. 



Admitted, from the opening of the Asylum in May, 



1817, to the month of March, 1825, 158 



Discharged, Recovered, 53 

 Much improved, 23 

 Improved, - - - - 17 



Without apparent change, - - 9 



