The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-25
NEWS BY THE MAILS.


The In sane IN New York and Pennsyivania.
REro9T OF THE LUNArIc ASYLUM AT UTICA.
The Lunatic Asylum at Utica contains about four
hundred inmates. Three hundred and ninety were
received last year, and netyseven who applied for
admission were refused because there was no more
room.
The report by the managers and officers OF the
asylum Of its operations during the last year. contain
some interesting information 1t seems that OF the
four hundred who have been discharged in that time
l55 are pronounced recovered and only l52 unim
proved. SO large proportion of recoveries is a
gratifying proof of the wisdom Of the treatment pur-
sued there.
or those admitted, 243 were in INDECENT circum-
stances. Nine were criminals.
There were 80 deaths among the patients from va
r0us causes. None however were by suicide.
BY far the greater part Of the patients were ecu,
Gated more or less. Upwards of 800 had received
instruction in schools academies, and colleges, whle
only rs were unable to read or WRITE
The age most liable to insanity, it seems, ID az
tanned between 25 and 80. Under Is the cases are
very few from Is to 80 they increase rapidly from
that time to so they decrease gradually and regu
larly.
More OF the women are married than single; more
OF the men are single than married. OF the whole
number in the Asylum 2O2 are married and 1873 un-
married.
There are ST farmers, AZ laborers, 10 merchants,
10 schoolboys and shoemakers. Most Of the other
occupations average only one or two apiece or the
women 100 are set down IS hOusekeepers, So as
housework. Other employments average three or
four apiece.
As to tho causes Of derangemeut:-In temperanoe
is held accountable for 46; popular errors for 29
spiritual nppings for Is; domestic trouble for 26
defective training for 10; grief 8; business perplex
ties Z; excessive occupation want of occupation
religious excitement A; restitution 4; disappont-
ment in love 4 too much study 8; fright 2; temper
:; PRIDE z; disaRPointment Imprisonment SOM y Pc
other physical causes.
The patients find varied employment and amuse-
ment in the Asylum. There are workshops, one Of
which has ten w0rk-benches and lathe, and has
turned ont during the year upwards of q hundred
pieces of furniture.
The tailor shop has produced some six hundred
garments And the MatrOn reports that the number
Of garments and articles of furniture made by the
female patients under direction is $40. The "Opa
printing Office supplies employment for many, and
reading for the whole, through its library and ex-
changes Of newspapers and magazines. Daily SER
vice is held at the chapel at in the evening, at
which q choir of patients assist. The Hutchins0ns,
Ole Bull and several other musicians have given
musieal entertainments at the asylum, and number
of the patients attended the lectures exhibitions and
State Fair in Utica.
The report shows an efficient and praiseworthy
performance Of difficult dudes by the Superintendent
Treasurer, and other officers. or the 900 ex
pended only some $4,000 were received from the
State. Counties and towns have paid $50 900, and
private patients 500 900. The very reasonable re-
quests OF the managers for improvement in regard to
warming and ventilation, and for separate depart
ments fo criminals and drunkards are entitled to
be considered by the Legislature; "a well as their
suggestion of the growing necessity OF new hosp-
tai. The money spent in these charities will never
break the State, even if it were hundred fold as
great an amount as their present economical expen-
ditNre.