New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-02
,p.ors AND THEIR INSTRUCTION.

minded persons in the United States ls much
greater than is generally supposed. In taxing
the census of 1850 a separate schedule was pro-
yided (snd this for the frst tme) for the enumer-
alton of idiotic personi, and the number reported
was I5,7S7. The returns on this and kindred
subjects are known to be very imperfect, arising
chi, fly from the extreme unwillngness OF parents
and friends to make known or admit the existence
Of idiocy in their families. In Massachusetts,, IN
the year LAC, special Board of Commissioners
was appointed to ascertain the number and con-
dition of idiots in that State, and It was found
that there u.re st least tu0-aad a. half times as
many as usre ajleruard reported by The census Of
1-5O. If this result fox Mass ichusetts can be
taken as fair basis for the United States, 1t ap-
pears that the census should have reported 10000
Idiots in this country
The condition of this unfortunate class is gen.
erally most lamentsble. Even in those rare
cases where they belong 10 wealthy families, they
are necessarily source of great discomfort to
their relatives Among the poorer classes their
care and maintenance is the greatest burden OF
the household If consigned to the aims house
they sre left TO almost utter neglect. In nearly all
cases they are considered beyond improvement,
and hence nothing is done for their permanent
relief. The subject Of their education is Of re-
cent history and is not known to the public in gen.
eral. since its discussion has been limited to med
ical periodicals and the facts relative to the few
schools which have been established have been
school for idiots organized in ISIS, at the
Bicttre Hospital for the Insane, in Paris, and is
still continued. Its success led to the foundation
of another in that city. and of several others in
Europe, all Of W wlich are yet in successful oper-
alton. The principal English Asylum, founded
Oct. %, I.47, is at Earswood, and contains about
3Cs inmates 1t is under the patronage of her
Msiesty, and the corner stone of the new instltu
lion wsf laii in June, l,j3 by Prince Albert. lts
edifce is splendid structure Of white stone,
costing about $40, $780, on AL estate of l3J acres.
Near Dundee, in Scotland, is an asylum founded
last year, for the same purpose.
The first effort for the education of any IDIOT
in the United States was made in lo}J at the
Perkins Institution for the Blind by DIR. ;. G..
Howe. who then treated and greatly improved a
blind idiotic child and sfterward two others.
In LAS the friends OF this cause in Massachusetts,
and New York determined to ask their Leglsa.
tures for assistance in founding institutions for
idiots. DR.. Brigham Of the Lunatic Asylum at
Utica, in his annual report, Nov. 30 1Si5, gave a
nnoptical statement of the number OF insane and
idiotic peIsons ig the State of Neg-fork, report
ed the success Of European institutions for idiots,
aud expressed the hope that New-York would,
sooner or later provide an asylum for their spe-
cial improvement. In Jan. l5i6, committees
were sppoisted in the Legislatures of Massachu-
setts and New-York to report on idiOcy, and
by curious coincidence both reports were pre-
sented on March -, lSi6. The New York Com
mittee (Of which DR.. Baekus of Rochester, who
was the originator and most zealoas friend Of
the movement in this State, wss chairman, in
troduced bill for the imme late establishment
of 81 asylum, VIII h pessed the Senate, but was
finally rejected in the House.
The Massachusetts, Legislature ordered the
appointment of Commissioners TO examine into
and report on the number and conditios OF. idiots
in that State which duty was faithfully executed
during the two years ensuing, and its resultswe
presented In two annual reports. The establish
nent of all Experimental School was recon-
mended and was approved by the Legislature,
which by act Of May :, ls4S, appropriated
$3.50 annually for that purpose for three years.
The school was accordingly commenced on Oct. ],
Isio at the Asy lum for the Blind in South Boston
1t wss considered so successful that at the end
Of two years, the Legislature made provision by
act Of April 4, lc50, for converting the Expert
mental School into permanent State Institution;
and by the act of April 30, 1851, appropriated
S5,C00 annually for its support. In this way,
after the expiration OF the three years for which
TIE Experimental School was organized, its
pupils, fifteen in number, were received as pupils
OF the new institution, and they continued TO
receive instruction ss before. The school was
removed in November following from the Blind
Asylum to large and consnodious house in South
Boston, which it still occupies. On January !,
lc;2, the number of pupils was twenty-five, aud
on January /, 1873, thirty-seven. During 1853
Fifty three pupils enjoyed its advantages, all of
whom made marked improvement and were ele-
vated in various degrees from the very low con-
diiiOn in which they were found. All the funds
given BY the State and received for pay.pupils
baye been exclusively devoted to the maintenance
of the school DIR. 5. G.. Howe, it, eminent
Superintendent and founder has from the be-
ginning generously given his services without
salary. Pupils from Rhode Island are received
here at the expense Of that State, which has
placed the idiot upon the same footing with the
blind, deaf and dumb. in regard to instruction at
tie States exnrnse. We sh0ulS add that thAre