The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-01-21
Educating Idiots.


Educating Idiots.
We have received from Dr.. Patterson, the
Superintendent, the second annual report OF
the Ohio State Institution for the education
of idiots and imbecile youth. Though the
Asylum has been but fifteen months in
operation. its benefits are so manifest the
Trustees do not hesitate to congratulate the
Legislature upon the happy results of the
humane experiment instituted by its author
ity, and say it may be regarded as COM
plete success. at has accomplished, and
will continue to accomplish all that its most
sanguine friends have dared to hope" The
Trustees add that they have watched individ-
ual cases, under treatment in the asylum,
and they have had the satisfaction of OBJ
serving, in many instances ia processes de-
cided and gratifying as the most favored
youth could have exhibited" The number
of pupils under charge of the institution has
been twenty-six. All of them are marked
cases of idiocy, and none of them capable
of receiving any useful instruction at the
common schools, or by the ordinary modes
of teaching Some of them were of the
lowest grades of idiocy-cases that severely
tested the system of training adopted for
their instruction There has been improve
ment in all and every case, more or less
marked Some of them have advanced
in the simplest elements of education as
rapidly as ordinary children advance at COM
ment in the habits and manners of all the
pupils.
The report says, in very few cases of idi-
ocy that have come under notice, has the
form or quantity of the brain been faulty
The pupils of the Institution have almost
all fine looking, well developed heads. The
only way to account for the deficiency and
peculiarities of mental manifestation, is the
superstition that the brain-the minds in
diseased, or defective in organization. In a
few heads there is light deficiency: some
times the form has lacked the symmetry of
head with we'll balanced mind
The number of applications for admission
now exceeds fifty. The whole number of
idiots in Ohio is estimated at 1000, of whom
500 are below the age of fifteen, and are
the proper subjects for treatment in the asy-
ldm. part of the pupils-the children of
parents who have the means-pay their ex-
penses at the asylum; the poor are educated
at tha aynanca of tho Cfata Tbo xuhoIo
cost of the Institution the past year was
abot $4,000
The education of idiots is a new attempt
of philanthropy to do good, by raising a
class of unfortuuates from the grade of
brutes to condition of humble humanity
1t must be grateful to every philanthro-
pist to hear that these noble experiments
have been successful as the most sanguine
friend had dared to hope )" to learn that the
faint spark of intellect buried in an imper-
feet physical organization can be awakened
and made to illumiue with at least feeble
light the dreary path of the unfortunate inn
beetle through this life, and give him, per-
hsps, glimpse of future, when disrobed
of his imperfect physical machinery, his
mental powers may awaken to a spiritual
vision az clear and comprehensive as the
most gifted spirits.
The Trustees bes tow the warmest CON-
msndations upon the skillful and humane
management Of the pupils by the Superin-
g. tendent, DR.. R. 0, Pattison, form erly, we
believe, of Indianapolis, by whole philan-
thropic exertions the institutions first SC.
cured the patronage of the State. and under
whose care and superintendent it was es.
tablished and has been conducted.