Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-22

oo'h ihs1i.utionS nave managed their
aHairs economically during the past year;
anu Ihat IN the appropriations which they
ask ior Tue ensuing year they have had
que ana proper regard for the embarrassed
ana unhappy state of our country, aud
nave only asked for so much as seems alb
soiutely necessary to continue the institD.
tlons in their present state of proficiency
and usefulness.
The humane policy of the State. and its
duty towards these unfortunate children
who may thus partake OF the benefits of
an education from which they would
otherwise be declared, is so we'll under.
stood and so firmly settled, thst even IN
our present embaTrassments it seems
hardly necessary for me to recommend to
you that all needful appropriations for
The continuance of these noble institutions
be promptly made,
The Board of Trustees of the Institution
for the education of the Blind ask for an
appropriation of 81, 800, OF which SlO,-
QUO are the estimated current expenses for
1868, $500 for an anticipated deficiency
In the expenses Of 1862, and 1920 tor
repairs on heating apparatus, OF the ne
cesslty OF which visiting committee will
probably become satisfied on personal in
spectlon. The humber of pupils 10 at
tendance during the past year at this
Institute is fifty, larger number than
ever before IN any one year. In compar.
ing the expenses of it with that of the
Doat and Dumb, it should be borne ia
mind that the blind pupils require larger
number OF attendants, which mast be
hlfed tor that purpose, while the deaf
mutes are aole to perform great deal of
manual labor about their Institution.
The number of pupils in attendance at
the Institution for the education of the
Deaf and Dumb, during the past year, is
elghty-two. The Trustees in their report
asked flrst Tor an appropriation of $4,000
tor current expenses of the ensuing year,
but IL a postscript they have reduced the
amount $3.50, because the Instructors of
the Institute have voluntarily proposed
reduction in their salaries to that amount.
on account Of the large amount of taxes
to be raised by the State; Thus leaving
ST., 800 as estimated current expenses.
HOSPITAL FIR THE INSANE.
= 1t the first of June, last past, the
west ing of the Hospital for the Insane
needed additional room, and fitting it for
the reception of larger number of those
unfortunate persons who, berett of the
light OF reason, are not deemed incurable,
but leave the hope that with proper treat.
ment they may Yet be returned to society
as rational beings. BY the report Of the
trustees it appears that l03 patients were
in the Hospital on the first day of Octo
Der, 1861, 80 have been received in ad-
dition up to October LIST, 1862; of these
1872 persons, 25 were discharged as re-
covered, as improved, as not improv-
ed, and 81 died The first patient was
admitted on the 14th of July, 1860, since
which time, up to the lst of October,
1862. 234 had been received in the Hos.
pltal, of whom Al have recovered, Is
have been discharged as improved and Is
as unimproVed, and 80 have died These
results do not appear very fattering, and
are, as near as L have been able to discover
by examining the reports of similar stitu-
tons In other States. below the average re-
results there obtained. 1t should be borne
in mind that the object of this Institution is
to cure insane persons. not simply to fur
nlsh them place where they can be
safely kept from society. 1t has always
very strongly impressed itself upon my
mind, that, by making the principal ply
stefan at the same time superintendent,
and thus compelling him to look after the
entire management of the institution in
all its details, TOO great and to some ex-
tent Homogeneous 'abor was thrown upon
him, preventing him from giving his en-
tire and undivided attention to the cure
of no oh
self evident that the treatment of these
persons requires the closest and most
constant study and attention, and you do
not always find executive ability and
business capacity, which superinten dent
Or manager should have, united with
those studlous habits and deep interest in
scientific researches which should be
represented in the physician. l am we'll
aware that the plan here adopted is the
one in operation ia other States in the
Union, but that does not prove that it is
the best one. Ia European institutions of
this kind different plan and division of
LABOR IN that respect exists. and the re-
suits of cure there obtained are, l am
credibly informed, much greater We
should never be unwilling to profit by
the example Of others.
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
The Board OF Managers report that they
had seventy-two inmates during the fiscal
year ending September 30th, 1862. This
school Is certalnl y not the least important
among the benevolent institutions of the
State. Children who, if they were sent
to prison for crimes for which they can
hardly be held morally resn0nsihlp wonld
soon be confirmed and hardened criminals,
are here educated and often made useful
members of society. 1t is a duty that the
State owes to its citizens as well as to
these unfortunate children, whom circum-
stances alone have generally made what
they are, that they should be educated at
the expense CT the State. TIE managers
seem to be OF opinion that the present
law taxing the counties for the support of
the inmates respectively is impolltic and
unjust; lmpolltlc, because it prevents the
sending OF many who would otherwise re
Geive the benefit OF the institution unjust,
because the whole State, not particular
locality, owes the duty OF reforming and
educating these unfortunate children. The
school should receive The same liberal pat
ronage that the other benevolent State in
situations enjoy, and I would therefore re-
commend repeal of the present law tax
ing counties with the support of tue in
mates, and that the necessary aDpropria-
tions be made for the support of the
school during the current year.
STATE PRISON.
Your attention is partic 4arly called to