Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-07-11

they were accompanied by the superinten-
dent of the Vermont asylum and his attor-
ney. From thorough examination of
those institutions we are confirmed in our
opinion that the modern improvements
have not yet been adopted In the Vermont
asylum, but we found on our visit on the
oath of June that extensive changes are
being made. Two additional wings are in
process of erection, each 35x0O, one OF which
when completed will be three stories and
the other four stories high. These wings,
we were informed, would give one hundred
aud twenty additional rooms for patients
each room being Sx10; and nine feet stud
ding. Each room will be furnished with
two flues for the reception of pure air and,
the expulsion of foul air, and IL Is proposed
to warm the entire buildings, new and old,
with steam, and vontilate them by the most
modern of ventilatng apprenticeship Fan.
When the new buildings are completed,
the officers propose TO remove all the pa
tients now in underground apartments to
more pleasing and comfortable quarters'
above ground. Those changes and i'm
provements have been in progress since
tepdent of the institution. DR.. Draper was
appointed upon the resignation of Dr. Will
liam Rock we'll, Jr., and took charge of the
institution in February last
Your committee were shown the record
of vote in 1862, by which the trustees
voted TO put in steam beating apparatus az
that time, but the fire of that year prevenA
ed the carrying out of the vote at tho
time.
We feel that we cannot conscientiously
close this report without earnestly recomz
mending the erection of u state
10 I've under the watchful eye of the cod
people Of this State. that private interests
cannot in any way influence the conduct
and action of the officers of the institution
aud that the objects and end of such char
liable institution may be fully and effec.
tually carried hut, and this class of unfor-
tunate beings receive las they properly
should) the tenJerest care. early all Of
the older states, and very many of the new
states, have such institute ms. Our pride
ought 10 join hands with our sympathies
in this matter, and impel us to the con-
struction of an institution in which We
might feel the just qualification which Mas
sachusetts people may well feel in the con-
temptation of the asylum at Northampton.
At the time of our last visit to the asy-
lum, we found the whole number of pa
tients in the asylum was 476, of which
number about so were state poor, 200 town
and INDECENT poor, and the remainder were
patients from out of the state. >
Your committee find that, notwithstand.
ing the draw backs surrounding the institu-
ton, that the death rate among its patients
has beeness for ten years past than at any
other institution of the kind in New Eng
land, except the New Hampshire at Con-
cord, and hut Il small per cent. above that.
There is very much in the conduct OF the
mend. We are much pleased with Qhe)
management of DR.. DraI err, and under his
superintendcncy, with the improvement in
buildings above mentioned, we confidently
hope the various grievances which we have
felt compelled to report AS now existing
will soon disappear aud the institution
become all that its patrons could expect of
a private corporation.
All of which is respectfully submitted
this 30th day of June, A. d. 1878.
GEO. A. BALLARD,
CALVIN MORRILL,,
Com. on part of the Senate.
HUGH HENRY,
q. w. RANDALL,
l.. S. THOMPSON,
Com. on part of the House. \