, 1877-11-26
The School for Idiots..-1nsane Asylum
at Mt, Pleasant,
Tie Fort Madison and Annmosa Penfton.
tiartcs...Fish Commission.

small sum 0f money, with which to begin tic
experiment. Energetic md sanEutnc philan-
ttropIsts took hold Of the matter, and tho result
hnn exceeded tl1eir expectation. The very limited
means ut their command have been ckcd out,
and combined with their own charity, to accom-.
rltsh results which tnt1st commend themselves
to tho thoughtful consideration Of tho next
Legislature, which will bo called upon to pro-
vldo for Its future support commensurate With
the needs and objects III tho institution. Tho
Superintendent says that tho public generally
fall to appreciate tho magnitude Of this work,
aud believe tlat tho tiotic child Is incapable Of
my mental, physical, or social development, and
tllat money or tirno expended on them Ia rsc-
lcssly squanilcrct1 Facts and observation force
dismissal Of nil doubts Of tho pract'cabiEty Of
surely clcYating this becloudcl class from OBJ
iscts Of rcpug,,auco and SOURCES Of sndncss and
returning them to their friends and homes with
such dev1loplnent. mental and physical, aa 10
mike then, usctul In society md sclfsuttain!ng.
Tic question ot succets is bcyonh dispute:
=, Tho School opened Sept !, 1ss6, and during
been bee M pdn,ittei aity.shreo boys aid thisty-iiso
pir1s.s Over zoo applications have been been
male, but could not be accepted for want Of
room.
In reading there are four classes. Eight arc
In the Third Header, who read untlcrstandfngly.
Five are IN t'lc Ftrst rcaLcr, who hc9an With
words of two letters. Eleven can read lessons
from tablets, Of words Of two lcttcrs; and
many rcad three Letters. There arc three
class ang hymns and cllornl songs. The sounds
Of letters arc articulatctl By sounds On tho
piano. There arc four classes in gymnastics.
Tho frat class 90 through tho exerctss correct
n!aeteen @ ni n eae Class Neatly ali the pupits
iso en- thoir names. se''1 obiast,c.sous n '0sS any
marching uro taugh: with great success.
Tho 1rst class In writing wrlto dtctatiorl.cxer-
Tho second class oi thirteen, knuw nearly nit
tho letters at sight. Letters aru taught beforo
writing. Tho third class arc still making
letters, but slowly md surely progressing.
There srs an.iseMcnts u! every eye''InE. With
tentton Is given to tho development Of tho
physical, that tho mental maY bc strengthened.
Sunday.aeboot Is hell twice on Sunday. Every
Individual requires special study u, adapt tho
patience and zeal which ean como only from
IN innate lore Ut the work, aud which alono eau
secure Eueccas.
It is catimatcl that over 800 pupils witt need
to be provided for within tho next Two ycars,
and for that purpogc On appropriation OF
sl0, 600 Is asked.
INSANE AsyLuA At MT. PLEASANT.
The roport ot this Institution for the two
years ending Nov. l, 1871, showa an alarming
cnt during the term was 1,107, Of whom 6is
wcrc males md 4s0 fem alc.. OF these, l55 rc-
coyeEfd, 75 improved, 10y wcrc stationary, aild
100 dled- At the ana OF tho period, 0S wcfe
present. Tho l9sgcst percent Of insa1o orc per.
have been admitted, from tho beginning OF tho
whon, Lii llavc recovered, b05 improved, $50
uro stationary, and 7l0 hare died. since the bo-
ct anY State, G3a, und Germany the most OF any
foreign Goycsnnicut, 3A leo County senda
the most, 197, and Des aloiucs County second,
III. of the occunat!ons rc2rescnted since tbs
eesnning a tSfs aoa1. a1s: .io1nest'c autes 1
tious of those admitted since the b.
ginning wcrc: singlc, mnlca ,o2, females
81: murried, Il ma'es W, ,;.s ismalss s75;
males 18, fcmnlcs II. or tic causes Of insan.
ity, from tho beginning, thcrc aro assl9ncd
Au,oHg the lcaling: Ooncrnl il-hcalth, $50;
pucrperal condition, 20J; cpileHsy, ~; maatur.
batiol, ls8' d. domestic trouble u; II: religious
moro than four-tths Of all thu causcs Qiycn.
Tho Importance Of early treatment Ia shown
in the fart that, OF all patients who haTo been
placed thcro within ora month OF attnek, 800
tnycti for Ycar, only a3.53 per cent have recoy-
efed, ,-tho ratio rapidly dcrEcaslns as the delay
Is prolonged. Tho Increase OF patients sfnce
November, 1873, H. LOTT. 1nteMperance for
Of 50.
Yonr MADISON rnkIrkNT1ARr.
The Pcnitentsary at Fort Madison, Bept. 50,
1877, conta!ncd :ssS coavicts, or durluR tho two
years preceding 605. Of those held during the
Married, III; sIngle, so; widowers, II; widow,
!. fnteinperatc, .,3; temperate. I'll. Colored,
W; Indian, ]. AvcraEo age, - years months