if they could have accompanied us through the wards occupied by this class of patients. We found them promenading up and down engaged in conversation with each other and occupied in various ways. Many of them seemed quite happy and contented. When their periodical fits of violence come on it becomes necessary to confine them in the strong room until the fit wears off, usually in a short time. They are liberated as soon as their condition permits and allowed to mingle with the others in their ward; and every effort consistent with safety is made to have them feel that they are under no restraint. This, combined with kind treatment, the best medical skill and attention to comfort, health and happiness, improves the condition of all and in many cases results in an entire cure.

Interesting Anecdotes.-The prejudices and notions that take root in a diseased brain are

manifested in many ways. While we were being conducted through one of the wards one of the inmates, a short stout man about fifty years of age with slightly stooping shoulders, long gray beard, a large hooked nose and most repulsive cast of countenance, followed close behind the official who accompanied us, imitating our gait, inuttering in a low tone of voice, and steadfastly gazing at our attendant with expression so threatening and sinister as to fill a timid person with terror. Whenever we stopped he did likewise, always keeping the same distance from us, and we were not rid of his unwelcome presence until the outer door of his ward was shut and locked between us. Our attendant said that the man imagined him an enemy and invariably went through the same programme whenever the official had occasion to enter his ward. The man is waiting for a favorable opportunity to attack his supposed enemy, but the official told us he was not at all alarmed for his safety, for when attacked it is only necessary to place the hand over the mouth and nose of the patient when suffocation ensues and subdues them. In resisting the most violent patients it is never necessary to resort to blows. So skillful do the attendants become in the management of the violently insane that two attendants can easily manage an insane person when four inexperienced persons would find it a difficult task.

We had a practical illustration of this during our visit. A new patient who was suf fering from acute mania was being brought in by two robust-looking men, evidently inexperienced, as was shown by the great difficulty they had in managing their charge, when they were met by two of the attendants, who, placing themselves one on each side of the patient, grasped with one hand each shoulder and with the other each wrist, and with the patient's arms stretched out at full length, marched him through the corridor with seeming ease.

Use of Narcotics.-What is known as chemical restraint, or the use of powerful narcotic drugs in order to reduce a violent patient to a state of quiescence is never resorted to except in cases where the health of

the patients would not admit of any other treatment.

Suicidal Tendencies.-The officers and attendants are made familiar with the history of every new patient where possible, and in that way learn their special hobbies and peculiarities, and are governed accordingly in their treatment of them. We were informed that those patients of suicidal intent would never attempt self-destruction in the presence of others, and for that reason four or five of them would be placed in the same apartments, and effectually guarded each other. This class of insane persons consume much time in making preparations for suicide, so that they are always prevented from accomplishing their purpose before their preparations are completed by the vigilant watchfulness of the attendants. Never having any weapon, every precaution being taken, they are rendered harmless.

An Amusing Incident is related of two females who had agreed to kill each other, and had managed to detach the iron grating from the register, which was to be the weapon used. It was agreed between them that one was to strike the other a blow on the head, but not so hard as to kill instantly, so that the one struck would have sufficient strength left to strike the uninjured one in return. They then entered into an animated discussion as to which one should strike first, when the arrival of the attendant put a stop to the proceedings.

The Evidences of Insanity are not discernible in the personal appearance of many of the patients, but a few moments conversation is all that is necessary to convince the most skeptical that the mind is diseased. A case of this kind was that of a large, benevolentlooking old lady who politely invited us into her room with an apology for the smallness of her quarters. She gave intelligent answers to our questions, but upon her trying to convince us that she was 2,882 years of age and was the mother of 400 children, we came to the conclusion that she had an original method of computation or was where she properly belonged. And we had no doubt remaining as to the correctness of the latter conclusion when we were informed that she was passionately fond of smoking dried onions and garlic.

The Ball Room Recreation.—Every Thursday evening a ball is given in the handsome entertainment hall in the asylum which is attended by about 400 of the patients. They all look forward to the evening with bright anticipations of pleasure and seem to fully realize them. The beneficial results of this recreation are apparent. The excitable are entertained and the melancholy cheered, while the excellent deportment of all excites the wonder of visitors. Concerts, dramatic entertainments and lantern exhibitions are also given and are greatly enjoyed. Everything in fact is done to divert the patients' minds from their condition and inspire them with that greatest cordial of the mind, hope. The Great Secret of Success in the treat

ment of the insane lies in taking advantage of lucid intervals and at such times endeavoring by every means at command to prolong their duration. Hence the employment of frequent and varied amusements, the object being to beget freshness, vividness and sane consciousness. The result is a full realization of the morbid fantasies of the past and firm resolves to keep in subjection outbreaks of temper, anxious and perverted thoughts, bewildering illusions and free the mind of "A whirling gulf of phantasy and flame."

The Asylum Life not Gloomy.-A visit to the Central Ohio Insane Asylum would at once correct the erroneous idea that asylum life is of necessity one of gloom and depression. While there is much that is saddening and pitiful indeed, the many cures effected, the improvement in the majority, and the kindly care and constant efforts that are made for the physical and mental welfare of the inmates cheers instead of depressing the spirits of the visitor..

The Religious Welfare of the patients is not neglected. Chapel services are held regularly on Sabbath evenings and to congregations which are an interesting study. All degrees of mental departure are represented, yet their behavior and attention would set a good example for many who boast superior intelligence. The congregation, with books in hand, join in singing, and the whole effect of the services is to greatly improve the mental condition of the patients.

The Statistics of the institution show that those persons engaged in occupations requiring heavy bodily labor, such as farmers, laborers, housewives, housekeepers and domestics, furnish a large proportion of the inmates. Farmers and farmers' wives abound more than any other single class in these institutions. This is owing to the monotonous lives led by them and consequent inactivity of the brain, which, becoming weakened from lack of proper exercise of its functions, is the first organ to succumb when disease attacks the system. This showing is in direct opposition to the general impression that insanity is usually the result of excessive mental activity. The statistics give further proof that the general impression is erroneous in this regard, by showing that the proportion of insane among the educated class of people is very small. This also proves that the laws of health require proper exercise for the brain as well as the body.

The statistics of this asylum for the year 1887 show that 140 males were admitted, of whom 60 were farmers, 25 laborers, and the rest were scattering, the highest being carpenters, 4 in number. Of females 144 were admitted, of whom 85 were housewives, 28 housekeepers and 15 domestics, the next highest being farmers' daughters, 3 in number.

The report also states that the daily average number of inmates was 863, of whom 410 were males and 453 females. The report also says: "Special attention is called to the

number of recoveries, being 90 males and 52 females, total 142, and also to the low death rate, which was 30 males, 23 females, total 53. This will compare very favorably with any institution in the country. The percentage of recoveries, based upon the admissions, is, for males, 64.28 per cent., and for females, 36.11 per cent., and for both 55.69 per cent. The percentage of deaths, based upon the whole number treated, is, for males, 5.36 per cent., and for females 3.89 per cent., and for both, 4.71 per cent.'

Trustees. Henry Plimpton, Columbus; Aaron B. Robinson, Marysville; George W. Morgan, Mt. Vernon; Joseph P. Smith, Circleville; William Waddle, Chillicothe; Superintendent, C. M. Finch, M. D.; Steward. George L. Currier.

The Ohio Central Insane Asylum is not the only State institution providing for the insane; others are located at Athens, Cleveland, Carthage and Dayton. There is also under the patronage of the State the Northwestern Asylum, which, containing a yearly average of about 100 patients under a contract with the State, is a county institution under control and direction of county commissioners.

The total number of persons in Ohio State Hospitals for Insane on Nov. 15, 1887, was 3,687, of whom 1,775 were males and 1,912 females.

THE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB.

Rev. Dr. Hoge, of Columbus, was a man of great force in Ohio, shown by his successful efforts at an early date in influencing its Legislature to found beneficent institutions. Largely through him it was that an institution for the education of the deaf and dumb was founded during the legislative session of 1826-27. Gov. Morrow in his annual message recommended the measure, and the result was the passage of an act in accordance with the recommendation.

The school was opened October 16, 1829, in a small building on the corner of High and Broad streets. Only three pupils were present, but the number steadily increased, and larger quarters became necessary. In February, 1829, ten acres of land, lying half a mile east of the State-House, were purchased, at a cost of $300. On this site the first building for the use of the school was erected, and ready for occupancy at the opening of the fall term of 1834. A wing was added in 1845-46 to the south end of the original building. The continued increase of applicants in time rendered a larger building necessary, and in pursuance of an act of the Legislature passed March, 1864, in October of the same year the corner-stone for the present large and commodious structure was laid with appropriate exercises.

The Original Ideas of the Mute.-When we compare the average graduate from such an institution properly conducted with the candidate for admission its great usefulness is apparent. The mute presents himself

before his teacher as nature formed and left him his mental faculties undeveloped, and with vague and undefined notions of what is going to be done for him. The world is to him a blank; his pleasures are mere animal pleasures, nor does hope, as it does for others, hold up a brilliant future for him. He looks at the stars as mere openings in the azure canopy of night, or as a few moons broken up and in disorder upon its surface. supposes the sun a small ball of fire at a little distance from the earth, and a new one formed for daily use, or the old one by stealth finds its way to the east while people are asleep, ready on each successive morning to commence again its daily course.

He

These and similar ideas are the struggling efforts of an imprisoned mind unaided and thrown back upon its own native resources attempting to account for some of the usual phenomena of nature. He finds himself a foreigner at home, a stranger at his father's fireside; though in the midst of society, he is isolated from his fellow-men, entirely ignorant of the past history of the world, of the rise and fall of nations, of the wars which have deluged the earth in blood, or of the great principles of the world; nor has he the least conception of the crimes and virtues of men, or knows that he is a social and intellectual being; and does not dream of the immortality of the soul, or of the existence of a Supreme Being, until the effects of education begin to show upon his darkened intellect.

The object of the institution is to educate the mute, and fit him to occupy a position in the world where he will be of use to himself and his fellow-men; give him the benefit of education and moral cultivation, and as nearly as possible place him on terms of equality with others more favored by providential circumstances. There have been cases where the deaf and dumb were entirely cured, but they are extremely rare, and only where the cause of the infirmity has been some obstructions in the outer ear, and which are removable, that there is much probability of a

cure.

In the method of instruction great use is made of the countenance; in fact, the mutes could not be taught without it, as it is needed to modify and accentuate the sign-language. The happy results obtained in the five years' course of study are astonishing, from the first dawn of knowledge obtained from the study of the manual alphabet down through a course of instruction including those studies that are taught to advanced pupils in our high schools and colleges, as well as in teaching various trades.

A very strong attachment springs up between the teacher and deaf and dumb scholar. An instance of this is now a matter of history: In France, during the reign of terror, the Abbé Sicard, the celebrated teacher, while engaged in his benevolent avocation of maturing his system of educating the deaf and dumb, was arrested in his school-room, and hurried from among his mute pupils

to prison. A mock trial, a mere prelude to the guillotine, had been held, when his pupils in a body, of their own accord, it is believed, appeared at the prison gates, and besought the release of their more than father. So powerful a demonstration of grief did they make, that the populace was moved in their behalf and Sicard liberated. These people were small deaf and dumb children. collected by Sicard, and for whose moral and intellectual salvation he had consecrated his days.

The industrial department of this institution is one of its most important features, and gives employment to the inmates outside of the school-rooms. This department includes a carpenter-shop, shoe-shops, printingoffice, where a weekly paper is printed, and a large bookbindery, where regular contractwork gives employment to many of the mutes. The females are also taught to sew, and make many necessary articles of wearing apparel, as well as do all of the mending of the clothes of the inmates.

The institution, which now has accommodations for 425 pupils, is located in the midst of spacious grounds, handsomely laid out with walks, shrubbery, and flowers, to give the inmates the benefit of pleasing surroundings.

Trustees.-J. M. Kirby, Upper Sandusky; Rufus R. Danes, Marietta; James Scott, Lebanon; Jacob Cherryholmes, Millersburg; Frederick W. Herbst, Columbus. Superintendent, Amasa Pratt; Steward, J. S. Ellis. THE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.

The Institution at Columbus is the only State institution of the kind, excepting the Working Home for the Blind at Iberia, Morrow county, which differs somewhat in its aims and purposes.

It is somewhat doubtful as to the real character of the Working Home of the Blind, as it sustains a peculiar relationship in the list of the organized charities of the State. It was organized under State law, money was appropriated for its proper equipment, with a view to establishing a home where the blind capable of performing skilled work could find a home and employment, and be assured of a competence for their support from the results of their labor.

It was the understanding with those who conceived the plan and urged the consideration of the General Assembly to the project, that after the institution would be fairly started no further aid would be asked from the State.

The opening exercises of the Ohio Institute for the Blind were held in the Presbyterian church in Columbus, on July 4, 1837, in the presence of the teachers and scholars of the city Sunday-schools, who, to the number of 900, had assembled to celebrate Independence day. The teacher and five pupils were present, which number was increased to eleven by November.

The first building was erected in 1838, upon beautiful grounds on the north side of the