INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE-MINDED YOUTH.

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HIS Institution was established by law April 17, 1857. The preliminary work was commenced in 1840 by Dr. N. S. Townshend, who, while pursuing his medical studies in Paris, became interested in the labors of Seguin, Itard and others in behalf of the class. In 1853 Dr. Townshend, then a member of the Ohio Senate, so interested Governor Medill in the results of his observations and studies abroad, that he devoted a portion of his message to the General Assembly to the subject. That part of the message relating to the subject was referred to a select committee, of which Dr. Townshend was chairman. The committee made a report, detailing what had been done for this class. A bill was then introduced for the establishment of an institution, but did not pass. At the session of 1857, Hon. Herrman Canfield introduced in the Senate a bill to establish an Asylum for Idiots, which passed both Houses and became a law April 17, 1857. Governor Chase appointed William Dennison, Norton S. Townshend and Asher Cook, Trustees. Upon organization of the Board, Mr. Dennison was made chairman; Dr. Townshend, secretary, and Dr. R. J. Patterson, superintendent. The Board rented the buildings on East Main street, now occupied as the "Home for the Friendless." The institution was opened with nine pupils. The number was increased to fifteen at the date of the first report. The rented premises were occupied until 1868, the number of pupils averaging, after the first two years, between forty and fifty. The office of assistant. superintendent was created in 1859, and Dr. G. A. Doren was appointed to that position. In 1860, the superintendent, Dr. Patterson, resigned, and Dr. Doren was elected superintendent by the Board of Trustees, and has continued in that position since, now forty-two years.

After closely observing the operations of the institution and their results, the Legislature, in 1864, provided for the permanent establishment of the institution, authorizing buildings upon a suitable site for the accommodation of two hundred pupils. This provision was made during the strenuous days of the Civil War, and was a strong endorsement of the value of the institution, as well as a valued acknowledgment of the performance of duty under the trying conditions of the War. The new buildings were occupied in August, 1868, the number of inmates soon reaching three hundred. The practical value of the institution being demonstrated, additions were made, from year to year, until the 18th of November, 1881, when over six hundred children were accommodated, and when the main buildings were destroyed by fire, happily, without loss of life, or even injury, to any of the inmates, officers or employes. So

Institution for Feeble-Minded Youth.

anxious were parents and guardians that their children and wards should not lose any of the benefits of the institution, that only one hundred of the inmates could be sent to their homes, the balance being crowded into the buildings that escaped destruction. The operations of the institution were conducted, during the three years of rebuilding, at great disadvantage, from want of room and facilities for the proper care and training of the inmates. This was relieved by the occupation of the new buildings in 1884. In this case, fireproof buildings were constructed on the sites of those destroyed by fire, and fireproof outside stairways provided for all buildings that escaped destruction. Other buildings have been added since 1884, until the number accommodated in 1900 was 1,100, when the Legislature, recognizing the duty of providing against the increase of this unfortunate class, by placing them under such restrictions as will prevent them multiplying their kind, provided for a permanent home, where the use of such industrial power as they possess may be exercised in their own support. Authority was given to purchase a farm, not to exceed 1,500 nor less than 1,000 acres in extent, where they are to be kept through life, thus lessening the increase from that source. About 1,200 acres have been secured, where the males of this class will be provided with a home and such employment as will come within the range of their capacities. The employment will be mainly such as furnished. by the farm, gardening, stock-raising and horticultural pursuits. The females are to be provided for at the home institution, where they can. be better protected, as well as usefully employed in domestic occupations. Buildings are now being constructed to accommodate about four hundred of each sex of the Custodial Class, and, when completed, will restore the old department to its original purpose and duties-"to furnish special means of improvement to that portion of our youth who are so deficient in mind, or have such marked peculiarities and eccentricities of intellect as to deprive them of the benefits of other educational institutions and ordinary methods of instruction."

THE HOSPITAL FOR EPILEPTICS.

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HE Ohio Hospital for Epileptics at Gallipolis is the pioneer of its kind in the United States.

The problem of providing proper accommodations for epileptics, especially for those with unsound or defective minds, has engrossed the attention of persons interested in nervous and mental diseases for many years. In Ohio, as far back as 1879, a bill for the establishment of a separate institution for their accommodation and treatment almost became a law, passing one branch of the legislature. Not, however, until 1890 was a law enacted providing for the establishment of a colony for epileptics and epileptic insane. All epileptics resident in Ohio are eligible for admission to this institution, up to the measure of its capacity, each county being entitled to a number proportionate to its population. No discrimination is made on account of mental condition, age or sex.

The buildings, as originally planned, consisted of stone cottages having a capacity of fifty beds each, located symmetrically about a group of executive buildings and connected by tunnels with a central power station, which was to furnish heat and light for all; and a central kitchen and bakery, flanked by two congregate dining-rooms, one for each sex. The whole group, with estimated accommodations for one thousand patients, was planned so compactly as to cover scarcely more than twentyfive acres, leaving the balance of one hundred acres of the original tract for ornamentation and gardens. The wisdom of this plan was seriously questioned, and subsequent experience and events have led to an entire modification of it, so far as practicable. Of the original thirty-six buildings, only thirteen have been built as designed. The location and design. of six others was materially changed. One hundred and twenty-five additional acres of land were purchased, and a cottage for the insane constructed at a distance of one-third mile from the original group. Other buildings, projected for the future, are to be much farther away, their precise location depending upon the possibilities in the selection and purchase of land, which may or may not adjoin the tract now owned by the state.

Another tract of one hundred and ten acres of farm land has been purchased, on which a group of cottages will be erected, and in which. the husbandmen among the male patients will be accommodated. This land adjoins the sewage-disposal beds of the hospital, and it is intended to utilize the sewage for fertilizing the farm. Recently (1904) another one hundred acres of Ohio River bottom land has been acquired, which

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The Hospital for Epileptics.

brings the institution to an acreage of five hundred and fifty. It is purposed to expand the institution in the future by erecting small, homelike cottages for small and selected groups of patients, leaving the large central cottages with their common kitchen and congregate dining rooms for the accommodation of more advanced cases of epilepsy and for the infirmary class of inmates. A new style of architecture has been decided upon, by which it is believed the monotony of the present symmetrical groups of large stone cottages can be relieved.

A board of construction was appointed in 1890, which consisted of James E. Neal, of Hamilton; John L. Vance, of Gallipolis; George H. Bunnell, of Sidney; Lewis Slusser, of Canton.

The colony was opened for the reception of patients November, 1893. Twelve residence cottages with accommodations for 40 to 80 inmates. each, and one combined laundry and cottage with room for 70 patients comprise the central group. A building for infirm women with room for 80 beds has recently been opened. The advanced insane epileptics are cared for in a large 200-inmate building about one-third of a mile from the central group. In process of completion (1904) there are five small, artistic, homelike houses comprising the new Male Colonists' Group, with quarters for 15 to 40 patients each, every house being independent so far as heating facilities, dining-room, and kitchen are concerned. A Farm House for 40 men has been erected in a suitable spot in the midst of the 200 acres of river bottom farm; and a 40-inmate cottage for girls is also nearly ready for occupancy. When all the buildings now under way shall have been completed, the institution will have accommodations for 1,200 patients. Besides the cottages, the hospital comprises one school house; two industrial buildings, each containing eight large, well-lighted and well-ventilated rooms, accommodating twenty-five patients in many of the manual industries followed; one kitchen and bakery building; one ice machine and cold storage building, with a capacity of eighteen tons daily; two large congregate diningrooms; one boiler, power, and electric light station; one waterworks building, and one administration building. The cost of the buildings up to the time when those under way shall have been completed, will be $605,000.

A pathological laboratory in which researches into the nature, cause, and prevention of epilepsy are carried forward, has been a feature of this institution for the past eight years. Through the scientific studies pursued in this laboratory and published to the medical profession the Ohio Hospital for Epileptics has achieved international fame. The medical profession of Ohio, and of the United States, is deeply interested in seeing this important work encouraged and properly supported, since it is realized that by this method alone can the mysteries as to the nature,