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measure based thereon.

To have finished the limited portion designated, and opened it for the reception of patients as intended, would have been entirely subversive of the purposes of the institution. To have assembled patients. together without the facilities requisite to a proper degree of classification; to have associated the quiet and orderly, the melancholy and sensitive, with the raving and boisterous, the filthy and profane, would have made all more wretched, and in many confirmed the disease, which without such harmful association might have proved but temporary. A proper regard, therefore, for the greatest good both of the patients and the institution, induced the Trustees to abandon the design, and apply the balance of the appropriation to the completion of the remainder of the institution.

In the following year, Dr. Gray was elected to the Superintendency of the New York State Lunatic Asylum, and Dr. E. H. Van Deusen, first Assistant Physician at the same institution, was appointed to succeed him in the Michigan Asylum. The appointment of Dr. Van Deusen is considered a very judicious one. He brings to the service of the institution a long and tried experience, acquired during an official connection of five years with the New York State Asylum, at Utica.

The institutions for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind, at Flint, and for the Insane, at Kalamazoo, were commenced under one Board of Trustees, and continued under a joint control until the winter of 1855, when the Legislature judiciously severed this unnatural connection. The wants of the two classes are entirely dissimilar, and there is nothing in common between them, except that both are under the fostering care, and receive their inmates from among the citizens of the same State. In order to save the institutions from the loss and embarrassment inseparable from frequent and entire changes in their management, the same Legislature very wisely varied the manner of

appointing Trustees, and so arranged it that when member of the Board assigned either Asylum shou out of office, two would still remain with some expe in their official duties.

The appropriation of 1857 was only $50,000; a s marked contrast with the wants of the institution. ertheless, the Trustees at once set themselves energet to work, and the portions of the building commenced pressed on to completion as rapidly as the limited at their command would permit.

During the year, the applications for the admiss patients were numerous, and many were made unde most afflicting circumstances. "The necessity which demanded the erection of an Asylum in the State yearly become more and more urgent. The causes ducing this most afflicting of all diseases had been in stant and uniform operation, and the number of the in as shown by statistics, had already more than doub The Trustees considered it their duty to make almost sacrifice that might be required to meet the pressing They were aware of all the inconveniences and das which would attend the operation of a partially fini institution, but felt that some relief must speedily b forded the many who were absolutely suffering in var parts of the State.

In February, 1858, the institution sustained a severe in the destruction of the centre building by fire, wher nearly one-fifth of the portion erected was laid in ru Every precaution had been used to guard against such accident, and a subsequent investigation showed con sively that the fire originated above the second story, was the work of an incendiary. The building is v nearly fire-proof-indeed, more nearly so than any ot Asylum in the world-and it is doubtful whether it co have been successfully fired in any other portion. 7 pecuniary loss was estimated at $22,000. The part

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stroyed, though small as compared with the remainder of the structure, serves the most important purposes in the economy of the institution. It is the residence and headquarters of the officers; all accidents and wants are reported there, and thence must issue the orders necessary for the direction and control of the entire household.

In this connection, and as thwarting their cherished desire of receiving patients at an early day, its loss was most deeply felt by the officers. Nevertheless, after careful and mature deliberation, the Trustees still determined to carry their original purpose into execution, and have prepared apartments for the reception of eighty-eight patients, and their necessary attendants, and this number will be received as soon as an appropriation can be secured for the purchase of furniture.

The statistics of insanity in Michigan, and the origin and history of the Asylum as presented in the successive reports of the Trustees, have been given in the preceding pages. Before proceeding to a description of the building, it may be remarked, that none but those who have had an opportunity of acquainting themselves practically with the subject, can form any idea of the close study in detail, which every part of an institution for the care of the Insane requires, and without which, it must necessarily be deficient in some important particular. Take for illustratration an Asylum window. The health and comfort of the patient require that it be large, at the same time no subdivision must be small enough to allow one's head to pass. It must be strong and well guarded, and yet all appearance of restraint must be avoided. The sash must be movable, and readily opened, and at the same time must be guarded against injury by being heavily dropped upon the sill. To this end, it must be balanced by a weight, which requires as a matter of course cord but the cord must

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may be removed and used for purposes of suicide in every part and appointment of the institut peculiar character of the inmate must be studi while striving to meet each requirement with attention to strength and durability, everything fo or unpleasant must be carefully avoided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASYLUM.

SITUATION.-The Michigan Asylum for the Insa uated at Kalamazoo, upon the Michigan Central I one hundred and forty-three miles west of Detr fifty-one miles southwest of the Capitol at Lansin location is probably as central and convenient as could have been chosen, having reference both present means of communication with the various the State, and to any other routes of travel like projected hereafter. The site selected for the bu upon an irregular eminence, about one mile from lage, and sufficiently elevated above the valley of amazoo river to secure an extended prospect, and sheltered, and easy of access from the plain belo location is in every respect healthful and desira well adapted to the purposes and objects of an in for the treatment of mental disease.

FARM.—The amount of land originally purchased use of the Asylum was one hundred and sixty acr to secure a more desirable site for the buildings, cent tract was subsequently added, making the amount of land in the possession of the institut hundred and sixty-eight acres (167 76-100ths.) this land is finely timbered with the original gr oak, hickory, and other trees, affording every which could be desired for beautifying the grounds in the rear of the building is broken, and falls, by of ravines covered with trees, about eighty feet to ley below, through which flows a small but rapid

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of pure warer. The buildings themselves will cover an area of one and one-third acres. It is designed to preserve about fifty acres in groves and woodland, with walks and drives, and the remainder will be devoted to ordinary agricultural purposes.

GENERAL PLAN.-The ground plans were furnished by Dr. John P. Gray. It might here be remarked, that the principles laid down in a series of propositions relative to the construction and arrangement of Hospitals for the Insane, unanimously adopted by the "Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane," have been fully carried out in the plans adopted by the Board. The form and internal arrangement of the Institution will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying ground-plan. The Asylum building proper, the main front of which has an easterly aspect, consists of a center and six wings. The center portion of the main building is divided by the entrance hall into two nearly equal parts. That to the right contains, in front, the principal office of the Institution, the apothecary shop, and an ante-room communicating by a private stairway with the Superintendent's apartments above; and in the rear, the matron's room and ladies' reception room; while that to the left contains in front the public parlor and officers' dining-room, and immediately behind these, the business office and men's reception room. The second floor is appropriated exclusively to the use of the Medical Superintendent. Upon the third floor are the apartments of the assistant physicians, steward and matron. The basement contains the laboratory connected with the apothecary shop, and the officers' kitchen and store-rooms. Immediately behind the center building is the chapel, and still further in the rear the engine and boiler-house. Extending from the center building, towards the south for males. and towards the north for females, are the several wards

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