TRUSTEE'S REPORT.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY, SALMON P. CHASE,

Governor of the State of Ohio:

The Trustees of the Northern Ohio Lunatic Asylum would report, that, in aecordance with the terms of their appointment, they met and organized on the 22d of April last, and received from the President of the first Board a copy of their record, and to which was afterwards added the papers containing the title to the land occupied by the Institution.

The building occupied by the Asylum, was found, in many respects, still unfinished, and those parts of it appropriated to the patients, almost entirely unfur nished, excepting with beds; the grounds unimproved and littered with the refuse of the building, and the waste matter from the house; and, as a whole, presenting an unusually desolate and forbidding aspect.

The officers were entirely lacking that harmony and mutual confidence which are essential to the efficiency of any Institution, but particularly to one having the peculiar aims and difficulties of a public asylum.

At their first meeting, the Board found themselves unprepared to make any permanent changes, and therefore Dr. L. Firestone, with an assistant (Dr. J. L. Firestone,) of his own selection, was left in charge until the 5th of August, when the present incumbents assumed their duties.

At a meeting of the Board, held May 8th, Dr. R. C. Hopkins was elected Superintendent, and on the 14th of August, on his nomination, Dr. Jacob Laisey was appointed Assistant Physician, Rev. James Shaw, Moral Instructor, E. H. Doolittle, Steward, and Mrs. Mary I. T. Evans, Matron.

The election and appointments were by the unanimous action of the Trustees; and judging by their short, and in many respects embarrassed administration, but one which has already produced a very marked improvement in the discipline of the household, and a very gratifying change in the comfort and cheerfulness of the wards and rooms occupied by the patients, the Board feel justified in expressing the conviction that the officers will prove eminently fit and worthy of their responsible posts.

The statistics of the Asylum, according to the books of the Superintendent, are as follows:

Since its opening, March 5th, 1855, there have been received as patients:

Within the year there have been received as patients:

47

57

104

9

19

28

4

11

15

60

87

147

The average number of patients, from November 15, 1855, to November 1, 1856, 126. For further details, we refer to the accompanying report of the Superintendent.

According to the statement of the Steward, here with submitted, the receipts and disbursements for the year have been as follows:

Amount of appropriations, subject to his order.....
Total amount of expenses.

$31,558 82

29,315 74

$2,243 08

The expenses of the Trustees and salary of the Moral Instructor, it will be observed, are paid directly by the Auditor. This arrangement has a tendency to confuse the account of the Steward with that officer, as a portion of the appropriation is thus expended, of which he is not advised, and which does not appear upon his books.

The Moral Instructor, who has been connected with the Institution since its opening, has proved an efficient officer, and given full satisfaction. And for the desirableness of such a department, as well as for all the facts connected with his work, we refer to his report herewith submitted.

The Matron occupies a laborious and responsible position, and the comfort, and even the recovery of the patients, are very much effected by the ability and faithfulness of that officer.

The compensation authorized by law, is regarded as insufficient, and this Board recommend an increase of the salary of the Matron of this Institution.

At the first meeting of the Trustees, as previously mentioned, the grounds of the Asylum presented an unusually barren and cheerless aspect. Excepting a small grove on the western extremity of the farm, and a fine belt of trees and shrubbery bordering a portion of the small creek which forms its northern boundary, the whole grounds were destitute of everything, save a few apple trees, to relieve the cheerless prospect. Add to this a cold clay soil, and there was little hope that the grounds would ever, without radical improvement, invite to that recreation, or contribute to that cheerfulness which is essential to the recovery of the patients.

A new road-way, (as originally contemplated,) to approach the front of the building, was found indispensable. This included a bridge across the creek, and, in order to raise the road bed above high water, crossing the low ground in front of the Asylum, a fill of considerable extent was required.

In order to lay out, and properly direct the improvement and planting of the grounds with economy, yet permanently, and in good taste, it was found absolutely necessary to secure the services of a person experienced in this department, and, accordingly, F. R. Elliott, Esq., was appointed to give so much of his time and attention as were requisite to secure the desired object. And the improvements already made under his supervision, fully prove the economy of the appointment, and the cultivated taste of Mr. Elliott.

For the details of the work in his charge, we refer to his report, herewith submitted.

The sewerage of the Asylum is a subject of complaint by the inhabitants of the village, and not without reason, and may, at no distant day, require attention.

It has been the study of the Board, in all their expenditures, to secure the greatest economy with work of a plain yet permanent character.

An executive committee of three members, to whom necessarily were assigned many of the details of the expenditures, have visited the Asylum and given a personal supervision to the work, at least weekly during the season.

All work of a character that could properly be contracted after public advertisement, has been let to the lowest bidder.

The following appropriations the Board would recommend for the ensuing

Improvement of grounds, fences, orchard, gardens, &c.

Total...

$30,000 00

2,000 00
200 CO
5,000 CO

$37,200 00

For the estimates, in detail, upon which these several recommendations are based, reference is had to the accompanying reports of the Superintendent and Mr. Elliott. And in recommending appropriations which may appear large in the ag gregate, the Trustees have, in each item, been governed by a conviction of duty to the Institution and its unfortunate inmates.

Several improvements, thought to be very desirable, have been entirely omitted, and nothing but that which the Board have unanimously considered essential to the best administration of the Asylum, and, therefore, to the wisest economy of the State, has been included in their plans and estimates.

The appropriations of last winter, made no provision for the expenses of the Institution during the two months intervening between the expiration of the present fiscal year and the meeting of the Legislature. This occasions more or less inconvenience to the Asylum, and loss to the State. To avoid this, an appropriation, to apply on the expenses of the next year of the Asylum is recommended, to the amount of five thousand dollars. This will provide for all needful expenses, from the end of the present fiscal year to the meeting of the next Legislature.

In reviewing the history of the past year, there is this gratifying and abundant return for the expenditures of the Asylum: it has thus been the means of relieving the suffering of a large number (235) of the most unfortunate of our ruce, and of restoring many (65) worthy members of community to their homes, their reason, and the useful walks of life.

November 5, 1856.

Respectfully submitted,

JOSEPH PERKINS,
LUCIAN SWIFT,
P. S. RUGGLES,
L. D. GRISWOLD,
J. F. MORSE,
J. H. SEYMOUR,

Trustees.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Trustees of the Northern Ohio Lunatic Asylum :

GENTLEMEN :-In presenting the second annual report of this Institution little more can be attempted than a summary of the personal movements of the inmates since the fifth day of August last, the time at which my charge of the house commenced. At the above date there were in the Asylum one hundred and twentyfive patients, to wit:

25

176

Admitted from August 5th to Nov. 1st, 1856-Males..

Total.....

Whole number under treatment from August 5th to Nov. 1st, 1856.--

1371

141

Average number under treatment since August 5th, 1856

Number remaining in the house October 31st, 1856

Whole number admitted since the opening of the house, March 5, 1856:

Justice to my predecessor demands that I should say, that of the number discharged as recovered, several were in an advanced state of convalescence at the above date, and that two left within a week after.