State of Wisconsin Blue Book

The first mover in the interests of deaf-mute instruction in this State, was Mr. EBENEZER CHEESEBRO, a resident of Walworth County, who had a deaf and dumb daughter who had been educated at the New York Institution. The school now numbers more than twenty-fold what it did originally, and is increasing every year. It is an index to the growth of the State, and an illustration of the increasing demand for benevolent labor. The people, through their representatives, and many of them directly, have ever manifested a special interest in its work. The state now numbers among its worthy citizens, many who, but for this Institute, would be the most ignorant of its population, and perhaps almoners upon its bounty. The present edifice was never designed for the numbers that should now occupy it, and plans are maturing for increased accommodations.

WISCONSIN STATE HOSPITAL FOR INSANE.

RESIDENT OFFICERS.

ALEX. S. McDILL, M. D..
Medical Superintendent.

RICHARD M. WIGGINGTON, M. D.,
First Assistant Physician.

D. R. BOUGHTON, M. D.,
Second Assistant Physician.
MRS. MARY C. HALLIDAY,
Matron.

HISTORY.

The first legislation in Wisconsin providing for the insane, was the pas sage of an act, in 1851, for the erection of a State Lunatic Asylum, near Madison, Dane County. The act provided for the appointment of three Building Commissioners and a Superintendent, with authority to select a site, which should contain at least 100 acres, and at a cost not exceeding $1,500, and construct a building after the plan of the Worcester (Mass.) Hospital, with power to make alterations which would not materially change the plan or increase the expense. Under the provisions of this act, D. S. VITTUM, Dr. S. G. BUGH, and A. S. SANBORN, were appointed Commissioners, and Dr. GEO. R. MCLEAN was appointed Superintendent.

The Commissioners selected for site the farm, containing 104.80 acres, upon the north shore of Lake Mendota, and four miles directly north of the Capitol Square, on which the present hospital buildings are located. But the Commissioners, with the Superintendent, after a careful examination of the subject, we think wisely,-concluded to adopt a plan of building more in accordance with the improved style of construction, and much better adapted for the purposes of a Hospital for the Insane than the Worcester building-adopted the plan on which the present hospital buildings have been erected.

This deviation from the provisions of the law in regard to the plan of the building, together with rumors that the interests of the State had not been properly protected in making the contract, caused the Legislature of 1855 to repeal the law of 1854, and the work of building was suspended.

This first effort to provide for the insane cost the State $27,102.26, of which $1,500 was paid for the site.

The next movement by the State to provide for the insane, and which resulted in the erection of the present building, was in 1857, by the passage of "an act to provide for a State Hospital for the Insane; the aggregate cost of the institution, when completed, with the location, shall not exceed the sum of one hundred thousand dollars." Messrs. L. J. FARWELL, LEVI STERLING and JOHN P. MCGREGOR were appointed building commissioners, and S. V. SHIPMAN, architect, and under this supervision the center building and one section of one longitudinal and one transverse wing on the east of the center were erected, and were completed and opened for patients in July, 1860.

In 1861, provision was made for the erection of one longitudinal and one transverse wing on the west side, which was completed and opened for the reception of patients in July, 1862.

In 1866, an act was passed providing for one longitudinal and one transverse wing on each side. These last additions were completed and opened for patients in June, 1868.

The entire length of the hospital building is 569 feet, the center building being 65 x 120 feet. The first longitudinal wing on each side of the center is 132 feet, and the last on each extremity is 119 feet. The transverse wings are 87 feet long. These elegant and commodious buildings are surrounded by ornamental grounds, wood and farming lands, to the extent of 393 acres, and when the extensions and improvements contemplated are added, will make it a complete institution, creditable to the enterprise and philanthropy of the people of Wisconsin, and well adapted for the care of the unfortunates needing its protection. The construction of the Madison and Baraboo Railroad, with a station in the northeast corner of the hospital farm, gives the institution a railroad connection, the absence of which has heretofore been a serious drawback to the locality.

In 1859, an act was passed for the government of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, with a board of seven Trustees. In 1860, the law of 1859 was repealed, and another act passed for the government of the Hospital with a board of fifteen Trustees. This law provided, "that ail insane persons residents of this State, who may be admitted into said hospital, shall be maintained therein at the expense of the State." In 1866, an act was passed requiring those who had the ability, to pay for their maintenance, while inmates of the hospital, and the Trustees fixed the amount in such cases at $3 per week. This law was repealed in 1867, again leaving the State to provide for the entire expense of supporting the hospital.

The Legislature of 1871 made some important changes in the law governing of the hospital. The number of trustees was reduced from fifteen to five, and required to meet quarterly instead of semi-annually, as formerly. And again, in 1872, this law was changed, to embrace the government of the Northern Hospital for the Insane. The most important change made by these acts, is contained in section 12, chapter 178, General Laws, 1872, which is as follows: "All insane persons, residents of this State, who may be admitted into said

hospital for treatment, shall be maintained therein at the expense of the State: provided, the county in which such patient resided before being brought to the hospital shall pay the sum of one dollar and fifty cents a week for the support of such patient, and for all necessary clothing when it is not otherwise supplied: provided, further, that the relatives, friends or guardians of any patient shall have the privilege of paying for the maintenance and clothing of such patient, or any part thereof, and the superintendent shall cause the accounts of such patients to be credited with any sums so paid; and provided, further, that if the relatives or immediate friends of any patient shall desire it, and shall pay the expenses thereof, such patient may have special care, and may be provided with a special attendant, as may be agreed upon with the superintendent. In all cases, the charge for such special care and attendance shall be paid quarterly, in advance."

J. EDWARDS LEE, M.D., was the first Medical Superintendent, having been elected by the first board of trustees on the 22d of June, 1859, and the furniture and furnishing of the centre building and first wing, and arrangements for the reception of patients were conducted under his supervision.

The second board of trustees organized April 10, 1860, and on the 22d of May following, appointed JoHN P. CLEMENT, M.D., to supercede Dr. LEE, as Superintendent, and in June, 1860, Mrs. MARY C. HALLIDAY was appointed Matron. The first patient was admitted July 14, 1860, and on the first day of October, 1872, there were 373 patients in the Hospital.

Dr. CLEMENT resigned, January 1, 1864, and from that time until April 20th, the Hospital was in charge of JOHN W. SAWYER, M.D., Assistant Physician, when A. H. VAN NORSTRAND, M.D., was elected Superintendent.

Dr. VAN NORSTRAND resigned, June 6, 1868, and was succeeded by A. S. MCDILL, M.D., the present Superintendent.

Annual Appropriations made for the Care and Support of the Insane: