pupils who had applied for admission was postponed. Of late they have been received as fast as the requisite accommodations could be prepared, and it is expected that, in the course of a few days, the school will be full.

The domestic affairs of the Institution are managed as efficiently as they were last year—and by the same persons. We speak with pleasure and approbation of the motives which apparently govern the Superintendent and the Matron in the prosecution of their numerous and, in some respects, repulsive duties. These officials seem to be actuated by an earnest desire to benefit the unfortunates under their care.

No punishment is inflicted in any case, and the only means resorted to for the necessary subjection, and to secure the intelligent obedience of the most refractory or impulsive pupil, are of the simplest character, amounting in fact to nothing harsher or more objectionable, than a gentle but firm restraint, and patient efforts to awaken and incite to action the dormant faculties of the mind.

The frequent personal inspection of the premises by the President of the Board, and the careful examination and inquiries into all its departments, made by the directors at each of our quarterly sessions, enable us to assure your Excellency that all the children in this school are looked after and cared for with a vigilance as constant, and a zeal as enduring and tolerant, as any observable in the bestregulated families. The health of the inmates has been remarkably good, and so continues-not a death, nor an instance of violent disease has appeared among them.

Before concluding this report, we think it proper to remark that we appreciate the difficulties which the Superintendent experiences in procuring and retaining the services of persons who are fitted by training and disposition for the duties so varied and so constantly recurring in an Institution of this class. But we do not wonder that

it is so, when we reflect that similar embarrassments are experienced generally throughout this section of the State, by private families having domestic situations at their disposal that are comparatively desirable.

As a remedy for this evil, if it may be called an evil, and which certainly militates against the rapid progress of our school, but one expedient has suggested itself to us, and that is an increase of wages. Such an increase we would be glad to authorize, if the means at our command would justify us in so doing.

Much might be said upon questions arising out of the management and maintenance of the school, and especially upon the questions of cost and results, a subject which is now assuming an importance, and beginning to exert an influence equal to any that may demand the serious attention of the Legislature; but deeming a bare reference to these topics all that is necessary at this time, we think it best to reserve an elaborate discussion thereof for our next report, which your Excellency will receive from us in time for your consideration before you communicate your biennial message to the next General Assembly.

Respectfully referring to the financial statement of the Superintendent, hereunto appended, which shows an excess of expenditures over receipts, and expressing our belief that the deficit will be amply met from resources outside of the appropriations from the State Treasury, We are your obedient servants,

JOHN R. WOODS, President.
WM. THOMAS,

L. E. WORCESTER,

ROBERT BOAL,

ISAAC G. WILSON,

JAMES N. BROWN,

P. G. GILLETT.

Directors Illinois Institution for Deaf and Dumb.

JACKSONVILLE, ILL., December 6th, 1867.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Board of Directors of the Illinois Institution
for Idiots and Imbeciles:

GENTLEMEN-I herewith very respectfully submit the Third Annual Report of the Illinois Institution for Idiots and Imbeciles, for the year ending November 30th, 1867.

At the date of my last report, November 30th, 1866, we had received one hundred and thirty applications for the admission of pupils, since which time sixty more have been received, making in all one hundred and ninety applications to the present time.

There were, at the date of our last report, twenty-six pupils connected with the school, all that could be accommodated by the building in use at that time. Eighteen have since been added, and five removed, leaving thirtynine now inmates of the Institution. Arrangements have been made for the admission of quite a number more, who are expected daily.

Of those who have been removed, one was sent away because of evident organic disease, preventing improvement to any profitable extent. Another was taken away after a three months' stay at the Institution, that she might receive the care and instruction of a special attendant and teacher at home; but her parents have recently made application for her re-admission to the Institution. One was sent home for the vacation, but will not return Vol. 11-49

because of chronic disease, which has failed to yield to treatment here and at home, and which, it is feared, will eventually prove fatal. The other two went to their homes at the close of the last term, at the commencement of vacation, and have not yet returned.

During the summer, the contemplated addition of our last report has been built. The new main building is sixty feet long by thirty-two feet wide; is three stories high, and is connected, from its first and second stories, with the old building by an inclosed passage.

At the north end of the new building, connected with its lower story, is an addition, ten feet by thirty-two feet, which is divided into wash-rooms and water-closets for the more helpless children.

The entire first floor, except so much of it as is necessary for a stairway for communication with the floor above, is left undivided by permanent partitions, and the height of the ceiling in this story is twelve feet. It is divided, however, by blind partitions six feet high, that can be easily removed-giving us a large hall for exhibitions or other general exercises, when it may be desired or required. These blind partitions are so arranged as to divide this large room into four apartments, for the proper classification of the pupils during their study and play hours. One of these apartments will be fitted up with a series of ladders, and such other apparatus and appliances as may be needed for the general or special development of the pupils. The central partition separates the male from the female pupils out of school hours.

The second story, with the exception of the part necessary for a hall and stairway for communication with the story above, at its north end, is divided by permanent partitions into a bath-room, store-room for pupils and bed clothing, and two large dormitories, calculated to accommodate comfortably fifteen pupils each, with an attendant. This floor is devoted exclusively to the male pupils.

The third story is divided into four rooms-a bath-room, store-room and two large dormitories-which will also comfortably accommodate fifteen pupils each, with their attendant. This floor is occupied by the female pupils and their attendants.

The new building has been put up in a substantial but plain manner, with no waste room, and is warmed from its basement by two hot-air furnaces, which, it is expected, will keep the entire building thoroughly heated in the coldest weather.

It is very proper to remark in this connection, that we find it necessary to heat our rooms to a higher temperature than is ordinarily required, for children of this class usually lack the vitality of well-developed children, and their circulation of blood is sluggish. Owing to this fact, some of our pupils, before coming to us, have suffered more or less from frost bitten extremities, their parents or guardians having overlooked or being ignorant of this liability, the children themselves being often unable to express by language or intelligible signs their sufferings from cold or other sources.

The annual vacation commenced as usual, on the first of July, when, on account of building operations, it was found necessary to send all of the pupils to their homes, or to boarding places away from the Institution.

Owing to the difficulty in getting mechanics, the new building was not in a condition to receive any pupils until the 16th of October; and it has not been entirely completed yet.

There has been expended, during the year ending November 30, 1867, for ordinary expenses, including new furniture, bed clothing, and insurance on the new building, the sum of $12,984 90, which will be accounted for in detail in an appendix to this report.

There has been expended upon the building, including