The government of the State in its beneficence has established this Hospital, and assumed the payment of the salaries of its officers, and tenders its use, and their services for the relief of the insane. It is a noble monument of its public spirit, and regard to the wants of suffering humanity. The charge for support at the Hospital embraces only the cost of board and the supervision of attendants and other assistants, who are all, in one way or another, devoted to the interests of the patients. It would appear, from the table, that this benefit was unequally distributed; some counties having many, others comparatively few inmates in its wards. But the counties receiving most benefit bear the greater proportion of expense, and those most exempt from the malady which renders its establishment desirable, have most cause for thankfulness. It is a blessing when necessary, but the greater blessing not to need, or be obliged to use it. It is the high honor of this ancient Commonwealth to be the first and foremost in providing for its insane. Its accommodations are more ample and probably not inferior to those of any other community in the world. It is to be hoped that they will be found sufficient for all its demands, and that a long time may elapse before they are fully occupied. TABLE 2. Showing the number of Admissions, and the state of the Hospital, from Dec. 1st, 1843, to Nov. 30th, 1844. In the course of the last year seven cases of insanity, found by the Commissioners of Lunacy in the Massachusetts Prison, came into the Hospital. Three of these men were sent to the Hospital in the month of April. One had been in confinement nearly seven years, almost constantly in a solitary room of the prison, without labor, and almost without exercise. He had delusions, supposed himself rich, and gave away, as he declared, large sums of money. He stated to the commissioners that he had $150,000 a day for services, was worth $360,000,000, and received "great legacies to pay for highway robberies." He will not labor as he has plenty of servants to do his work. This man is now in improved health, civil and respectful. He attends religious services every Sabbath, and family prayers frequently in the evening. He is evidently insane, but during the eight months that he has been in the Hospital has had no outbreak of violence, nor any marked periodicity or lucid interval. He appears better, is social in his feelings, unites in games with his associates, and enjoys himself well in his new situation. It can hardly be expected that he will re cover. Another of these unfortunate men was in the Hospital apartment of the prison, recovering from illness, when visited by the Commissioners. He was a colored man, born a slave, and was supposed to have escaped from his master in Baltimore. He had been in solitary confinement four months previous to this illness. His delusion was respecting a "perpetual motion" which he had discovered, and which the world. were using to move steam-boats, rail-cars, and all kinds of carriages. He too was rich, and thought himself a prophet. This man was not well when he came to the Hospital, was troubled with asthmatic breathing and some cough. Insanity was clearly marked in this case. He talked much of his perpetual motion. He was fond of playing the violin, in which amusement he was indulged, though he had no knowledge of music; he attended church on the Sabbath when able, and though quite insane, and occasionally considerably excited, was never troublesome. He was attacked with lung fever in July, and died in a few days. The third person sent to the Hospital at this time, was a foreigner, by trade a glass blower, and by far the most violent and dangerous of the three. He had false hearing, and had attempted to kill one or more of those persons whom he supposed were talking to him or about him. From this false hearing came his delusions. Since he has been under our care, he has had turns of violence and great trouble from this source. When excited, he is disposed to be quarrelsome and suspicious of his attendants. At these times he fills his ears with bread, wax, or |