Medical Malpractice

The American Asylum for the education and instruction of the deaf

Summary: The American Asylum for the education and instruction of the deaf and dumb was incorporated in 1816 It was adequately endowed in 1819 by the National Congress on the erroneous impression that no other school would be required for the nation and consequently it was named the American Asylum Through the prolonged investigations and active efforts of Dr Mason F Cogswell of Hartford in solicitude for the welfare of his deaf daughter Alice a voluntary association of gentlemen one of whom was the Rev Thomas H Gallaudet was formed in this city in 1815 for the purpose of establishing a school for the instruction of deaf mutes in America This association through a committee raised the necessary funds to send a man to Europe to acquire the art of instructing the deaf and subsequently induced the Rev Thomas H Gallaudet to undertake the task Returning to America in 1816 with Laurent Clerc a graduate of the Royal Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Paris and afterwards a teacher in it Mr Gallaudet opened the school at Hartford with Mr Clerc as his assistant Together they worked out a modified system of instruc tion which has spread all over this country From this parent insti tution have sprung seventy others in various parts of the United States and the American Asylum always has been and is now an authority and a model in matters connected with the instruction of the deaf The school building is situated on one of the highest spots in the city surrounded by eleven acres of open ground with a fine lawn and ample play grounds for the pupils a beautiful and health ful location practically an open park in the midst of the city The management of the school has been characterized by a wise conservatism and a genuinely progressive spirit Its aim is to impart the power to use language both written and oral to well ground the pupils in arithmetic American and English history and current events in political commercial and physical geography in the elements of physiology and hygiene in elementary drawing and in the duties of morality and the truths of religion Speech and lip reading are sys tematically and thoroughly taught as a part of the regular school course 194 Fifteen teachers are employed in the school four of them being teachers of articulation All pupils over twelve years of age receive manual training three hours a day More than 2 400 pupils have received instruction in this school and its graduates may be found in almost every State of the Union intelligent respected law abiding citizens well sustaining themselves and their families Among them may be found farmers mechanics merchants printers and even professional men The school draws its pupils from all parts of New England and is supported partly by State appropriations and partly by the income of its own fund Practically it is a free school for the deaf and it is absolutely so for the destitute The amount expended by the school in the city annually is over $50 000 Francis B Cooley president Atwood Collins secretary Daniel R Howe treasurer Job Williams principal THE RETREAT FOR THE INSANE This institution is the third in age of those which have been established for the exclusive care and treatment of the insane in the United States It may be regarded as the offspring of the Connecti cut Medical Society as action towards its establishment was begun and carried forward to success by this society at the same time it belongs to Hartford in an especial degree as its citizens contributed more than one fourth of the necessary funds for its establishment and more than any other town or city in the State One of Hart ford s most eminent physicians was appointed as its first Superintend ent and succeeded in establishing for it both in this country and in Europe a high reputation which it has never lost The buildings are located upon high ground with a splendid out look over the Connecticut River to the east and less than one mile directly south from the State House The grounds comprise about twenty five acres which are laid out as an English lawn park and contain some of the finest specimens of tree grouping in the country These grounds are for the special use and enjoyment of the patients but may be enjoyed upon any day by the public from the delightful

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