cise, so essential to both mental and physical health, has been secured · in a variety of ways.

More than six-sevenths of the entire number of our patients have habitually enjoyed recreation in the open air, either in the form of walks and rides or employment about the place. In spite of the present uninviting aspect of our grounds, the natural loveliness of the scenery in this region adds double pleasure to out-door diversions while it renders the prospect from our windows in every direction most pleasing and alluring to the eye. The river winding past in graceful curves with its wooded slopes and sunny fields set in a back ground of loftier hills, forms an assemblage of landscape irresistibly charming, and small, indeed, has been the number of our patients who have not been brought in direct contact with its pleasing and elevating influence. When the grounds shall have been attractively laid out in accordance with the original design, our surroundings, both near and remote, will leave little to be desired. Not only this; our inmates will derive double delight and advantage from personal interest and co-operation in improving the premises by labor, both attractive and wholesome to themselves. The cultivation of flowers and the beautifying of grounds by walks and shrubbery, are enterprises which large numbers, both male and female, would find congenial and readily engage in, and those who did not themselves take part, would still be delightfully impressed in the direction of health by the charms of the scene of beauty thus spread before their eyes. When the weather and the exigencies of our farm labor would admit of it, our team has been employed in taking the inmates for a drive. In this way nearly all of them have had weekly rides during the finest of the summer and fall weather.

Our large farm and extensive kitchen garden have also given daily employment to an average number of about 20, (fully one-sixth of our entire number of male patients,) and the results in health to those thus employed as well as the products of their labor have been gratifying. Among our most useful and agreeable in-door amusements has been one weekly dancing party, at which about a third part of our inmates of both sexes have convened to pass a couple of hours in social intercourse and dancing.

There is no one recreation in which so large a number can participate which at the same time furnishes so much innocent enjoyment, as dancing judiciously conducted; and all who have visited our Friday evening entertainments have united in a most favorable verdict as to the great amount of pleasure and profit thus attained. We have had religious exercises every Sunday afternoon, which the clergymen of Elgin have benevolently consented to conduct for us, and our especial thanks are due in this connection to the late Rev. Mr. Clark, the Rev. Mr. Axtell, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. McKenzie, and others.

It is moreover a most pleasant duty to express our grateful acknowledgements to the many friends who have contributed their aid toward increasing our slender resources for amusing and entertaining our inmates.

A circular letter calling the attention of the public to our wants and solicting from the benevolent donations of books, pictures, games, etc., was issued, and in many instances, met with a liberal response.

To Mrs. Henry Sherman, of Elgin, we are indebted for a profusion of beautiful boquets and much reading matter, besides pictures, flower seeds and bulbs. Mrs. H. H. Byington, of Chicago, deserves our hearty thanks for many contributions of books, pictures and plants on her own part, and for efficient aid in awakening the interest of others and securing much highly prized reading matter and many pictures which will greatly help to adorn our walls. Rev. Mr. Dickinson secured for us a generous donation of bibles from the Kane County Bible Society, and to him and them, we return our thanks.

Rev. Mr. Glenwood, of Chicago, sent us a very serviceable and acceptable collection of religious reading matter.

To the Chicago Agency of the American Tract Society, we are in like manner indebted. From Dr Jones, of Rockford, Mr. John Campbell, of Chicago, Mr. Geo. Russell, of Cleveland, and Mr. Chas. Wade, of Elmhurst, we received boxes of valuable reading matter. For similar favors we beg to express our thanks to Mrs. Meyers, of Wheaton, Mrs. Wm. Longworth, of LaSalle, Mr. L. Taft, of Roscoe, Mrs. Garner, of Pontiac, Mrs. Higgins, of Greenville, Mrs. Barberd, of Maquon, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Lord and Mrs. Brown, of Elgin, Mr. Haish, of De Kalb, Mr. Bodwell, of Waukegan, Mr. Whitmore and Mrs. McLane, of Kankakee, Mrs. Adams, of Spencer Station, Mr. Ayers, of Lafayette, Mrs. McCracbrew and Mrs. Scott, of Chicago, Messrs. Dale & Dunham, Kankakee. Finally to the editors of the following named papers and periodicals, we wish to return our cordial thanks for the agreeable visits of their publications:

The "Illinois State Journal," the "Prairie Farmer," the "Western Rural," the "Young Folks' Rural," "The Chicago Evening Mail," the "Rockford Register" the "Aurora Beacon," the "Aurora Herald," the "Rock River Farmer," The Standard, (Chicago, religious,) the "Marengo Republican," the "Batavia News," the "Sycamore Republican," the "Kankakee Republican," the "Wheaton Illinoisian," the "Woodstock Sentinel," the "Portrait," (Waukegan,) the "Union S. S. Visitor," the "Forreston Journal."

We wish also to acknowledge our indebtedness to Dr. Mark Ranney of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane, Mt. Pleasant, for a very elegant settee and a handsome bedstead, presented to us as samples of the skilled labor of the institution.

To the "Colored Jubilee Troupe," from the Fisk University, Tennessee, who kindly consented to give us one of their unique and enjoyable entertainments, in June last, and to Mrs. Hillis and Mrs. Baldwin of Elgin, for their valuable assistance in contributing to give our inmates a very pleasant vocal and instrumental concert on Thanksgiving Eve, we hereby tender our especial thanks.

SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.

With the view of enlarging our facilities for the amusement and recreation of our inmates, there have been introduced into our estimates certain items in reference to which a few words of explanation may not be out of place.

First-The sum of $1,000 for a library for the use and benefit of the patients. It is hardly necessary to make any extended remark upon a measure so obviously just as the providing of a suitable library in the interest of the mental health and happiness of those here treated. It would provide congenial companionship and healthful stimulation to the minds of the convalescent, while it would be for all an unfailing resource and diversion in hours of weariness and distress, saving many restless and impatient ones from injury to themselves or others. The supply of good books which one thousand dollars would secure us, would be a very important element of success in our management of those committed to

our care.

The second item is $2,500 for horses, carriages and sleighs and their proper equipments, to be used in giving our inmates out-door recreation. This would enable us to provide an unsurpassed mode of diversion and means of health for scores who are too feeble or too indifferent to take other exercise. The enjoyment and exhilaration afforded by a ride in the open air, to those who are compelled through their weakness or the nature of their malady to spend so much of their time in confinement, and who are cut off from so many of the privileges which the rest of humanity consider as a matter of course, must be seen to be fully appreciated. Even with the limited facilities which have been at our command for affording this exercise, we have attained notable results in their amusement and improvement.

Third-We have introduced an item of $1,000 for musical instruments, to be placed in our wards. It is scarcely necessary to dilate upon the cheering and harmonizing influences of music upon the insane; they are well understood by all. Music is the first means recorded as having been employed to exorcise evil spirits and dispel melancholy. Scarcely an insane person can be found in whom any intellect remains, who will not respond to the gentle and soothing influence of music. How desirable then that we should have some instruments to place in our

wards, where so many could be made to feel their remedial and healthbringing force!

GAS WORKS.

It has been universally found that the safest, cheapest and most convenient method of illuminating buildings of this character is by means of gas. Until within a few months, however, no gas works of any kind were in operation in the city of Elgin. Its manufacture upon the premises, by means of independent apparatus, became therefore a matter of necessity; the plan adopted being that invented by C. W. Weir & Co., of Carlinville, Ill., a simple process effected by the combustion of Naptha, from 630 to 740 spec. grav., in an iron retort, its gaseous elements being disengaged and stored in a holder. To this is added 100 per cent. of atmospheric air-the addition being accomplished at time of expenditure by its admixture in a Philadelphia meter-and we have the illuminating gas, at burner, a clear, brilliant flame with the reputed power of 20 candles. It has now been in operation over 10 months, requiring little or no skilled labor in its manufacture, and thus far has given good satisfaction both as to quality and price-the cost per 1000 ft. even at the present high price of Naphtha, not exceeding $2.00. The average cost, taking petroleum at its minimum and maximum quotations, being fully 30 per cent. less. The cost to the consumer in the larger cities, is not less than $3.00 to $3.50 per 1000 ft., and in smaller places not infrequently $4.00 to $4.50. It will be seen, therefore, that the saving to the institution by its manufacture upon the premises is from $1.00 to $2.00 for every 1000 ft. consumed—a sum, placing the average daily consumption at 2000 ft., sufficient to pay the original cost of the works in 10 years.

Following is the analysis of gas, as stored in holder, reported to us by the National Gas Works Company, C. W. Weer, President:

This mixed with an equal proportion of atmospheric air, stated above, is the gas with which our building is illuminated.

SIDE TRACK.

A very burdensome source of expenditure to the hospital at the present time, is the necessity of hauling all our coal to the premises from

the railroad track, distant more than half a mile, and leading up a steep ascent for some part of the way. We expend $3.50 for every car of coal thus hauled, the daily consumption being about this amount, and it cannot be deemed otherwise than extravagant when we consider the ease with which a side track bringing the coal directly to the door of our engine house might be constructed. The railroad company would, moreover, undoubtedly contribute their share to the furtherance of the work. As an economical measure, this plan should receive the earliest possible attention. The hospital should also be provided as soon as practicable with a substantial brick coal house with iron roof, where coal could be placed in quantity sufficient to serve us during a stress of weather, or in case of other emergency. It is well known that coal loses a heavy percentage by exposure to the open air, and there is also a liability of its destruction by spontaneous combustion, resulting not only in its loss, but in danger to the surrounding buildings.

FARM.

Early in the spring the much needed repairs and improvements upon the farm were commenced and prosecuted with energy during the season, until most of it was put in passable condition and made available for the purpose for which it was intended. In this connection it is due to our resident trustee, Henry Sherman, Esq., to say that his practical knowledge and experience and indefatigable industry were of the very greatest value to the institution. To Dr. H. F. Carriel, Superintendent of the State Insane Hospital at Jacksonville, we are indebted for the friendly contribution to our "stock" of three fine specimens of the Chester White breed of pigs and for a quantity of broom corn seed, which was of much service to us.

All that portion of the farm bordering upon the river and main road was entirely destitute of any good fencing, allowing free egress and ingress to animals of every kind. This, as well as many other portions, was provided with a new board fence. Still other sections have been repaired temporarily, but will soon need entirely new lines of fencing, for which a small appropriation will be required at no distant day.

The farm house, which was found in a half-finished condition, has also undergone extensive repairs, many of the rooms having been newly plastered and painted, partitions removed, new doors hung, besides many other improvements necessary to make the house habitable and comfortable. Repairs to some extent have also been made upon the barns, new floors put down, doors hung, and the stone foundations and walls righted and repaired to such extent as was possible without entire renewal, which would have been the more proper course in many instances had not the buildings themselves been rickety with age, and confessedly, too