One of the Commissioners was delegated in the early part of the season to visit the Worcester Hospital; and he was there and else where advised by scientific physicians that the Worcester Hospital had not only ceased to be a model institution, but had fallen into the rear rank of the march of improvement. Within the last few years there has been a rapid advance in science as applied to the treatment of the insane, and it is generally conceded that a more convenient style of architecture, and better arrangements than can be found in any of the old hospitals are indispensable. The trustees of the Worcester hospital seriously contemplate selling out the old buildings and erecting new ones upon another site. They say:

"The location is such as no one, at the present time, would select for such an object. The land connected with it is altogether too limited, is badly situated, not furnishing to the patients that freedom, and exercise in the open air which is desirable in such an institution. The hospital buildings are almost surrounded by city residences, and are not suitable for the uses to which they are put. They are low studded, the stories being only eight and a half, and nine feet high in the clear; they are warmed by furnaces in the bisement, which are very dangerous, and now nearly worn out. They have already been on fire at least once from them. The ventilation is so imperfect as not to deserve the name. The ventiducts are each but four inches square, opening into attics, from which the foul air has no means of escape. It often ascends through one ventiduct, but to descend through another. But for the natural ventilation through the windows and doors, the contaminated air would be often intolerable. Its evil effects are plainly seen in the appearance of the patients. The frequent occurrence of erysipelas in the hospital is but one of its indices. The tables of mortality show that erysipelas stands at the head of acute discase in fatality here. There is an entire want of suitable yards connected with the buillings. There are five separate kitchens with all the uten-i s to render them severally complete."

This being the case, the Commissioners did not think themselves

authorized by the law under which they act, nor did they deem it desirable to propose a building entirely original in its design, but they determined to act within the scope of the law, and to adopt such improvements as were dictated by the experience of the past and by the knowledge of those who are familiar with the wants and requirements of the insane. They determined to carefully study the existing institutions and if possible, to adopt all their good features and to avoid their defects.

With due regard to economy in their expenditures, they were desirous to erect an institution that would most completely fulfil the object of its design, and ultimately give most satisfaction to an enlightened community.

For the purpose of gaining the requisite information upon this subject, Hon. Geo. R. McLane, Superintendent, visited during the past year nearly every hospital of any note in the Eastern States. He gave the subject a careful and earnest examination and laid before the Board the result of his investigations, as set forth in his Report, to which attention is invited.

In regard to principles which should regulate the construction and varied arrangements of Hospitals for the Insane, there is at the present day a remarkalbe unanimity of opinion among those familiar with the subject. A series of twenty-six propositions in reference to their construction was adopted by the "Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutes for the Insane" at their meeting in Philadelphia in 1851, and these propositions have been recognized as, and are without doubt the highest au thority upon that subject. The plan adopted by the Commission. ers is intended to be in perfect accordance with the views of that Association. It is the plan matured by Dr. Kirkbride of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and approved by every Superintendent in the United States, and it may be safely asserted that if carried out in the true spirit of enlightened philanthropy, it cannot fail to give us an institution of a high order, every way superior to any previously erected, and at as small a cost as can effect the object desired. For a full and specific account of the plan of the buildings,

the Commissioners would refer, to the Report of the Superintend-sent, and also the drawings and specifications now in their office.

It is gratifying to know that this plan has received the approval of every well educated man to whom it has been submitted.

The commissioners in November last had the pleasure of meeting, in Madison, commissioners from the state of Maryland, "of which commission was the Hon. Benj. C. Howard, and who were visiting different states, to be made acquainted with the most approved locations and plans for Insane Asylums, preparatory to the location and construction of an institution of that order in Maryland. They are men of high character, active benevolence, and scrutinizing investigation. They had already visited most of the hospitals in the Union, deeming it indispensable to their duty in iview of the responsible trust confided to them. They visited the location selected by us, and noted our plans of building, &c., and were pleased to accord their unqualified approval of the same, and - they fully determined to adopt the plans of "The Wisconsin State Lunatic Asylum," without alteration, as a pattern for Maryland.

The Wisconsin State Lunatic Asylum, when fully completed, will accommodate from two hundred and fifty to three hundred patients, and the cost of the entire structure will be the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But the wants of the insane in this state may not demand the expenditure of that amount for many years. The commissioners deemed it to be their duty to I provide accommodations for at lest one hundred and ten patients, as soon as possible, that being the estimated number of insane in the state at the present time. Therefore under the provisions of the act establishing the Asylum, the board caused to be published in the required number of newspapers in the state, a notice, stating, that sealed proposals would be received by them for furnishing materials and doing the work for the erection of the building of said Asylum, or such portion thereof as the commissioners should deem advisable to have erected, and that they would award the contract to the lowest bidder therefor. The contract was awarded to Andrew Proudfit, wherein he has agreed to complete

the main building and two longitudinal and two transverse wings within the year 1855, two more longitudinal and two more transverse wings within the year 1856, and the remainder of said build ings at such reasonable time thereafter as the commissioners may direct; and for the performa ce of his agreements in the premi ses, he has entered into bonds to the state in the sum of fifty thonsand dollars. The contract also provides, that as the work progresses, estimates of materials furnished and work done shall be made monthly by the commissioners, and eighty per cent. thereof allowed the contractor, the remaining twenty per cent to be retained until the completion of the several sections of said work.

The cost of the portion of the building to be completed in the year 1855, will be $67,743 00. The etimate has been made with reference to the bid of Mr. Proudfit, by an able and experienced architect, and the Cominissioners are confident that such sum is abundantly sufficient.

Mr. Proudfit has gone vigorous'y to work, and is placing materials upon the ground as fast as possible. We are informed by him, that he has already contracted for all the stone necessary for the main building and two wings; for all the brick, and I me for the same, a large amount of lumber, and has all the machinery necessary for hoisting stone and other mater'a's on hand, and there is no reasonable doubt that the work wil be completed, according to the terms of the contract, and perhaps sooner,

The last legislature appropriated the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, which leaves $52,743 00 more to be provided, in order to complete the contract with M. Proudfit for the main building and two longitutinal and two transverse wings.

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There has already been expen led by the Bard to this date, a sum very little exceedidg five thousand dollars.

We think we are warranted in the premises, to say that the first section of the asylum will be com, leted and ready for jatients before the meeting of the next legislature; additional enactments may etherefore be necessary at the present session, ia order to perfect the organzation of the institution.

There is in the United States, no complete and well constructed institution of this class, which has not exceeded in cost, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, while many have been constructed at an expense of over two hundred thousand dollars. Worcester asylum cost two hundred and eighty seven thousand dollars; Taunton asylum, just completed, one hundred and fiftyone thousand dollars, and the state has already authorized, to be made to the latter, additional improvements at a great outlay; so true is she to respond to the calls of the unfortunate insane. The Utica asylum originally cost two hundred thousand dollars, and until recently has been regarded as a model institution; yet the legislature of New York, with a liberality that refuses to deny any expenditure that may be necessary to render it more perfect as an instrument for accomplishing the benevolent object of its erection, have authorized an additional expenditure of seventy-five thousand dollars the past season.

The Derbyshire lunatic asylum, designed for the accommodation of three hundred patients, and completed in the year 1851, cost, including seventy-nine acres of land, ninety eight thousand three hundred and ninety-six pounds sterling. The Birmingham Borough asylum erected for three hundred patients, commenced in 1846, and completed in 1850, cost, seventy four thousand two hundred and twenty-four pounds. Many more institutions of this order might be enumerated, and there can never one be found of any considerable merit, the cost of which has been ultimately measured by a few thousand dollars.

Various reasons may be assigned for the many imperfections which have been long endured in asylums, prominent among which, is the lack of cmnfidence in, or the neglect to appeal to the authority of inedical men who have lived in asylums and among the insane, and who alone know what the insane require." This reason, construed in the fullest extent, will indeed embrace all others, for the learned medical men at the present day aro in ent upon progress, and antiing in their investigations, not only traversing their home continent to find out something good and