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SYRACUSE STATE INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLEMINDED CHILDREN, SYRACUSE, N. Y.

This institution for the care and education of feeble-minded children in the State of New York was established in the year 1851. It is located within the residential section of the city of Syracuse and hence is accessible. In connection with the general work of the institution a farm colony for older inmates has been maintained. This property is located at Fairmount about four miles from the city and has no present connection with the educational scheme of the parent institution. A well appointed farm house provides accommodations for the twenty-five adult inmates who now constitute the group; many of these men are past middle age. The farm dairy supplies all the milk for the city institution, the work is done by the inmates under supervision of a farmer and his wife.

The normal capacity of the school is 547. At the close of the year the attendance was 565, about equally divided between the sexes. The attendance has increased materially this year. A classification of the family according to mental proficiency shows at this time 316 of the teachable class and attending school; 99 considered unteachable or not further teachable, and 150, the remainder, who are industrially employed out of school. Inmates of the custodial type are transferred to the State institution at Rome and at Newark as vacancies occur there, and several transfers were made this year to the Craig Colony for Epileptics. There are now but three epileptics in the school.

The health record for the year again shows the prevalence of typhoid fever although some of the cases were mild. The recent outbreak occurred in the girls' building where five cases were isolated. During the winter there were three cases of scarlet fever. Cases of scabies have been under treatment each month. A careful examination and inquiry has been made by the medical staff and it has been concluded that inasmuch as two of the girls who were first taken with typhoid had been home during the summer months they may have contracted the disease while at their homes. The plumbing and general sanitary conditions of the school buildings have only recently been overhauled and it is

not believed that contagion is to be traced to this source. There has been but one death this year, a case of heart disease.

The hospital is located in a separate building and is excellently equipped for its work. Four experienced nurses are employed. The increased population this year has caused crowding in the class rooms which interferes quite seriously with school work. A class of twelve to fifteen feeble-minded pupils' is enough for one teacher. We would suggest a larger teaching force and additional modern school equipment such as wall maps and globes for the better study of geography and a supply of auxiliary readers. A more liberal maintenance appropriation would permit of greater latitude in educational matters. As to plant improvement, we favor the erection of coal storage sheds sufficiently large to hold a season's supply.

Respectfully submitted,

DENNIS MCCARTHY,
SIMON W. ROSENDALE,
STEPHEN SMITH,

Committee on Idiots and the Feeble-Minded.

VOL. I-7

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' HOMES.

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