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A HISTORY OF THE ASYLUMS FOR THE INSANE IN MICHIGAN BY HENRY M. HURD, M. D.
They were distributed by counties, as follows: Berrien 6, Branch i, Calhoun 3, Cass 3, Genesee 5, Hillsdale 4, Ingham 1, Jackson 4, Kent 7, Lenawee 12, Macomb 11, Monroe 5, Oakland 18, Shiawassee 1, St. Clair 1, St. Joseph 4, Washtenaw 19, Wayne 12; total 120. The enumeration is interesting, as showing the advance guard of the immense army of insane which are at present in the State.
The trustees of the asylum with commendable industry devoted themselves to the task of investigating the needs of the insane, and securing plans for buildings; and, in their report for 1851, announce that in their opinion it would be unwise to erect an asylum at Kalamazoo upon the site originally purchased, and recommended that authority be given to sell this land and to purchase a farm of 160 acres in the immediate vicinity. Their report shows that they were fully alive to the necessity of making an adequate public provision for the insane. Authority to make this sale, was subsequently given during the legislative session of 1853, and the present admirable site for the asylum at Kalamazoo was purchased. At this session a new board of trustees, consisting of Sheldon McKnight, Bela Hubbard, P. J. Spaulding, Israel Kellogg and James B. Walker were elected. The sum of $10, 000 was also appropriated in 1853, and a similar sum in 1854, to be used for the construction of buildings for the asylum for the insane. The trustees, were also authorized to sell ten acres of land donated at Kalamazoo for the site of the building.
During the year 1853, a committee of the trustees visited a number of institutions for the insane, situated in the eastern States, and as a result of their observations, decided upon a plan for the new institution.
MICHIGAN ASYLUMS
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