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We apprehend many have erroneous views on the subject of manual labor as a remedy for insanity. It. is undoubtedly useful of itself in some cases, but it rarely cures. The large majority of patients that recover are restored without it, and most of the work performed by those of this class in lunatic asylums is after convalescence is well established.

It is true, that in many institutions for the insane in this country, and to a greater extent in Europe, a vast amount of manual labor is performed by the patients; but the principal part of this, according to our observation, is done by those that belong to the incurable class; and to these, who constitute the majority in most establishments, manual labor is highly useful, and sometimes necessary for the preservation of the health, and of what mind is still possessed.

But as we have said, the curable class are more benefited by the regular and rational employment of the mind, by pursuits that engage the attention, and tend to the enlargement and the improvement of the mental and moral powers.

For this purpose, asylums should be well supplied with books, maps and apparatus illustrative of different sciences. and also collections in natural history, &c. Schools should be established in every institution for the insane, where patients could engage in reading, writing, drawing, music, arithmetic, geography, history, and also study some of the sciences, as chemistry, mineralogy, conchology, physiology, &c.

To these schools should be attached intelligent instructors, who should spend all their time with the patients, eat at the same table with them, but have no labor or other duty to attend to, than to interest the patients and contribute all they can by their presence and conversation to their contentment and enjoyment. They should join them in their amusements and walks, and be their constant companions.

We are satisfied that an establishment for the insane can be better managed, and with equal economy, by having an arrangement by which some attendants devote their time to the ordinary duties and labors of the halls, while others have nothing to do but to accompany the patients and endeavor to instruct and amuse them. The latter having nothing to do with any coercive measures, the patients do not become prejudiced against, and will readily hearken to their suggestions. Thus they serve as a constant guard, and by their presence and management, prevent outbreaks and disorder and make coercive measures, restraint and seclusion, rarely necessary.

They also by their presence and conversation quiet the timid, console the desponding, and by attention to all, contribute to the contentment and cheerfulness of the patients, and as we believe, essentially aid in curing them. Many cases, we believe, cannot be cured or improved, but by arousing and calling into exercise the dormant faculties of the mind. Hence schools are beneficial, not merely to the curable class of patients, but to the demented and those approaching this condition.

In such, the active state of the disease, which originated the mental disturbance, has passed, and left the brain and faculties of the mind in a torpid state. In these cues, medicine is generally of no use, and they cannot often be much improved, but by exercising the faculties of the mind.

But others are also benefited by devoting a portion of every day to mental improvement. To those who are nearly or quite well, and who remain in an asylum for fear of relapsing at home, or for other reasons, schools afford enjoyment and often means for improvement which are highly valued by the patients themselves.

The melancholy and despairing, and to all those suffering from delusions of mind, and those that are uneasy and nervous, that are constantly restless and disposed to find fault and to annoy the attendants, and quarrel with all about them, because they have nothing else to occupy their minds, are frequently cured by mental occupation and the exercises of a school, by attending to composition, declamation, the writing and acting of dialogues and plays.

Our observations for many years in various lunatic asylums, led us a long time since to regard the want of mental occupation as the greatest want in modern institutions for the insane. Go into any such establishment, and you will find some few, in winter a very few, at work, some playing cards or other games; yet a still larger number will be found sitting about, listless, inactive, doing nothing, saying nothing, taking no interest in anything going on around them; gathered around the stove or place that is heated, looking forward to nothing but the hour for eating and retiring to sleep. For a short time each day, when the physician passes around, they will exhibit a little animation and say a few words, and then relapse into their former condition.

When the weather is pleasant, some of them walk or ride out occasionally for a short time, but this, to many of the class we are describing, after a few times, seems to be a mechanical kind of business and confers but little enjoyment, they notice but little and say but little during the walk or ride, or after it. These patients make no especial trouble in an asylum, and are very apt to be overlooked and neglected, and if not already demented soon become so, They are thought not to require much attention, as they have good bodily health, and are quiet, consequently they generally receive but little notice.