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As the law now stands, the moment an individual is discharged from the Hospital as cured, the special, parental care of the government over him immediately ceases. He is returned to the world, in which his past misfortune operates rather as repulsion than attraction. This institution was especially designed for the unfortunate poor, and most of those who will enjoy its benefits will be of that description. When a poor man is discharged as cured, he has of course nothing upon which he can subsist for a single day. He may not have either family or friends of ability to relieve him, or if he have, he may be destitute of any means to reach them. Dependent upon his own labor, he may find no employment. Subjected to disappointment and all the harshest ills of poverty, the chances of a relapse are indefinitely increased. But the condition of females is far more deplorable than that of men. How shall a female, who has no family, friends or acquaintance, except in the remotest counties in the State, travel back to the only persons who feel any special interest in her welfare! It is therefore respectfully suggested, whether the Trustees should not be authorized to bestow some small sums of money, in addition to necessary clothing, upon all such as leave the Hospital without any means at their command. Such gifts should be limited, in amount. Below the maximum they may vary according to the exigency of each particular case. And could the friends of the afflicted in different parts of the Commonwealth be persuaded to interest themselves in behalf of those who have been discharged from the Hospital, by procuring for them eligible employments, or favorable situations with benevolent people, where they might enjoy the cheap but invaluable blessing of kind treatment, they would render a most acceptable service in the cause of humanity.

Appended to this report, is one made by Dr. Woodward, the Superintendent of the Hospital. It contains much minute information of a statistical character, relative to the inmates of the establishment. The suggestions of the Superintendent derive great weight from his extensive knowledge and accurate judgment upon the subject of insanity; and the Trustees entertain a firm belief, that the prosperity of the institution, since it was opened, (unanticipated to such an extent even by its most sanguine friends,) is mainly attributable to the skillfulness and wisdom of the treatment, medical and moral, bestowed upon the patients by that able officer.

HORACE MANN,
BEZALEEL TAFT, JR.,
W. B. CALHOUN,
ALFRED DWIGHT FOSTER,
F. C. GRAY,
Trustees.
Worcester, December 3lst, 1833.