Philadelphia Dispensary.—This very useful institution was instituted 1786, and incorporated 1796. Its object is to furnish medicine, medical aid, and comfortable ar ticles of diet to the indigent sick of every description and in every disease, either at their own dwellings or at the dispensary, when the situation of the patient is such as to permit his going abroad. By these means, the expense attendant on a hospital establishment is saved, and the pain of a separation from family and friends avoided. There are six attending, and four consulting physicians and surgeons, and an apothecary, who resides at the house. Owing to the prevalence of an unusual epidemic in the autumn of last year, the number of patients attend ed was large, amounting to 5041, of whom 4713 recover ed, 91 were relieved, 100 deceased, 61 removed or other wise escaped notice, and 75 remained under care.
Beside this institution, there arc two others of a similar kind for the relief of the poor, in the Northern and Southern Liberties of Philadelphia. In 1823, these dis pensaries administered to 4377 patients: 4039 of whom recovered, 50 were relieved, and 109 deceased.
Humane Society.—This useful society was established during the revolutionary war, 1730. Its attention is di rected to the recovery of drowned persons, and of those whose animation may be suspended from other causes.
For the purpose of recovering the bodies of drowned persons, drags are placed at all the ferries, and public places of resort on both sides the Delaware, and on Schuylkill, with the usual apparatus, and boxes of neces sary medicines. Medical assistants are appointed, to whom the public are recommended in the first instance to apply on the occurrence of an accident : directions for the treatment of the various cases that may happen have occasionally been published, and rewards are annu ally bestowed upon those who risque their own lives in the attempt to save that of others.
Magdalen Society, was instituted in the year 1800, and incorporated in the year 1802. Its objects are, the restoration to the paths of virtue and to an honest station in life, those unhappy females who have been robbed of their chastity, and are desirous of returning to a life of rectitude. The society have a house for the ac commodation of the Magdalens, in the outskirts of the town, under the care of a discreet matron and assistants. The last report of the society is very encouraging and sa tisfactory, by which it appears that from the first admis sion 19 years since, 219 of these miserable females have been received, out of which number, near 100 have be come restored to a respectable rank in life, and many, it is believed, have, through divine mercy,. been brought to a participation in that redemption purchased by Jesus Christ.
Orphan Asylum, was instituted, December 20th 1814, and incorporated 1816. The society consists of an
association of ladies, to " rescue from ignorance, idle ness, and vice, unprotected and helpless children, and to provide for them that support and instruction, which may eventually render them valuable members of the commu nity." The children are lodged, fed, and educated in a fine commodious building belonging to the society, capa ble of accommodating 200 persons.
The building is 100 feet front and 53 deep, and consists of a basement, principal, and attic stories. Every attention was given in its erection, to convenience and durability. The basement is arched throughout, which renders the first and second stories fire-proof. The staircases arc of stone. The cost of materials and construction was 26,000 dollars. The annual expenditure for every 100 orphans, is estimat ed at 3000 dollars. The children are under the care of a governess and assistants, and when arrived at a suitable age, arc bound out to some useful employment. During the year 1822, fourteen were admitted, sixteen bound out, and two deceased, leaving a family of 69 orphans.
An interesting institution has recently been formed by some benevolent ladies of the society of Friends, under the title of the " Shelter for Orphan Children of Colour." The number of children at this time, under the care of the society, is small. It is expected, however, that when the existence and design of the institution become more generally known, its usefulness and charities will be in creased.
The Indigent Widows' and Single Tron2en's Asylum, is a neat three storied brick building, adjoining the Orphans' Asylum, and built in the year 1817. It is under the care of a committee of ladies, whose object is to afford a com fortable place of refuge for poor women in the decline of life.
The Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. —This institution was established in 1820, by the bene volent exertions of a number of citizens. In 1821, it was incorporated by the legislature, and liberally endowed. The state became the patrons of indigent deaf and dumb children throughout the commonwealth, agreeing by its law to educate in the institution as many pupils at one hundred and sixty dollars per annum, as should consume the sum of eight thousand dollars, for four years from the first day of April 1821. The asylum is located in a build ing well adapted to the accommodation of the establish ment. The pupils are instructed on the approved plan of the L'Abbe Sicard of Paris, whose system promises to become universal, and thus render the language of the deaf and dumb the same in all parts of the world. The children of this institution are moreover taught various useful trades and manufactures, to fit them for their own independent support after they shall have been discharged from -the school.